What is the best thing that I love about my work? It is an endless source of knowledge, beauty and happiness. There is always something new to learn and discover, music I haven’t heard before. I love the fact that there are so many ways I could do things differently and there are things I couldn’t do before, but now I can. It keeps my brain sharp and helps me balance my emotional wellbeing.

What is my idea of happiness? A good balance of the time I spend between my work and my personal life.

Picture credits: Agata Szulc-Szynaka

What is my greatest fear? Life is full of ups and downs and there are many obstacles along the way.
Because of this, I try to be positive and I work on myself. That way I can reinforce my good points and improve my weak points. Prevention is sometimes more efficient than cure.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Not always trusting myself or my judgment. I have figured out that when I listen to my own inner voice, I usually am able to figure out what to do, how to proceed.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? I admire hard working people that make a difference in their own way. People who do not necessarily follow the rules. The people I admire are not always musicians, they can be from every walk of life. In my profession though, I very much admire the soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan. I think she is an incredible musician and both as a singer and as a conductor, she is making a huge difference in the musical world, especially for
women. Likewise, Cecilia Bartoli and Joyce DiDonato, both established, amazing singers who have surpassed their singing careers and are now creating and expanding their influence through some groundbreaking projects. Placido Domingo is a legend, probably the hardest working man in the profession and I admire him very much for everything he has done and is still doing for the vocal art. He is creating a legacy that will be remembered for a very long time. Corinne Winters and Rachel Willis-Sørensen are both amazing singers of the new generation. It’s a pleasure to listen and learn from them.

What is my greatest extravagance? Buying music scores.

On what occasion would I lie? I really hate lying. I prefer the truth even if it hurts.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Being limited, especially creatively, or not being able to put my stamp on something I do. Often people are trying to explain their own vision thinking that it might be helpful in creating a role or a feeling in the music, which can sometimes be absolutely ok. But I find that the best conductors and directors I have worked with, begin by asking you: “What do you think about this”? or, “Tell me about your character… “. I appreciate this very much and I find it’s the most productive way of collaboration. It creates a trusting and safe environment where the creative juices can run, mix and combine freely.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? I don’t have a particular moment when I was the happiest. I truly enjoy every project I get involved with, and I especially enjoy the working process when the exploration and the curiosity get unleashed and everything is possible.

If I could, what would I change about myself? Not sure I want to change anything. This is who I am and this is who I want to be. Every little change might result in a very different outcome and I don’t want to be different.

What is my greatest achievement in work? Being able to sing the music I sing now. It took a lot of effort and years of hard work to come to a point when I can express with my voice exactly what I want, the way I want it.

Where would I most like to live? On this beautiful planet called Earth.

What is my most treasured possession? My most cherished possession is a ring which belonged to my late mother.

What is my most marked characteristic? Compassion I think, and empathy.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? I live in a very beautiful and musical city. But the place I get most inspired is my music room where I usually practice.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city? In my family we love Japanese cuisine and any good Sushi/Japanese restaurant is where we will probably go if we are eating out.

What books influenced my life and how? I love reading biographies of famous musicians and artists. I remember at the Music academy in Ljubljana, reading a book about Giuseppina Strepponi, the famous soprano who became Verdi’s muse and later his wife. Learning about her and her life made a huge impact on me and gave me tons of information not only about herself and Verdi but also about many other famous personalities from the time, whose lives intertwined with theirs.
The biography about Rachmanninov was also very important and interesting for me since I love singing his romances.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day? As a professional musician, I like to take time off from music from time to time. I listen to any kind of music in a very active way and that can sometimes be tiring. So I need brakes. If I knew by chance the day I was going to die, I am not sure I would want to listen to music at all. I might prefer the silence and just being with my loved ones.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? I am a huge fan of Science fiction and one of my favorite series is Star Trek. I find the character of Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the starship Enterprise, very inspirational and strong as well as elegant and intelligent.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? It used to be my mother, unfortunately she passed away in 2015. Any strong woman who doesn’t give up and fights her way through life is someone I admire.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? Like water for chocolate which is based on a book by Laura Esquivel. I love magical realism in literature and on screen. Another movie I love very much is the Italian movie Il Postino, which tells a fictional story about the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who is my favorite poet.

What role play stories in my life and work? Stories play a very big part in my life and my work. Even as a child I was always fascinated by them. My mother used to tell me stories and I would beg her for more. When she couldn’t do it anymore, I would invent them myself. I can get a huge inspirational boost or a lot of courage from a story. Sometimes I can even find my way through a story that speaks to me.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me? It means to me that I make the decisions and I bear the consequences of them.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My greatest fans are surely my daughter Katerina Iva and my partner. In the past it used to be my mother. I had very loving parents who were my greatest fans and who supported all of my decisions. During my student years at the academy in Ljubljana, my dear friend Uros Matanovic used to help me financially as he believed in me and enjoyed my singing very much. My mentor, the wonderful tenor Alexander Brown is another special person for me. We had so many happy hours singing and making wonderful music together. I have never met a person in my life yet, with whom I agree on so many levels. The soprano Barbara Haveman, my present mentor, is my current partner in crime to whom I am very grateful for all the help she is giving me.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? I am currently based in the Netherlands and here I have come to appreciate and admire the Nederlandse Reisopera. I find their productions not just beautiful but also very creative and modern.. Der Staatsoper Unter Den Linden in Berlin is another company I highly admire and I would love to work with them one day. They have an amazing opera repertoire and they work with some of the most talented people in the industry
today. I would love to meet and hopefully collaborate in some way with Cecilia Bartoli and Barbara Hannigan. They are both my heroines and truly inspire me as an artist and a musician.

What project am I looking forward to working on? I am currently learning and preparing the role of Amelia in Ballo in Maschera from Verdi. It is a character/role I love very much and I would love to sing it on stage. Preparing a recital of Russian composers (Tchaikovsky, Rachmanninov, Glinka…) is another project I am very happy about because I love singing Russian romances.

Where can you see me or my work? For updates on my work and more content, you can check my Fаcebook page Vera Danilova Soprano and my Instagram #veradanilovasoprano. For more
information about me please visit http://www.veradanilova.com.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? For me it means that I will never stop loving what I do.

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story? These are some of the women I admire very much. They are all different but exquisite artists in their own way:

• Barbara Haveman- soprano,
• Karina Kambulova – mezzo-soprano,
• Petra Heric – violinist,
• Agata Szulc-Szynaka – graphic designer,
• Michelle Lynne – pianist, singer and content creator,
• Veronika Bogic – violinist,
• Ana (Lotos) Ilijoska-Bogic – writer, painter, musician.

How can you contact me? You can contact me through:
Email: veradanilovasoprano@gmail.com
Facebook: Vera Danilova Soprano
Instagram: #veradanilovasoprano