The Artist of the Week is Parsi-Canadian soprano Meher Pavri. She is playing the Voice of Krishna in Why Not Theatre‘s Mahabharata: Part 2. The show is a two-part adaption of the classical Hindu text and features a 15-minute long operatic adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita performed by Meher. Mahabharata: Part 1 & 2 recently finished runs at the Perth Festival in Australia and Canadian Stage in Toronto. It will be playing at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from May 13th to 24th (tickets and info here).
Meher is a multidisciplinary artist who can be found performing in the worlds of opera, music theatre, theatre, film and television. Career highlights include engagements with Soulpepper Theatre, Tapestry Opera, Vancouver Opera, Opera Atelier, Shaw Festival, Starvox, Against the Grain Theatre, Windsor Symphony Orchestra and Niagara Symphony.
This week, Meher shares what’s she’s reading, how her colleagues inspire her and her favourite mind-calming practices. Read on to find out more.
When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
I think I was about 14 years old with Natalie Pratt, a teacher who I still love and adore. She really instilled the love of music in me and I studied with her until I went to university for music. Growing up, I’d get so excited every week for my singing lessons!
What/who inspired you to sing?
When I was about 10 years old, I saw Pavarotti and the Three Tenors on TV conducted by fellow Zoroastrian, Zubin Mehta. I was in awe listening to them sing in Italian and the orchestra blew me away. I just thought to myself, wow, I want to sing with an orchestra in different languages!
Heels or flats?
Currently testing out a bunch of different runners for my next half marathon!
Favourite city that you’ve worked in?
London, England.
Favourite place?
Paris, France.
What’s your favourite opera house?
Palais Garnier in Paris.
What’s your ancestry?
I’m Parsi! My parents are from India and my ancestors are Persian.
What’s your favourite mind-calming practice?
I love running, yoga, meditation and working out.
Are you a cat person or dog person?
LOVE dogs!
What book are you reading at the moment?
A few! Carrie Soto is Back, Norwegian Wood, Jane Eyre.
Which TV show did you binge-watch last?
Mo on Netflix – so good!
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Follow your bliss.
What is one very popular thing that you have no interest in?
Reality TV.
Who has been inspiring you lately?
I’m in the show Mahabharata with Why Not Theatre right now, and my fellow artists in it really inspire me. I love that this show has people of all ages with a variety of life experiences in it and everyone is so great in the role that they’re in. There are dancers and instrumentalists in the show who blow my mind every show. The two composers of the show are also in it, and I just love that we are doing original music. We have been touring this show around the world and I feel inspired by my colleagues on stage night after night.
The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier?
It definitely gets easier over time. I think the first couple years are tough, but then you also realize how many different factors go into casting that are out of your control. I think that focusing on doing the best you can in each audition and treating it like a performance helps. My motto is set it and forget it.
Does singing help keep you young?
Absolutely! I think any art that keeps you present and having fun is the best! I feel very thankful that I get to move, sing and play for a living.
Were there any directors in the past that have really inspired you?
Yes! One of the first directors I worked with out of school was Joel Ivany. I remember being in an audition with him and Jennifer Nichols, an incredible choreographer, and thinking to myself “YES! This feels so right.” The blending of movement with the aria I was auditioning with was something I hadn’t experienced before, but I felt right at home. I also appreciate how much I’ve learned with Joel no matter what show we are doing. There’s always an open dialogue between the artists and him and this sort of openness and support. I’m really grateful for that.
Which of your roles has had the greatest impact on your perspective?
The role that I’m singing right now, the Voice of Krishna, in Mahabharata. I get to sing verses of the Bhagavad Gita, a text with so many important life lessons in it, in its original language, Sanskrit. I’ve spent a few years studying this text with my Sanskrit teacher, and it continuously teaches me about life.
What is happiness for you?
Seeing my parents smile.
Favourite social media platform?
Even though I’m taking a bit of a social media break, I would say Instagram.
© David Cooper
Meher Pavri as the Voice of Krishna, with Neil D’souza as Krishna and Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu as Arjuna in Why Not Theatre’s Mahabharata at the Shaw Festival in 2023
© Tim Matheson
In The Overcoat at Vancouver Opera
© Photo used with permission form the artist
In Savitri with Against the Grain Theatre
Mahabharata Part 1 & 2
Why Not Theatre
National Arts Centre
DIRECTOR: Ravi Jain
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Miriam Fernandes
SET DESIGNER: Lorenzo Savoini
COSTUME DESIGNER: Gillian Gallow
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Kevin Lamotte
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER: Mikael Kangas
PROJECTION DESIGNER: Hana S. Kim
ASSOCIATE PROJECTION DESIGNER: Ann Slote
ORIGINAL MMUSIC & SOUND DESIGNER: John Gzowski & Suba Sankaran
TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONSULTANT: Hasheel Lodhia
CHOREGRAPHER: Brandy Leary with contributions from Jay Emmanuel & Ellora Patnaik
KATHAKALI ADVISOR: Kalamandalam ThulasiKumar
ORIGINAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT: Jenny Koons
CREATIBE ASSOCIATE, KHANA & KAHANI STORYTELLER: Sharada K Eswar
LEAD PRODUCTION MANAGER: Crystal Lee
LEAD PRODUCTER: Kevin Matthew Wong
CAST: Shawn Ahmed, Neil D’Souza, Jay Emmanuel, Miriam Fernandes, Ravin J. Ganatra, Karthik Kadam, Darren Kuppan, Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu, Goldy Notay, Ellora Patnaik
Meher Pavri, Sakuntala Ramanee, Ronica Sajnani, Ishan Sandhu, Navtej Sandhu, Munish Sharma, Arun Varma, Sukania Venugopal
MUSICIANS: John Gzowski, Suba Sankaran, Dylan Bell , Gurtej Singh Hunjan, Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed, Hasheel Lodhia, Mike Murray
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Máiri Demings is Opera Canada’s digital content specialist. She’s also a mezzo-soprano who has sung with Tapestry Opera, performs regularly with VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre, and is one half of duo mezzopiano with pianist Zain Solinski.
