FGO's "Meet Our Artist" series continues with Sydney Mancasola. A Grand Finals winner of the 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a recent graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Ms. Mancasola has been praised by the New York Times for her “lovely lyric soprano and radiant high notes.”
This February, Sydney will make her FGO debut as Leïla in our production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. Keep reading for her exclusive "Meet Our Artists" interview.
Sydney Mancasola will be performing the role of Leïla in Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers on February 28, March 1, 3, and 6.
Hello, Sydney, and welcome to Florida Grand Opera! Why don't we start things off by having you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Sydney Mancasola, and I will be playing the role of Leïla. I’m originally from Redding, California, although I have lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the past four years. My path to opera was a bit circuitous. I began my musical studies at age 2 on the violin and continued studying until I was about 15, when my beloved teacher passed away. I had also developed an affinity for theater at a young age and decided that it would be a good idea to develop my voice. When I began voice lessons I was exposed to the operatic literature, and it felt like a perfect fusion of my two passions.
One of the things I love about opera is that it’s an art form that, the more you dive into it, the more it has the ability to touch you. There is always something new to learn and express. No matter how well a performance goes, I’m never completely satisfied because I know there is more that is possible. That’s what I love.
Let's continue with a fun "ice-breaker." If there were a “Sydney Mancasola Cocktail,” what would the recipe be and why?
Champagne with lavender bitters: The champagne because I have a love for fine things, and the lavender to represent my earthier side and free spirit.Speaking of your free spirit, we hear that you have an affinity for yoga. How did you get into this, and do you feel yoga has impacted your singing in any way?
When I was a teenager, I was very serious about dance. It was one of the things that was difficult for me to give up when I began seriously pursuing the operatic career. Over the past few years, yoga has been a new way for me to challenge myself physically. Recently I began studying Ashtanga yoga, which is a system of yoga that is very intensive and that requires a lot of devotion. Yoga has had many benefits for me, but in terms of my singing, I think the most important benefit has been helping me center my mind and deal with the stress that comes from pursuing a career as an operatic soprano. One challenge that has come with my Ashtanga practice is that both Ashtanga yoga and singing opera are breath-centered practices. However, the breathing techniques are vastly different. It’s taken me some time to figure out how to switch back and forth with ease.
Very cool! Now let's transition back to opera.
How would you explain the plot of The Pearl Fishers to a newcomer to the opera?
The Pearl Fishers would be a great opera for someone’s first operatic experience. It’s set in a fishing village in ancient Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).The story is based on a classic love triangle. At the beginning of the opera, Nadir and Zurga have sworn a brotherly friendship to each other, and Leïla has made a sacred oath for the safety of the village. Unfortunately, both oaths are threatened by the fact that Nadir and Zurga are in love with Leïla.
When Nadir discovers Leïla returns his love, he cannot help but pursue her, but when Zurga finds out he is blinded by jealousy and sentences the two lovers to death.
What Zurga doesn’t realize at the time is that when Leïla was a little girl, she saved his life. Once he makes this discovery, he has a change of heart, sacrificing himself for the safety of Leïla and Nadir.
If you, Sydney, were in a similar situation that Leïla finds herself in (caught in a love triangle), how do you think you’d react?
I would likely cave from the pressure of the situation and inexplicably leave town. End up somewhere else with a new identity and start fresh. Hey, at least fewer people would die!
Ha! Yes, we agree that's probably the safer choice.
This is a new role for you. What is the most challenging part about preparing this role?
Initially the most challenging thing about it was that I really didn’t know a stitch of it. I wasn’t very familiar with the opera, so it really was like starting from ground zero. I wasn’t even sure if it was going to be something that fit my voice well.Fortunately, I fell in love with the piece almost instantaneously, and musically it fit like a glove. My favorite thing about this role is how diverse the vocal writing is. In the first act I get to sing a prayer to Brahma with florid melismas and airy cadenzas, and by the final duet with Zurga, my music becomes very grounded and more lyrical. It’s a great challenge and gives me the opportunity to play with my instrument.
I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to perform this role so early in my career because it is quickly becoming a new favorite!
Fantastic! What’s your favorite moment in the entire opera?
In the duet with Zurga, Leïla says “Accorde moi sa vie Zurga, je t’en conjure pour m’aider á mourir,” which is loosely translated to “Grant me his life, Zurga, I beg of you to help me to die.”This is the moment where Leïla asks Zurga to take her life and save Nadir. It’s the culmination of this plea that required so much courage by Leïla, and it is written in a way that perfectly depicts both her desperation and her resolve in this moment.
Now for our audiences: Why should people come to see this production of The Pearl Fishers?
I think people should see this production of The Pearl Fishers, whether or not they have seen it before, because Bizet’s score is one that is impossible to enjoy only once. You have to hear it again and again, because the music absolutely transports the listener. I think it’s a hugely undervalued piece in the repertoire, and if you open yourself to it, it has a great power to move you.And, finally: What role do you hope to perform in the future?
Gilda in Rigoletto is at the top of my list. It’s been my favorite opera since the very beginning and I’m dying to sing it.Ok… I’m dying to sing it somewhere other than my shower.
To see Sydney Mancasola perform the role of Leïla in Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, please call our Box Office Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, at 800.741.1010 or order securely online, 24-hours a day, at FGO.org.
What a beautifully written piece—this really highlights both talent and dedication in such an inspiring way. It’s always fascinating to learn more about artists and their journeys, and this post captures that perfectly. For anyone looking to develop their own skills, working with a singing coach sydney can be incredibly valuable.
ReplyDelete