Fording the stream from opera to musicals, this plucky opera singer explains the differences between performing the two genres.

Now I’ve forded the stream from opera to musicals, folk seem interested in the difference between performing in the two genres. So here it is from my perspective:

First Day: In opera, you’re expected to turn up on day one with the role completely under your belt and polished. In musical theatre, you have help learning your part and coaching in rehearsals. This is a lovely experience – everyone learning together – but would be impossible in opera as there is just so much music!

The Schedule: For The Sound Of Music (SOM), we rehearsed six days a week, eventually running the show every day between note sessions, singing full voice. In opera, you occasionally hit a rehearsal schedule this heavy, but it’s your call whether you ‘sing out’ in every rehearsal or ‘mark’ a reasonable amount to save your voice. It’s assumed that you know your own voice and its capabilities backwards. With SOM, we worked long hours every day up to opening night, with many additional publicity calls and an extended media call the morning of the opening. In...