Claudia Oddo, Italian soprano (songwriter, compositor, choir master & vocal coach)
What is the best thing that I love about my work? In my work, I love to learn every day, because of the experience of being creative with my voice and piano music. I share magical moments while performing with great musicians and love to touch the hearts of my audience. Also, while performing my own compositions, I feel in harmony with the rest of the world and this is what makes me feel as being a part of the creation of music.
What is my idea of happiness? To love and feel loved, to live in freedom and peace, to fulfill my dreams with passion, and to never give up seeking for happiness.
What is my greatest fear? To lose my beloved ones.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? „The dilemma of wanting to be perfect in a non-perfect world. “ Once, one of my favorite and most eclectic vocal coaches, the tenor Giuliano Ciannella, taught me to not compare myself to any other singer, even not to listen to anyone of them. He obligated me to record my singing lessons and correct myself every day. He was so convinced of my skills that he encouraged me to study for two roles in two weeks, audition for them and finally I was hired for both roles.
Learning by doing was the only way to realize that perfection is not art, but art needs preparation.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Ennio Morricone
What is my greatest extravagance? Being a glamorous artist. As an Italian girl, I grew up with tailored clothes made by my mother. When we were children, she used to tailor the same elegant dresses for me and my two sisters and took us to a shooting with a professional photographer. When we were teenagers, we could choose new fabrics every summer and create our favorite fashion designs and my mother would tailor those creations for us. This is how I developed an affinity for fashionable outfits and glamour.
On what occasion would I lie? To save the life of a person.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? The subjectivity, while it makes my work difficult at times it also makes it very special. It’s hard to see that in Europe, where we have a vast cultural heritage, the arts are not considered as an essential nourishment, as soul food. Especially right now during this pandemic in 2020, music can proof its healing effect on human beings.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? When I recorded my first international album „Claudia Oddo Verdi & Puccini“ with the „Orchestra Regionale Filarmonia Veneta“ in Verona on behalf of Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th anniversary. Thanks to generous sponsors I was very happy to realize my „Italian dream“: a complete Italian CD production, recorded in Verona with great Italian musicians as the concert master Günther Sanin. (The audio CD is available on Amazon: „Claudia Oddo Verdi & Puccini“. A highlight from the album is the aria of Puccini’s Mme Butterfly „Un bel dì vedremo“ which was published as music video in a road movie style on
If I could, what would I change about myself? To be more appreciative of myself.
What is my greatest achievement in work? The greatest achievement in my work is the fact that my music and voice are appreciated all over the world by a vast and heterogene audience.
Where would I most like to live? In Sicily, Ispica, the birthplace of my father, where I spend my summer vacations since I was a child.
What is my most treasured possession? My voice! It is my biggest investment. I feel possessed by my voice as Carmen possesses men! (Here you can listen to my interpretation of Bizet’s Habanera
What is my most marked characteristic? Being an authentic, enthusiastic, and sincere person.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? I actually live in two cities and in each I spend half of the week. In Bielefeld, my birthplace, I am surrounded by nature and I love to take long walks in the Teutoburg forest. In Düsseldorf I enjoy biking alongside the river Rhein.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? My mother’s kitchen.
What books influenced my life and how? There are too many but there always have been special books that guided me to do the next important step in my life, e.g. the poems by Herman Hesse. Furthermore, I prefer reading books about life coaching by spiritual and psychological authors or I am interested in biographies mostly of successful women who realized their dreams, like the monograph „Maria Callas“, written by Jürgen Kesting.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? The requiem by Mozart.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Violetta Valery in Verdi’s opera „La Traviata“ and Tosca in Puccini’s eponymous work. (Here you can listen to my interpretation of Tosca’ s
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My mother, my youngest sister and my husband.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore with its timeless poetic soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.
What role plays art in my life and work? It is my essential nourishment and I am known for the symbiosis of the fine arts on stage, especially combining visual multimedia art with my music and contemporary dance.
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me? I am the artistic director of my life; I create my destiny through my decisions but certainly I was also lucky to be born in a peaceful time and family.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My husband. But there always have been and still are other people, who support my career and my creative projects.
Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020?
Ennio Morricone
Salzburger Festspiele (Markus Hinterhäuser)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Filarmonica „La Scala“ Milano (Riccardo Chailly)
Metropolitan Opera New York
Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Concertgebouw Orkest Amsterdam
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
Teatro Massimo Palermo
Andrea Bocelli
What project, in 2020, am I looking forward to work on? I am working on my new album „Claudia Oddo songs“ with music and lyrics written by myself. I am hoping to release it by the end of this year, 2020.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? I love as long as I live and „…la vita non è un gioco, ma un amore da giocare“ („…life is not a game but a love to play“), this is the last phrase of the lyrics in my song „Fiori di passione“. (You can find the music video on YouTube: Claudia Oddo – Fiori di passione
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
Dr. Silvia Oddo-Sommerfeld, psychotherapist & researcher,
Nadja Naumova, pianist, Ninfa Fersini, dancer & choreographer
Birgit Blavius, pedagog, director of musical school, soprano
Antonella Manca, actress, Cinzia Calzolari, counselor and holistic operator, Maristella Martella, dancer & choreographer
How can you contact me:
Claudia Oddo Management: claudiaoddo@aol.com
Where can you see me or my work in 2020?
For concert dates, new audio and video releases you are welcome to visit my website http://www.claudiaoddo.com
Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/claudia.oddo1
Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/user/ilrespirodieci
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudia.oddo.soprano/
Here follows a message of Peter de Kuster, founder of The Heroine’s Journey
Are you a creative leader or creative professional looking to develop your business skills and storytelling?
Amidst today’s uncertainty, it is more important than ever to reconnect with yourself and others, develop your creative business, and build your story. Dive deep into your unique business style and areas for growth with the coaching of Peter de Kuster.
IS THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY COACHING FOR YOU?
You are a creative leader or creative professional who is interested in developing yourself, your business, and your story.
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You are aware that there are no quick fixes. Learning is a journey that works when you are fully committed to it. Coaching can bring awareness and help you navigate, but in the end it’s you who is in charge of your growth.
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You want to learn more about how to resource yourself, learn about blind spots, and get feedback.
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You are curious and want to engage in online learning.
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You are motivated to work in-between sessions on yourself (e.g. working on homework assignments that will help you develop new storytelling, skills, and behaviors).
WHAT’S YOUR COACHING QUESTION?
The Heroine’s Journey Coaching is all about your development. To make the most out of your sessions, we ask you to prepare topics to work on with Peter. These topics can serve as a starting point for further in-depth exploration with Peter.
These coaching topics typically resonate with the creative leaders Peter works with:
How can i tell the most powerful story possible about myself and my creative business?
How can I handle self promotion and marketing of my creative business better?
How do can I stay authentic and with focus when having difficult conversations with potential clients?
What are my creative values and how do I align these with my business values?
How can I manage my time and energy better?
How can I radiate confidence to my clients while feeling anxious inside?
How can I steer myself towards creative excellence without becoming rigid?
About Peter de Kuster
Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project, a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.
Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing, MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.
PRICING
The Heroine’s Journey Coaching online sessions last 50 minutes and the fee is Euro 189 excluding VAT per session. The Heroine’s Journey Coaching is suitable for people at any stage in their career.
FAQ
Who can sign up for The Heroine’s Journey online coaching?
Creative leaders and creative professionals who wish to improve their business story and develop their business skills and mindset.
Should I choose 1:1 coaching?
Our The Heroine’s Journey experiences in world cities allow you to learn not only from the coach but also from your peers. For the small group coaching (1 – 4 people), we have selected important, relevant topics that we find regularly come up for creative professional: purpose, storytelling, creative confidence, self promotion, time & money and resilience.
If you would prefer to work alone or on a different topic, individual coaching is a better fit for you.
What language do we speak in the coaching sessions?
English.
Can I buy coaching for my organization?
Yes, you can! We support many organizations around the world with their coaching needs. Please contact us for more information.
Can I bring my own topics?
Yes, for individual coaching you get to choose your own topic.
Are coaching sessions confidential?
Yes. Peter will not share anything that is discussed in the coaching sessions.
Where will the coaching sessions take place?
Sessions will take place online (as per the times we live in) via an online tool like Zoom or Skype. Peter will let you know.
How do I sign up?
Send Peter a mail to theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com to start booking your coaching sessions.
How do I pay?
After you send the mail, you will receive an email with a link to pay.
How do I book and reschedule sessions?
Once we’ve received your payment, Peter will contact you and book your coaching sessions. He will also support you with rescheduling sessions if needed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Individual coaching sessions can be postponed up to one week before the session.
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