Entrevista con Maria Jesús Castro Araya, joven soprano costarricense y estudiante del Istituto Europeo

Maria Jesús Castro Araya

 de Ilaria Gelichi

Cuentanos un poco de tí: de donde vienes,  que has estudiado, lo que te gusta hacer...

Me llamo Maria Jesús Castro, vengo de Costa Rica, tengo 23 años y soy estudiante de canto en la Univesidad de Costa Rica. Estoy perfeccionando no solo la parte musical sino la parte de la cultura: me gusta mucho también el arte, la danza y la pintura. Soy soprano; trabajé como mezzosoprano por 3 años y despues en los últimos 2 años he trabajado como soprano.

¿Cuando comenzó la pasion por la música?

Desde pequeña. Mi mamá dice que yo chiquitita de 4 años cantaba y bailaba y le pedía que me grabaran con la cámara de video! Yo era muy tímida, pero las profesoras me escogían por participar; entonces la timidez se me quitó! Empezé a cantar en los coros, despues en el colegio seguí con el coro de la iglesia y cuando tenía 15 años le dijí a mi mamá que quería estudiar canto. Comenzé clases privadas de canto popular (rock...) con una profesora y quando al final del colegio tenía ya que decidir para estudiar en la universidad, hize la prueba de admisión en canto para la universidad: de 60 personas que hicieron prueba etramos en 5. Entonces iba a estudiar Medicina, pero por haber entrado a canto escogí Orientación y al mismo tiempo lo que es el canto.

¿Porqué has escogido la ciudad de Florencia para profundizar tus estudios de música?

Recibimos la información del Istituto Europeo en la Universidad en Costa Rica y nos pareció muy interesante y llamativa. Me puse a investigar un poco más sobre Florencia y siento que fué la mejor elección. Estando aquí, me digo: ¡que dicha que escogimos Florencia! Porqué es el lugar donde hay más arte, donde nace todo y que es muy práctico. El Istituto está muy bien, nos ha gustado mucho.

¿Que cursos estas frecuentando al Istituto Europeo? ¿Te gustan?

Estoy frecuentando el curso intensivo de italiano, que ha sido muy interesante y me ha gustado mucho; he aprendido mucho para estar poco tiempo. Despues estoy llevando el curso de técnica del canto, donde tuve la oportunidad di estar con Valeria y con Diego: excelentes los dos. Con ellos ha sido muy claro y muy fácil de entender, entonces me ha gustado mucho.

¿Que haces en este momento en Costa Rica?

Estoy estudiando en la Universidad de Costa Rica, ya me gradué en la carrera de Orientación. Trabajo dando clases y también estudio en la Universidad en la carrera de Música con enfasis en canto.

¿En el campo musical, hay diferencias entre Italia y Costa Rica?

En el campo musical en general, puedo decir que hay algunas diferencias muy significativas. En técnica, con mi profesora en Costa Rica trabajamos muy parecido, entonces no hay tanta diferencia técnica. Pero en el ambiente, sí: acá hay muchos teatros, en Costa Rica hay el Teatro principal, que es el teatro nacional de Costa Rica, donde solo se hace una producción de ópera al año. Entonces, al hacer solo una producción de ópera al año, los jovenes cantantes no tengon tantas oportunidades de entrar, porqué escogen aquellos que ya tengan más carrera. Este año 2014 van a haber pequeñas producciones, pero no tanto como acá. En Italia un cantante de ópera tiene mayor posibilidad de hacer carrera, porqué hay mucha variedad. En Costa Rica hay muchos conciertos, que no he visto acá - pero me imagino que es porqué es invierno – y nosotros podemos hacer varios conciertos al año, pero casi no hay la oportunidad de participar en una ópera.

¿Que es lo que te gusta más de Italia y de Florencia?

La ciudad de Florencia es mágica. Lo que me gusta más es el Ponte Vecchio, la joyería, la historia. Es una ciudad muy rica en cultura, no solo en música, sino también en arte en general. Me encantan las iglesias: yo soy muy católica, entonces me gusta mucho visitar las iglesias. Es muy impresionante también ver estos grandes edificios de tantos años atrás: es muy rico no solo en arquitectura, sino también en el lenguaje – aquí el italiano es facil de entender, ¡en Roma no entendíamos nada! Por eso, me he sentido muy a gusto en la ciudad.

¿Cuales son tus objectivos por el futuro?

Bueno, ¡el sueño es seguir cantando! En un futuro un poco más lejano, me gustaria mucho también estudiar musicoterapia, para unirla a otra carrera con la música, y poder dar musicoterapia en Costa Rica, que es una carrera que no existe en mi pais. Ahora, me gustaría tener la posibilidad de cantar en ópera y tal véz venir algunos años acá en Italia y tratar de hacer algunas producciones aquí. Seguramente quiero seguir estudiando, porqué yo digo siempre que los cantantes no terminan de aprender nunca: siempre hay que actualizarse en la técnica. Otro sueño es formar una familia y también seguir aprendiendo el italiano: cuando voy a llegar a la universidad, voy a matricular un curso de italiano también.

Contactanos! info@istitutoeuropeo.it - www.istitutoeuropeo.it

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Dina Shikhman, a young Canadian soprano at ISTITUTO EUROPEO for a Study Abroad in Music

Dina

by Ilaria Gelichi

1. Dina, you are studying Vocal Technique for opera singers at ISTITUTO EUROPEO with Susanna Rigacci. Why did you choose her and how is your relationship?

When I was researching places to study in Italy, I came across Istituto Europeo and I kind of just knew I had to study here. I researched the teachers at Istituto Europeo and came across Susanna Rigacci. I listened to her singing on YouTube, then I spoke to my teachers back home and they all agreed that she would be the right choice for me. I didn’t give up until I received confirmation that she would be my teacher. I am currently studying with Susanna here in Florence and I really enjoy the lessons and the relationship we have, we have a great mutual understanding.

2. What do you think you are learning particularly from Susanna?

I can say that the Italian style of singing and the North American style are very different. In North America, there is more pressure to be perfect always. Before coming here I was focusing completely on technique and Susanna gave me the opportunity to actually sing and blossom in my own singing style. She is helping me to explore different ways to achieve vocal greatness. I’m doing a lot of exercises and different techniques I don’t usually do at home. She is also helping me to become more free.

3.  Culturally speaking – but in regards to music too - have you noticed many differences between your country, Canada, and Italy?

I have always had pressure – as I said earlier - to be the best but what I learned here and particularly from Susanna is that I cannot be perfect now. I will eventually get better but “no one is ever perfect”, she said, “I’m still learning now”. For her it’s important that I achieve the right position, the right point, from which I can then improve.

In regards to culture in general, I find that Italians are very relaxed and not very strict with time. Their lifestyle is much more taking it day by day, minute by minute almost. You will hardly ever see an Italian in a rush, which is very different than Toronto.  

4. What do you think about the city of Florence?

I have heard that Florence is the most beautiful city in the world, from everyone who had been here before I came. I can say that this is definitely true. In Florence there is a lot of beautiful art, history and architecture and I love that. Here I’ve seen some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and that’s just on my walk to school. I feel that in Toronto if you want to see art and history you have to go out and find it; whereas here in Florence, it’s everywhere. I wasn’t expecting the city to be so full of history, like the old cobblestone roads, the buildings, etc. I think it’s extremely difficult to drive in this city. I always walk and that’s great because I don’t think I would have seen as much as I’ve seen if I wasn’t walking around everywhere, exploring and being able to stop – if I had a car this wouldn’t be possible.

5. How did you start as a singer? How did you realize that you wanted to become a singer?

When I was very little, about a few months old, my parents where shocked because my dad used to sing to me and I hummed the melody back. When I was 3 I started doing “concerts” for the neighbourhood, everyday at lunch time. Then we moved to Canada and my parents put me in a music school, where I performed and studied for many years. One day my mother saw an advertisement in the newspaper for an opera singer who was offering lessons so she suggested we go hear what a professional’s opinion. I went to see him and he said “she has to sing opera, she’s got a talent”. So I started studying opera when I was 11 and I just never stopped. Then I went to university to study classical voice performance and that’s how I ended up in Florence finishing the last credits of my undergraduate degree.

6. What are your plans for the future? Do you have goals to reach?

I definitely have goals to reach. Of course my plans are to become a famous opera singer, a really famous one. Like Susanna, because she is known all over the world, I’ve heard of her in Toronto. I want to be known… It would be true success – that, and also being able to have an equally successful family life.

7. In your opinion, which is the best quality an opera singer should have?

Patience. Which I don’t have! I want my voice to just “work” right way, but it takes time and lots of meticulous work. There are lots of seemingly boring, annoying exercises which will get you there and you have to do, and patience is the key… A quality that I definitely lack, but I think it’s really important for opera singers. And also perseverance- you really need to have a goal in mind and you have to work towards it, you can’t give up. You have to be positive all the time… Also something I lack!

8. “A winner never quits. A quitter never wins.” Is that true?

Yes, that’s true for sure. I know people who have quit and others who even though they might not be the best, they don’t give up. It’s like that with every profession I think, not just opera: the minute you give up, you’re not serious, you don’t want it badly enough.

9. Has this experience in Italy changed you in some way?

Yes, I think it has changed me in a lot of ways. It taught me to be independent: I still live with my parents and I’m the youngest of 3 children and I’ve always had my family and friends and around me as my support system. Being alone in another country made me stronger mentally and taught me to be my own support system. Also, when I’m at home I always find a reason not to practice, because I don’t like singing in front of my family. I also have practice rooms at school back home, but I never found the time or reason to. Maybe I was too unmotivated… I find that I practice here a lot more than I do at home, which definitely helps me.

10. Have you already started working with any opera companies?

Yes, I have. When I was about 12 I joined the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus in Toronto. They are an excellent chorus led by excellent musicians and people. The Canadian Opera Company (who is the resident company in the Four Seasons Opera House in Toronto) always turns to the CCOC first when casting children in their productions. I performed in the children’s chorus in productions such as La Boheme, Carmen, and I even had the role of 3^rd spirit in the Magic Flute when I was about 12-13. Last year during the 3^rd year of my undergraduate my teachers suggested I audition for Opera in Concert, which is a company in Toronto. I guess they liked me because I’m still working with them now-it’s my second season. I haven’t only performed in the chorus of Opera in Concert, I also had the supporting role of Myrtale in Thais. The director of Opera in Concert is the same of Toronto Operetta Theatre, and I’ve done 3 opererttas now with them. While I was in Italy now I went back to Canada for 2 weeks because I got an offer to do a role with that company. Opportunities come and go… and since this was during my fall break I am grateful that I had the ability to accept this one.

11. Would you recommend an experience like yours at ISTITUTO EUROPEO?

Definitely. Especially If you are studying opera as I do. I think it has helped me to grow, and to learn a lot. Studying Italian in Italy (as studying any language in its home country) is extremely helpful, because you are forced to speak it with people who don’t understand you. I’m good at languages generally, but I never learned one so quickly. Studying Italian here helped me immensely to learn it much quicker. But also singing: where else you can study opera if not in Italy?

Recibe lecciones en el ISTITUTO EUROPEO de Susanna Rigacci, la famosa soprano conocida internazionalmente

 de Encarni Tirado

Susanna Rigacci es una famosa y apreciada soprano, conocida tanto en Italia como en el extranjero. Nació en Estocolmo, Suiza y terminó su carrera musical en el conservatotio Luigi Cherubini de Florencia. Posteriormente completó su especialización con Iris Adami Corradetti, bajo esta dirección Maria fue reconocida Internacionalmente como “María Callas” Competición (concurso RAI 1983) y Sängerförderungspreis” en Mozateum, Salzburg 1985.

Susanna ha actuado en los teatros más famosos y prestigiosos de Italia: La Escalera en Milán, Mayo Musical Florentino en Florencia, La Ceniza en Venecia, El Arena en Verona – este último durante el concierto de Ennio Morricone, el 11 de septiembre de 2004 y otra vez este año en el mes de agosto.

También ha cantado en el extranjero en Carnegie Hall, Nueva York, Ópera Comique y Teatro Châtelet en París, Praga Filarmónica, Hall de la Reina Isabel, Ópera de Wallonie en Liège, La Academia de Sibelius en Helsinki, Fundación Gulbenkian en Lisboa, el Festival Wexford, el Teatro municipal de Mallorca y Staatsteater en Berna.

En 2011 participó en el Festival de Sanremo como acompañante de voz en el Yo confieso de La Cruz. Desde 2001 es la cocalista de Ennio Morricone (Oscar 2007).

Susanna Rigacci ha trabajado en el ISTITUTO EUROPEO como Profesora de Tecnica Vocal durante los últimos años y ha dado clases a un gran número de estudiantes extranjeros. Canta en 6 lenguas y muchos estudiantes la piden como su profesor de técnica vocal.

Después del gran éxito obtenido durante el verano en el Festival de Omega 2013 en Florencia, con óperas como “La Traviata” y “Madama la mariposa”, el pasado 3 de septiembre de 2013 Omega ha dedicado a Susanna una noche en unos de los lugares más importantes de Florencia, La Limonaia de Villa Strozzi. En el piano estaba su hermanos, Pietro Rigacci, las piezas de música que tocaban eran de Haendel, Vivaldi, Rossini, Donizetti, Puccini y otros. Un grupo de estudiantes del ISTITUTO EUROPEO participó en el concierto, y resultó tener un gran éxito.

Take lessons at ISTITUTO EUROPEO with Susanna Rigacci, worldwide famous soprano

by Ilaria Gelichi

Susanna Rigacci is a famous and appreciated soprano, well-known both in Italy and abroad. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden and finished her musical training at the Luigi Cherubini conservatory in Florence and successively completed her specialization with Iris Adami Corradetti, under whose direction she was recognized and awarded at the International "Maria Callas" Competition (Concorso RAI 1983) and "Sängerförderungspreis" at the Mozarteum in Salzburg 1985.
Susanna has performed in Italy's most prestigious theaters: some are la Scala in Milan, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, La Fenice in Venice, the Arena in Verona – this last one during Ennio Morricone’s concert on September, 11th 2004 and again this year in the month of August.

She has also sung abroad at Carnegie Hall in New York, Opéra Comique and Théatre Châtelet in Paris, Prague Philharmonic, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Opéra de Wallonie in Liège, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Fundaçao Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Wexford Festival, Teatro Municipale in Mallorca and Staatsteater in Bern.

In 2011 she took part at the Festival di Sanremo as accompanying voice in the song Io confesso by La Crus. Since 2001 she is the vocalist of Ennio Morricone (Oscar 2007).

Susanna Rigacci works at ISTITUTO EUROPEO as Professor of Vocal Technique and during the last years she has taught to a great number of foreign students. She sings in 6 languages and many students ask for her as their teacher of vocal technique.

Following the great success obtained during the summer at OMEGA FESTIVAL 2013 in Florence, with operas such as “La Traviata” and “Madama Butterfly”, last September 3rd 2013 OMEGA dedicated to Susanna an evening at one of the most important halls in Florence, the Limonaia di Villa Strozzi. At the piano there was her brother, M.° Pietro Rigacci; the pieces of music played were by Haendel, Vivaldi, Rossini, Donizetti, Puccini and others. A group of ISTITUTO EUROPEO’s students participated at the concert, which was a big success.