The soprano Sara had recently made a strong comeback via the opera Once Upon a Snowsieged Country after being away from the operatic stage due to health reasons for half a year. During the media preview event last night, Once Upon a Snowsieged Country stirred up hot discussion amongst the Belobog media with its star-studded cast and their outstanding performance.
Sara, Goliards Awards recipient and six-time nominee for Best Female Opera Singer, a heavyweight in the opera scene and a very respected senior, was long used to drama and grand occasions in this profession. And yet, she shed rare tears when she spoke about Once Upon a Snowsieged Country.
"I didn't want to accept the role for Alisa Rand. I thought my body hadn't fully recovered, and my resonance at the high notes were not as clear as before. But Carola told me this was her final work before she says goodbye to opera. So, after some thought, I decided to bear with it and take this role." Sara explained to us the twists and turns behind her journey to the role of Supreme Guardian Alisa Rand in Once Upon a Snowsieged Country.
From more than ten years ago, the legendary female opera conductor Carola was already collaborating with Sara, who had just entered the operatic stage at that time. Sara had stopped her literature studies at the University of Belobog to chase her dreams of music. However, Carola was already a legendary conductor famous throughout Belobog. Not only was there a large age gap between her and Sara, they were also very different in recognition and career stage. How did they become such bosom friends?
"I was very young, and like many young people, I had a big appetite but a thin wallet. My friendship with Carola started with food." This soprano, who is now a new legend, spoke of how she met Carola. They met at a charity gala hosted by a theater. Sara was just focused on eating, and Carola also held a plate. They then met in front of the same dish. More than a decade later, the two ladies with similar culinary tastes have already been friends for many years.
Unfortunately, Carola had decided to retire due to her advancing age, and she chose Once Upon a Snowsieged Country as her farewell piece. Sara told us that Carola was not the only one who joined the Once Upon a Snowsieged Country cast because of a stubborn dream. The director Figaro wanted to challenge himself with a serious drama focused on a group of people, making a perfect start to his career transition. Meanwhile, for established operatic legends such as Sara, Carola, and the composer Andrew, they wanted to innovate and create a new road for the field of opera.
"If you've read the program or the fliers for Once Upon a Snowsieged Country, you'd know that it is actually a story about a group of people, even though I was listed as lead female." Sara explained. Once Upon a Snowsieged Country chose six legendary Supreme Guardians in the history of Belobog, and recounted their illustrious lives to their successor in the story. Apart from Sara playing Alisa Rand, over half of the characters are played by new actors. Sara and her peers, the "Walking Opera Legends," want to help young people to make a name in this industry by putting more established performers with newcomers. This was how Sara and Carola got to know each other years before. As Carola is about to leave the stage, Sara wants to continue the story between her and her friend in some way or other.
"To love, that wants nothing in return. To dreams, that won't allow us to turn back. And, to the future of opera." Smiling, Sara lifted a glass of water to us. Using water instead of alcohol, she offered her sincerest wishes to the future of opera.