15 Questions to Katarzyna Dondalska

Hi! How are you? Where are you?
I’m fine, thanks. I’m still at home but will have to leave soon for the next production.


What’s on your schedule right now?
Rehearsals and performances as “Queen of the Night” in Mozarts “The Magic Flute” at the Welsh National Opera, Cardiff.


If you hadn’t chosen for music, what do you think you would do right now?
Maybe I would be an archaeologist...


What or who was your biggest influence as an artist?
As a child absolutely my parents, who are musicians themselves, made the most musical impact on me...


What’s the hardest part about being a musician and what’s the best?
The hardest thing being a singer is to keep healthy in every situation and always focus my capacity “to the second”; The best is the feeling when I come to a location the very first time, “inhaling” its atmosphere; then, after the concert or performance watching the beaming and enthusiastic faces of the audience.


What’s your view on the classical music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
I think there will be changes – they have to take place ...


Some feel there is no need to record classical music any more, that it’s all been done before. What do you tell them?
Of course it is necessary to continue recording to have new, individual, fresh interpretation, let me say, more “contemporary views”, keeping the musical ideas of classical music alive; e.g. I don’t need to have 25 recordings of the same opera by the same “well-known” singers.


What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What’s your approach to performing on stage?
When I say “wow” afterwards and don’t need to analyse why. When people feel attracted to the music by my – hopefully perfectly combined – singing technique, expression and acting. My approach is simple: I warm up, get extremely nervous and go on stage. When I start singing then I’m fine.


What does the word “interpretation” mean to you?
To transfer my own moods and feelings, aroused in me by the performed work, to the audience.


True or false: It is the duty of an artist to put his personal emotions into the music he plays.
Yes. True. Otherwise we needn’t any artist.


True or false: “Music is my first love”
True.


True or false: People need to be educated about classical music, before they can really appreciate it.
True.


You are given the position of artistic director of a concert hall. What would be on your program for this season?
Bernstein, Candide. Delibes, Lakme.


What’s your favourite classical CD at the moment?
My own new one, at the moment! Haha...


Have you ever tried playing a different instrument? If yes, how good were you at it?
Of course, I’m violinist, too (I graduated with distinction)


Discography:
Debut Live (Mons)


Homepage:
Katarzyna Dondalska