How did you first come to opera?

I was into pop and choral singing, so I took a voice lesson to prepare myself for college auditions. I had every intention of minoring in music – just because I loved it – and majoring in psychology. I began my studies as a mezzo-soprano, singing mostly pants roles and comic characters that didn’t resonate with me. When I switched to soprano at the end of my time as an undergraduate, I found my niche in the tragic heroines. Since then I’ve been hooked!

Corinne Winters, Opera Australia, La Traviata, ViolettaSoprano Corinne Winters. Photo © Fay Fox

Who would you consider to have been your most important musical influences to date? 

First my dad, who has a great ear and a deep love for music. Singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and great divas from the past like Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi have shaped my aesthetic as an artist. Their voices are both beautiful and raw, always serving the text. I approach my work with the same ethic. Beautiful tone draws people in, but primal emotion breaks hearts – an easy thing to forget after years of higher education...