Curtain Call
Concert with Diana Damrau and young artists from the International Opera Studio with songs by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, R. Strauss, Wolf and Reger.
Sopran Diana Damrau
Tenor Andrei Skliarenko
Bariton Yuriy Hadzetskyy
Bass Brent Michael Smith
Klavier Adrian Kelly
Over Christmas and New Year's Eve, with the generous support of Zürich Versicherungen and Freunde der Oper Zürich, we present the «Curtain Call» series. Prominent singers meet at eye level with the up-and-coming talents of the International Opera Studio and create a concert evening together. This concert series is also the prelude to our anniversary year – 60 years of Freunde der Oper Zürich and 60 years of the International Opera Studio.
Behind the scenes with Diana Damrau and the IOS
Get an exclusive backstage look at Diana Damrau’s workshop. You’ll see how the soprano works with Yuriy Hadzetskyy and Andrei Skliarenko from the International Opera Studio on their joint program.
Curtain Call with Diana Damrau and the IOS
Enjoy art songs by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, R. Strauss, Wolf, and Reger, presented by Diana Damrau and the young singers of the International Opera Studio.
The Videos are available until Sunday, January 17 2021, 24.00.
On the world's great stages, Diana Damrau is celebrated as a master of bel canto and as the queen of coloratura; at Zurich Opera House, she has appeared as Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, among other roles. But the soprano has long been passionate about more than just opera; she is also an enthusiastic interpreter of the Lied - an intimate form that she herself once described as "miniature opera" or "small atmospheric pearls" that can tell stories, indeed create a world in just a few notes.
In her master class, Diana Damrau will therefore concentrate entirely on working out songs. Songs can educate their interpreters to discipline in the best sense of the word, because in song singing it is a matter of shaping the finest details in dialogue with the piano and finding very special vocal colors. The work on the text also stands in the foreground in a special way in song interpretation. The decisive factor, however, is that the young interpreters from the International Opera Studio ultimately find their own, very personal approach to the songs.
One musical focus of Diana Damrau's master class is the songs of Richard Strauss. Just how well she knows this composer and how much she deserves to be recognized as an outstanding Strauss interpreter was recently demonstrated once again by her CD recording of the Four Last Songs.
«Curtain Call» is presented by 
The workshops are made possible through the support of the Friends of Zurich Opera.
Diana Damrau appears courtesy of Warner Classics.
Find the booklet here:
Tell us Andrei...
When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
At the age of 18 I decided to become an opera singer because I love opera.
If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be …
… an engineer or a scientist.
Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
When I took part in a production of «Cantata.Lab» at the Bolshoi Theater of Russia with my wife.
… the most embarrassing moment?
During my studies I once sang one of the Rachmaninov songs and totally forgot the text.
… the biggest challenge?
My decision to move to Zürich
And what would be your biggest dream?
The end of the coronavirus crisis
Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
It’s a secret.
My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Drinking tea.
My idol:
Luciano Pavarotti
Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Usually, opera characters have a very cruel destiny, they get killed or betrayed so I’d rather not identify myself with the opera characters.
This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
«Есть одна хорошая песня у соловушки» by Sviridov
Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
I like the lake and to be beside the lake as it is very calm.
Which is your favorite word in Swiss German?
«Grüetzi»
Andrei Skliarenko, tenor, comes from Russia.
The thirty-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 2O/21 season.
Tell us Yuriy...
When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
I decided to become an opera singer when I studied in the music college in Lviv as a musicologist. I was 18 years old.
If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be…
… a lawyer (that was an idea in school), a musicologist (I was studying that in music college) or a sound engineer (it was my hobby for 3 years).
Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
It was my first operatic role of Mozart’s «Don Giovanni».
… the most embarrassing moment?
When I had to open up internally and externally for the role of «Don Giovanni».
… the biggest challenge?
Actually the same thing as the most embarrassing moment, because it was a turning point for me as an actor.
And what would be your biggest dream?
That art is valued and popular. And then we will find our place in this world.
Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
Actually no. Just need a bit of calmness.
My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Sing technically correctly. And work on the breath.
My idol:
I like good musicians. Preferences, of course, are personal for everyone. But still Christian Gerhaher is my most favorite.
Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Specifically with none, but I have a few favorites and dream roles: my first role of Don Giovanni (I love Mozart and it’s a very mysterious role), Figaro from «Il barbiere di Siviglia» (I love coloratura stuff and Figaro’s quick wits), Pelléas from «Pelléas et Melisande» (magical music and lyrics) and Orfeo from Monteverdi’s «Orfeo» (something special and deep).
This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
«Heimliche Aufforderung» by R.Strauss – as a secret invitation, and then a meeting with music – every time full of emotions.
Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
Zurich is all beautiful, I love this city. But I like to sit by the water on warm evenings.
What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
«Isch guet!»
Yuriy Hadzetskyy, baritone, comes from the Ukraine.
The twenty-eight-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/2O season.
Tell us Brent...
When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
I decided to become an opera singer when I chose to attend grad school at the University of Northern Iowa for Vocal Performance in 2012. Before this, I was a concert pianist, having received my Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance. I chose the path of an opera singer over a pianist because of what I perceived as better opportunities for me in addition to considering what I found the most joy in doing. I love being on the stage, acting and making music with others.
If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be …
… a pianist or a psychologist.
… the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge so far has been singing Figaro in «Le nozze di Figaro».
And what would be your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is performing all over the world with excellence and making a difference in at least one person’s life in the theater.
Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
My ritual before going onstage is to stretch all of my body in order to be limber for the performance to come.
My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness is a clove of raw garlic, a zinc tablet, a spoonful of honey and a hot tea with honey and lemon – all separately but in the same day.
My idol:
I have many: Joni Mitchell, Cesare Siepi, Barack Obama, Serena Williams and many others.
Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
I find something in every character I play/sing.
This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
Any Joni Mitchell song.
Which is your favorite place in Zürich and why?
At this point my favorite place is the Rietberg Museum Gardens.
What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
I don’t have one at this time. I am still discovering different Swiss idioms.
Brent Michael Smith, bass, comes from the USA.
The thirty-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 2O/21 season.
