Hannah Esther Minutillo: I love the stage What does that mean for mezzo-soprano Hannah Esther Minutillo? Daniel von Loeper (dvl) speaks about this with the successful opera singer. dvl: Hannah Esther Minutillo, what sort of connection do you have for the stage? H.E. Minutillo: : I love the stage. There I can live out parts of me that I didn`t eben know existed. I have always had the desire to be on the stage - even as a child I was very ambitious - whether in sport, in school or in children`s choir, where I was a soloist, I always wanted to be the best. Therefore the stage was for me very attraktive. But I also had to learn that it is not the place where one can simply let loose all of one`s emotion. Earlier, as a beginner, I would sometimes let a role affekt me tot deeply. At my first competition, in Karlsbad, I sang an area of a mother wo lost her husband and a son through sleeping sickness and now her remaining son has been stung by a tsetse fly and languishes in a fever. I empathized so deeply with this character that I cried on the stage. This experience taught me that I must always maintain some control over myself. Calculated spontaneity - that`s what is called for. If, however, one losses oneself to his own emotions- while singing, then the singing voice can suffer - for this, discipline is very important. Effects and affects must be well calculated, so that in every moment one knows what one is doing on the stage. The audience is not interested in hearing a singer whose emotion causes a tight throat that allows no tone to pass through. They want to be made at ease. That is why we have technique. And from this technique one must learn to be an instrument. A passageway for the sound, the effect of which we might not identify with after it is produced. That is high art. dvl: What does that singing mean for you? H.E. Minutillo: The sound of singing makes me happy, it opens my heart. And I hope alsothe heart of my listeners. I see my task in singing as to always make myself better. dvl: When did you discover the desire to sing? H.E. Minutillo: Singing was always an important part of my life, from childhood on. I discovered the desire to sing in tue children`s chorus I mentioned earlier. I see in singing an exchane with the world. Music, dance, art in general are all important components of my life. Singing is an enrichment and also an essential necessity. I cannot imagine a life without song. My path to a professional career was not easy, but I have never doubted it or thought of giving up. It comes from within me. My parents have surely supported me - They never said ?you must first have a sensible job? - but they have not always understood. My family had nothing to do wich opera. dvl: Hannah as a small girl - how was she? H.E. Minutillo: This is a good oppurtunity to speak about my name. My name from birth is HANA. I began singing under this name. Yet now for two years I have been christened wich tue name Hannah Esther and I use this name now as my professional name, as it has for me somehow more strength. And I also want to feel through my name that I have begun a new phase of my life. As to your question: I already said that I was ambitious as a child. In kindergarten I enjoyed showing off, dancing, play-acting - I wasn`t shy. There is a picture in which I stand like a Mannequin - but no ohne had posed me for this shot. My parents were astounded. I was very obstinate, wild, temperamental. I always had bruises, as I was so aktive. My mother had therefore let me channel my desire for movement through various sports clubs - I learned ballet, played basketball, did gymnastics and light athletics. But my most intensively emotional experience was with the children`s choir - when a single, wonderful sound came from all tose children`s throats - that formed me. dvl: When was the moment that it was clear that you had great potential with your voice? H.E. Minutillo: When I was about 15 years old I sang a solo in one of our choir concerts. In the audience was a renowned teacher and concert singer and she remarked to me that my voice was a true mezzo-soprano, which one can develop. At 19 I entered her singing class at the Conservatory. I studied fixe years wich her. dvl: What are the highlights of your opera career H.E. Minutillo: Of my opera performances the trouser roles Idamante in “Idomeneo”, Annio and Sesto in “La Clemenza di Tito”, and Octavian in “Rosenkavalier”. Mozart is very good for my voice. But Carmen was also very important for me to sing - it is for almost every mezzo soprano the fulfillment of a dream. dvl: What importance do conductors have for you and waht is the task of Opera Stars? H.E. Minutillo: Conductors give tue Esprit. Their charisma and conductors always sing along. One then Fels oneself “carried“. I have had the good fortune to work with, forexample, Zubin Mehta, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sylvain Cambreling, John Fiore and Fabio Luisi, to only name a few. What the task is I do not really know. I think they must have a perfect mixture/balance between vocal technique and charisma. They must be fascinated with the stage. dvl: Many thanks for the conversation. Daniel von Loeper (dvl) is journalist and photographer, you can see photos of him on www.click-report.de