_{Artist of the Week} 21 Qs for Karoline Podolak


What/who inspired you to sing? How old were you when you discovered opera?
I discovered opera watching my family’s favourite film, Amadeus, and attending Canadian Opera Company dress rehearsals as a child. I started doing impressions of opera singers (especially tenors). Fun fact: I once auditioned for a major talent show singing O Sole Mio as a soprano and tenor duet with myself, untrained… I’m so glad no footage of that exists! From then on, my family noticed I had potential and encouraged me to start classical voice lessons, which I pursued around the age of 22. 

Drink of choice?
This is a little embarrassing, but I love Shirley Temples…

Favourite city that you’ve worked in? 
There’s something I love about every city I’ve worked in, but one that stood out as especially unique and beautiful was Luxembourg, Luxembourg. It felt like a fairytale – built among cliffs, full of history and so fun to explore. The old fortress walls, the palace and the presence of a royal family also gave it a grandeur. It was peaceful yet cosmopolitan, and I met some amazing people. I have so many great memories from my time there!

Favourite place?
My favourite place is the small town in southeast Poland where my parents and all my family are from. It sits nestled in the Roztocze National Park. It’s surrounded by farmland and forests, and I have so many fond childhood memories there – from getting ice cream at my extended family’s ice cream parlour, to playing with chicks and other farm animals, to picking berries in the woods. It’s just so different from the bustle of the city – a peaceful and grounding way of life. 

If you weren’t a singer, you’d be…?
I would be working in the radio/television/media industry. Before studying singing, I completed my bachelor’s in radio and television at Toronto Metropolitan University and worked in the industry for several years. Later, I decided to give singing my full attention and began my master’s in voice. I loved my time in the media industry and cherish the time there!

What’s your favourite opera house?
In terms of personal significance, my favourite opera house is the Silesian Opera House (Opera Śląska) in Poland. It’s where I made my professional debut, so it holds a very special place in my heart. I learned so much during my time there and worked with wonderful people. It’s a charming, historic venue filled with memories that continue to inspire me.

Which opera role do you want to be singing right now?
There are quite a few roles that excite me and that I would love to sing now or soon! Some of these include Gilda in Rigoletto, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Musetta in La bohème and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. Each of these roles are so iconic in their own ways.

What’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?
One of my most embarrassing – and funniest – moments happened while I was covering the role of Glauce in Medea at the Canadian Opera Company. The first time I had to step in was during a rehearsal on the main stage, and I had to perform the dramatic scene where Glauce is poisoned and dies. I had not been directed on this yet. From what I remember, there was no set yet – just a table – and I was in my regular clothes. The set was revealed, the music was intense, and there I was, dramatically dying on a table in streetwear. Just opera things! A few other moments included: nearly having a wardrobe malfunction – my whole costume top was falling off right at the start of a sold-out La traviata, and it was being filmed live! Also, in concert a fly flew into my mouth in the middle of an aria, and recently I was singing the beginning vocalise in the Bell Song from Lakmé and the loudest possible ringtone went off in the first row. I even have video evidence!

Which role do you wish you could sing, but is not in your voice type?
I would love to sing “Ah! mes amis” from La Fille du Régiment or “Je crois entendre encore” from Les Pêcheurs de Perles. Basically, I think tenors have some of the most stunning repertoire!

What are you afraid of?
I’m going to sound like a wuss, but I am afraid of the dark!

Coffee or tea?
I always have my chamomile tea with honey. I don’t drink coffee – once upon a time, I worked as a Starbucks barista and definitely overdid the caffeine! Ever since then, I’ve stuck with tea, and I’ve never looked back.

Are there more musicians in your family? If yes, who and what do they play/sing?
Yes! My mom was a singer and guitarist in a band in her youth – now she, as well as my dad, are in a choir together (Quo Vadis Choir and Camerata Ensemble in Brampton). My older sister, Olivia, was a competitive pianist and is now a professor at UofT – she kept music in her life as she studies the neuroscience of music. My younger sister, Claudia, plays clarinet and piano, while my brother Peter plays piano, and my brother Ben plays guitar. Yes, I know, big family! While I’m the only one who pursued music professionally, music is something we all keep in our lives actively, and I’m incredibly grateful to have such a supportive and musical family!

What’s your favourite mind-calming practice? 
For me, breathing exercises and walks are a go-to for calming my mind, especially before a performance. My faith also plays a significant role in bringing me peace – it’s a source of strength and comfort that helps me stay grounded.

What’s your favourite non-classical band?
I have a few favourites, including MGMT, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Beach Boys. I love covering classic rock songs on the guitar.

What’s the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you? 
One of the luckiest and most unforgettable things that’s ever happened to me was singing a duet with Vance Joy while I was working in radio. My coworkers knew I was a huge fan, and they secretly arranged a surprise for me. Suddenly, I was singing alongside one of my favourite artists! It was surreal! 

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? 
There was this amazing beet gnocchi filled with mascarpone cheese and walnuts at a restaurant near my music academy in Poland. I still think about it from time to time. Unfortunately, that restaurant closed down, so I’ll never be able to recreate that perfect dish.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
Growing up, people often called me a giraffe because I was tall and blonde… so maybe I should just embrace that!

Which actress/actor would be cast as you in a film about your life?
Jennifer Lawrence because people have told me we look alike and I’m very flattered!

What’s your guilty pleasure?
I love cotton candy and anything cotton candy-flavoured.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
As mentioned, I was working in the media industry in Toronto while taking private voice lessons in my spare time. I really enjoyed my work in media, but when I was offered the chance to do my master’s in music in Poland, I faced a significant decision. Pursuing that opportunity meant leaving the career I had built, leaving Canada, and committing fully to singing. It was a leap into the unknown.

A piece of advice that stayed with me during that time was: If you don’t try, you may live with the regret of never knowing. That really resonated with me, and I’m so glad I listened because taking that risk changed my life.

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
Getting to do what you love for a living is such a blessing – performing this incredibly special art form, traveling the world and experiencing various cultures, connecting with audiences, making friends around the world is truly unlike anything else. I feel so grateful to be able to do this.