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In the Studio: Danielle de Niese - Opera's 'coolest soprano'

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Danielle de Niese - Opera's 'coolest soprano'

14/05/2019 GMT

BBC World Service - In the Studio, Danielle de Niese - Opera's 'coolest soprano'

Soprano Danielle de Niese prepares to star in classical musical Man of La Mancha

Soprano Danielle de Niese opens the door of her rehearsal room as she prepares for her London musical theatre debut opposite Kelsey Grammer in the classic musical Man of La Mancha

Danielle de Niese, “opera’s coolest soprano”, opens the door of her rehearsal room to Edwina Pitman, as she prepares to make her London West End stage debut. Swapping the world of baroque opera for musical theatre, Danielle will be starring opposite Kelsey Grammer in the award-winning classic musical Man of La Mancha.

The daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants in Australia, who began her career aged nine winning a TV pop talent contest, Danielle de Niese has a ferocious work ethic which she applies to every role she takes on, whilst also maintaining the gruelling schedule of one of the most sought-after opera singers on the planet. From her rigorous technique and intense training to careful scrutiny of all her rehearsal footage, de Niese reveals her process of perfecting the emotional heart of a role, which to her is the most important aspect of her performance.

We also catch a glimpse of her home life at Glyndebourne, in her off-stage role as one half of the husband-and-wife team behind one of opera's oldest festivals, where de Niese herself became an overnight sensation in 2005, when she made her debut there as Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare.

Presented and Produced by Edwina Pitman 

(Image: Opera singer Danielle de Niese. Photo credit: Dan Kennedy)

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