Music has always been an integral part of our everyday life, as a great companion, especially in the hardest times. Maria Zoi is a well-known mezzo-soprano who has collaborated with some of the greats of the opera world, being selected by Maestro Jose Carreras to take part in the 4th edition of his International Masterclass in January 2019 in Pesaro, Italy. As a mezzo-soprano, she used to appear in opera and concert performances in Europe and the US. During the last months, she launched her own initiative, Atelier d' Excellence (AdE) adjusting the opera practices to the online environment.
Here is our discussion:
For someone who is renowned for their live performances, how has life changed for you during the pandemic? Has it changed the way you approach music?
MZ: As with all performing artists, the pandemic has changed everything in our professional and daily lives. The outbreak of Covid-19 found me in New York preparing for two operatic debuts and concert performances. Of course, these events got postponed or cancelled. The same occurred with daily rehearsals and private coaching. Initial frustration turned to opportunity as I started seeing free time as a gift. My new priorities were to enhance my repertoire, polish my foreign languages and organize career strategy. I am also exploring new ways to communicate my art with the public through online performances and recordings. In other words, my approach toward music hasn’t changed. Rather I found new ways of expression regarding musical preparation and connecting with the public.
All over the globe, we have seen people communicating through music. From the policemen playing guitar while on patrol in Spain, to the New York apartment dwellers singing from their balconies - the music seemed to bring everyone together. How far do you believe that music can be a way to ‘support’ people’s lives at this time?
MZ: Music has always been a way for people to express their feelings. There are songs for life’s happy and sad moments. When feelings become songs, a kind of catharsis follows and resolution of the problems seems easier when people sing together. Music must go on despite the pandemic. Theaters and cultural organizations must find alternative ways to function safely. At this time more than ever, audiences need such upbeat feelings that only music can evoke.
During a live concert, there is the enjoyment of the crowd being immersed in this live experience, something that in recent months can only happen online. Which are the greatest challenges to your occupation caused by this new “phenomenon”?
MZ: Interacting with a live audience and experiencing their reactions to artistic performance are irreplaceable. Every performance is a source of inspiration for artists and uniquely influences our interpretation of the same role night after night. Online events can still generate some of this enjoyment, of course more for the audience than the artist. It is nevertheless our mission to bring joy to our audience now more than ever.
We must change this adversity of this unprecedented time into an opportunity. Further refining our skills and expanding our professional network is a productive engagement which can lead to improved self-confidence.
‘Atelier d’ Excellence’ is a new initiative that you developed during the pandemic, which focuses on giving artists the chance to have an online opera “coach”. Can you tell me more about the project and how you developed the idea?
MZ: After many personal dialogues with young singers I deeply felt the anxiety and anguish about their future while confined at home. We must change this adversity of this unprecedented time into an opportunity. Further refining our skills and expanding our professional network is a productive engagement which can lead to improved self-confidence. Atelier d’Excellence mentors young artists on next steps in their career and helps them identify their uniqueness. We also offer artists the opportunity to connect and be evaluated by internationally acclaimed opera experts without the burden of travel from the convenience of their home.
How do you think lockdown has affected the job market for creatives? Do you have any advice for young musicians trying to access opportunities during the crisis?
MZ: The lockdown had a profoundly negative financial impact on performing organizations. Thousands of performances all over the world got cancelled, theaters and concert halls are still closed or function with restrictions. Regrettably in some cases working staff and artists have been fired. Understandably, this situation can lead to insolvency with dire consequences for cultural life. In the near future we can expect fewer performances and fewer opportunities for young artists. My advice is to thoroughly prepare for the return to normality and suppress negative sentiment. Finding alternative ways to showcase talent like online events and recordings is a productive engagement. It is also an opportune time to expand professional networks and open doors for future events two or three years ahead of time.
One of the objectives of Atelier d’ Excellence is to prepare artists so that they will “maximize the chance of being selected by a top-notch agent”. How do you support this goal?
MZ: Our belief at AdE is that agents select artists not the contrary. Our goal therefore is to prepare young singers for the demands of the job market that are often not addressed during their education. We help artists assess their state of readiness and offer them specific solutions to refine their skills. This must be done before being exposed to the professional world. The competition for jobs is intense and it has become more difficult than ever to get noticed by employers. Establishing an operatic career is a matter of right choices and strategy in addition to vocal technique. At AdE we guide artists to adopt practices that work and train them to develop independent decision making.
On your website, you include many webinars and ways of coaching. What has the response been like so far? Do you approach online coaching in the same way as you would an in-person coaching session?
MZ: In the fiercely competitive opera world success is measured by quality and not quantity. Several highly talented, young opera singers and professionals from all over the world have attended our webinars. Many participants have attended multiple events and report improvements in their professional development. Our approach to online coaching is essentially the same as with in-person coaching. Although non-verbal cues constitute 80% of communication, we can achieve a lot with video sessions provided that camera placement and microphone clarity are of high quality.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in a music career now, seeking to follow in your footsteps?
MZ: I would counsel younger artists not to abandon their dreams. The work one has to do is massive. There will be lots of frustration and times of solitude. Concentrating on the satisfaction one derives after a successful performance and the joy felt by the audience is worth the effort. Past mistakes should not define the artist or their experience. They can be a learning opportunity and a starting point for what to correct.
You have some new music releases on the way. Can you tell me more about them and what they signify for you?
MZ: I recently created some new recordings of arias that represent my technical refinement in bel canto. I recommend that artists should renew their professional material on a regular basis in order to stay competitive. In terms of future plans I am planning to participate at an online event dedicated to the life of opera singer Maria Malibran (Rossini’s muse) and record songs of contemporary Greek composers that have achieved international fame.
Maria's new music releases:
Which are your plans regarding your online initiative? Do you think that this “tool” might be an integral part of the “new normal” of creative collaboration in the future?
MZ: I believe that Atelier d’Excellence has staying power. The pandemic was the pretext for its creation but the need preexisted Covid-19. AdE is filling a mentorship gap regarding the transition from young artist to young professional. Artists have the opportunity to become part of a global network that will inspire and serve them for the rest of their careers. And this without the burden of travel and related costs. In September 2020 we are planning to launch our “AdE Accademia di Perfezionamento di Canto Lirico”. The academy will be graced by guest mentors from some of the principal theaters of the world. They will be scholarship opportunities for exceptionally talented singers with demonstrated financial need. Updates on our academy can be found in: www.atelierdexcellence.org.
You can also have a look at Maria's profile and new releases at these links:
and learn more about AdE here: