Dominika Zamara
Dominika Zamara is a very talented soprano singer who is originally from Poland and now resides in Italy. Coming from a musical family, Dominika got an early start in music with piano lessons from her grandfather - who was a very good organist. As Dominika explains, "Music and opera was always a part of me. Since I was a child, I was always singing." She took her singing talents through college when she secured a scholarship to continue her studies at the Music Conservatory in Verona Italy. Dominika has remained in Italy ever since and is now involved in major opera productions - in the land where opera was born. She never rests on her laurels as she works with orchestras, chamber ensembles and duo's... anything to enhance her career. In May of 2017 she will be performing a few shows in New Jersey in the United States. The performances will take place on Wednesday May 3, Morristown, New Jersey at the Grace Church at 7:30 PM - with a general rehearsal that is open to the audience. A Full performance will be at 7:30 PM on May 5 the Opera Bastien und Bastienne (New Jersey) May 10 Dominika will be in performing in a duo recital at the library in Princeton with classical guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz. They will be performing the music of Croatian romantic composer Ivan Padovec, as well as arias of Mauro Giuliani. I recently asked Dominika a few questions about her career.
R.V.B. - Was there any incident that started your journey to being a singer? Did you come from a musical family?
D.Z. - Music and opera was always a part of me. Since I was a child, I was singing always. My grandfather was great organist and my first piano teacher. He inspired me a lot for art. I was born to sing and give emotions to my audience.
R.V.B. - Did you play any musical instruments as a young girl or did you go straight into singing?
D.Z. - I started to play the piano when I was 7 years old. I think that every singer should play some musical instrument. It helped me a lot with my singing also. Now when I am studying my opera character, I am studying myself, without any coach.
R.V.B. - Do you remember your first recital? How did it go?
D.Z. - Yes. My first serious recital was in Poland in prestigious concert hall Oratorium Marianum... together with the amazing tenor Vasilij Paladijcuk. It was metaphysic moment with a lot of emotions. I just felt that music is magical part of my life.
R.V.B. - How did you enjoy your college years? Is there any memories of things that you may have learned from your instructors that stick with your music today?
D.Z. - I was lucky to find a really great - and special - voice and music teacher, when I won a scholarship to the Conservatory in Verona Italy. I was studying with the best voice teacher and world class conductors from Teatro alla Scala in Milan... such as: Maestro Enrico De Mori and Maestro Mario Melani. It was very difficult Italian Bel canto - old school - but I really learned a lot.
R.V.B. - You spent a year of learning in Italy. Was that experience a lot different than in your home town?
D.Z. - I still live and sing in Italy for the past 10 years, and I am still learning. Every one of my concerts is an art lesson for me. I think that Italy is the most important country for opera singers because opera was born in Florence... and really the bel canto technique can only improve in Italy.
R.V.B. - Do you have any favorite classical or romantic music composers?
D.Z. - Of course… many… I love so much Fryderyk Chopin. His piano compositions inspired me for singing. Now I am working with the great Italian pianist Maestro Franco Moro - on recording a CD of the complete work of Chopin for voice and piano.
I love of course, Italian Bel canto composers. Especially Bellini and Donizetti. I love very much Russian composers like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.
R.V.B. - Do you have any favorite opera roles?
D.Z. - I love a lot of Mozart operas. I love singing the part of Susanna from opera Le nozze di Figaro. I love very much recently, the part of Adina from the opera L’Elisir D’Amore of Donizetti… and many others.
R.V.B. - You have performed in many great venues that the world has to offer. Can you share a few highlights of some performances that you really enjoyed?
D.Z. - I am lucky because my voice invited me to sing in many amazing theaters and concert halls around the world. I remember with great sentiment my amazing recital in Mexico City, in beautiful Manuel Ponce Concert Hall. It had such a warm audience.
I remember a Lincoln Center concert in Avery Fisher Hall with amazing World Peace Orchestra... Kevin Spacey introduced concert.
I remember an amazing concert I had in Korea - in Busan with World Bridge Orchestra - conducted by the amazing conductor Maestro Daniel Park..
I love to sing with the great conductor Maestro Robert W Butts. We performed together in the amazing opera La Serva Padrona of Pergolesi... in Italy, at Teatro San Domenico in Crema and in Dollan Hall, with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey..
And so many others. Every concert is special for me..
R.V.B. - As a singer you have to be prepared and rehearsed prior to a performance. Did you ever have to perform when you may have not felt very good?
D.Z. - Of course I am professional opera singer and I am perfectionist.
I have to be prepared very well - always - for my performances because I respect my audience very much.
Sometimes of course, it can happen that I have to perform at a very important concert with only one rehearsal, and with completely new for me... orchestra.
Yes. Sometimes I feel very bad and I have to sing. In this case, only good voice technique can help me.
R.V.B. - How do you enjoy the world travel?
D.Z. - I love travel around the world so much. When I am singing around the world, I feel alive. I have a slight nature of a gypsy. haha
R.V.B. - You perform in a number of different ways... from large symphony orchestras to duo's. Is there any difference in preparation for these different performances?
D.Z. - Great question! Yes. it is true that I perform with: symphony orchestras, with chamber orchestras, with piano, or with classical guitar - like we created a duo with great American classical guitarist virtuoso Maestro Stanley Alexandrowicz.
Of course with symphony orchestra, I perform a different kind of repertoire then with piano or guitar. My way of singing changes a little bit depending on the situation.
R.V.B. - You're coming to New York shortly in 2017. What is on your agenda?
D.Z. - I will come very soon to the USA. I will be singing in the opera Bastien und Bstienne of Mozart, with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey - conducted by Maestro Robert W Butts. I will also perform a recital with classical guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz at Princeton, doing the music of Croatian romantic composer Ivan Padovec, as well as arias of Mauro Giuliani.
R.V.B. - What are your proud of about your career up to this point?
D.Z. - Haha. I am the worst and the most cruel critic of myself. I never proud of myself. I always wish I can do better and better.
Even when audience and my fans give me so many congratulations for my voice and interpretation, I wish to do it better.
I am only the slave of Art.
Interview conducted by Robert von Bernewitz
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For more information on Dominika Zamara please visit her website www.dominikazamara.eu
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