What is the best thing that I love about my work?
I like to be able to express the deepest aspects of my soul through the actions of extraordinary female opera characters: while I sing them I can “scream” who I am without inhibitions and fear to expose myself to the others.
What is my idea of happiness?
To have faith and then to act to make dreams real.
What is my greatest fear?
I fear to stay alone with no more desire to dream.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
I deplore my laziness. It often happens that I plan to go to a concert or to take short trips, but then I get a sense of pleasant asthenia so I choose to stay at home and to do my usual activities: reading, studying, watching a movie… I like a lot to stay at home: this is the reason because I always need to live in a house which I can make “personal”, comfortable, and that could be representative of my personality.
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?
I admire the young people who want to dedicate the life to arts.
Today it is not so obvious to find young people that desire to dedicate their lives to defend their artistic dream,and feeling themselves lucky for that.
What is my greatest extravagance?
Probably it is not to commit extravagance!
On what occasion would I lie?
When I want to save or not to hurt the people I love
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
I dislike superficial people. The musicians sometimes do not feel truly how much responsibility there is behind the life of an artist. And sometimes the lack of curiosity for nothing different than music risks to debase even the music. I rarely get excited during a theatrical performance because I can rarely receive the “truth” behind the theatrical fiction, the universal truth that touches the heartstrings of the human being overcoming the limits of nationality, language, religion, social class.
But you need to know how to “feel” the humanity to which that truth is directed to be able to express it.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
In Spoleto, at the beginning of my career, during the preparation of Puccini’s Boheme. I was one of the winners of this international singing competition, I had the opportunity to debut several roles in the season of the Teatro Sperimentale in Spoleto, including Mimì.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
I wish to be less vulnerable against the hurts from people around on me.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
It was to be able to cry really while I was singing Gilda in the duet of the second act of Rigoletto. Verdi wrote on the score that the girl is crying despaired and I managed to empathize enough to sob on stage. It wasn’t easy to sing over a high pitched area while the throat was really choked with hiccups.
Where would I most like to live?
In front of the sea. I always dream to live in a house with a large window that opens onto a beautiful white beach and the expanse of the sea. This thought makes me relaxed and smiling….
What is my most treasured possession?
My sense of freedom
What is my most marked characteristic?
I am an incurable idealist
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
I was born in Rome and when I was young I went with my school class to visit the newly restored Sistine Chapel. I was dazzled by such beauty and clear sensation that I was looking something not be placed in a definite time or space: it is a human but even an universal creation.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?
I love to eat in my mom’s home! She cooks everything: pizza, jams, desserts and even liqueurs. She learned from my grandmother to make every bite of food a tender and therapeutic cuddle!
What books influenced my life and how?
I have read many and different books. Above all, I have in my mind the novels I read many years ago by Isaac Asimov. He invented the meta-history: it is a synthesis of history, psychology, philosophy, engineering, architecture, mathematics, art, a brilliant unicum that seems devoted to science fiction, but which instead speaks to us of the real humanity, of human desires, fragility and it warns us that the risk of an obtuse vision is the human extinction.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
I should like to listen my mother’s voice singing a lullaby in my ear
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
Wonder Woman has always thrilled me, especially in the 70’s series. Sometimes I think I’d like to hide super powers behind normal outfit to give a good lesson to who enjoy bullying the weakest people… that would be a great satisfaction!
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
My grandparents. They lived during the Second World War and defended not only their lives, but also the idea of freedom and dignity. I learned from them the meaning of respect for people, for life and for beauty.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?
“Det sjunde inseglet” by Ingmar Bengmar
What role play stories in my life and work?
All my experience, all happiest and most painful moments, help me to color the character that becomes the voice of my soul. There are not artists could express theirselves without living their life deeply. P. Brook during our Don Giovanni in Aix-en Provence festival said that the last performance of a show is really the final one, when there is no other performances after.
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?
It would be nice if everything would depend on our choices. It’s surely essential to pursue our goals, try to achieve them, but often the results don’t depend just on us.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My husband has always believed in me, in my abilities, sometimes more than I have believed in myself. It was he who pushed me to send my first book to editors. If it wasn’t for him my book would still be in the drawer…
Which people or companies would I like to work with?
I would like to work with myself!
I would like to create projects, even original ones, for me, for my artistic nature.
Instead, I think of those people who have been fundamental in my past for my career as a singer: M. Callas, L. Pavarotti and P. Brook.
I fell in love with opera thanks to the voice of Maria Callas: her voice was hypnotic and she took my mind to those places where her heroines sang about love, pain, fear or revenge.
I met L. Pavarotti when I won his competition in Philadelphia (USA). I also had the honor of singing with him in some concerts and in G. Donizetti’s Elisir d’amore at the San Carlo theater in Naples.
Finally P. Brook: I was one of his Donna Annas in Mozart’s Don Giovanni created for the Aix En Provence festival season under the direction of C. Abbado and D. Harding. He was not a man accustomed to compliments: for this reason these words from him have remained with me “Dear Monica, we are really lucky to have you with us”
What project am I looking forward to work on?
I would like to devote my energies and creativity to write and I already have several projects in this direction.
My passion is poetry!
I have published my first poetry book in March 2023 by NONSOLOPOESIE Editor and the same editor will publish my second book in the next Autumn.
Now I can call myself LOUD AND MUTE PERFORMER because my voice is loud when I sing and mute when I write on the paper the same thoughts, feelings, emotions that I have when I sing.
IN MUTA VOCE – Monica Colonna
AMAZON:
ASIN : B0BZ9Z4SC9
Editore : Nonsolopoesie Edizioni
ISBN-13 : 979-1281178243
Where can you see me or my work?
youtube@monicacolonna
https://www.facebook.com/colonna.monica
https://www.facebook.com/inmutavoce
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
It means that the passion for the arts and beauty will never run out within me. I’m trying to transform even the smallest and simplest daily actions into moments dedicated to life and beauty and I want to continue dedicating myself to art, music, writing and even teaching because humanity needs new energy and hope.
Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?
Maria Grazia Mandruzzato – actress
How can you contact me?
The Heroine's Journey 