As Canada’s artists ready themselves for far-reaching cancellations in the 2020-21 opera season, Opera Canada is checking in. What is the ripple effect of an opera-free season? How many Canadians will call themselves professional artists in a year’s time? How bad has it gotten for freelancing individuals? And are there silver linings? We look for answers in our new series of Q&As, “What’s next?” Next up is soprano Miriam Khalil:
What do the recent announcements of cancelled 2020/21 opera seasons mean for your professional future?
“Thankfully, all of my engagements have been moved to a later date. However, with the uncertainty of COVID and the second wave, nothing is certain. This time has been a bit strange for me. We had our second son on March 31st. I had already let go of my engagements that were taking place in March and April. I was expecting to ease back in to singing and do my first engagement in June. But now everything I have until December 2020 has been moved. With my first son I sang my first concert at five weeks. I never had maternity leave. With my second son, I’m enjoying every minute of our time without stressing about learning music or singing. I have been easing back in on my own time and that has been really luxurious.
“For my career however, I fear this could mean that whatever momentum I have been building could possibly slow down. As singers and performers, prior to the pandemic, we were encouraged to put everything we have into our art. An art that keeps taking. An art that we need to constantly refine and re-define to stay relevant and at the forefront of the latest and most fabulous. As women we’re told to choose between family and career. As young artists, we’re told to find creative ways of making money outside of our art until our art supports us, but not to pour too much of ourselves into those means of making money so as not to interfere with our art. What this pandemic highlights for me is the importance of balance. More than ever, I’m grateful for my family, friends and for my students. I’m grateful that when my first son was born six years ago, I realized that this career wasn’t the most important thing in my life. I’m thankful that I realized that I loved singing enough to try and overcome all of the obstacles, but not to let my ambition become more important than my joy and my well-being. This pandemic has given me more time to do what I love, to rediscover my passion for singing and music and most importantly, time with the people I love most.
“I’m grateful that because of this time that we have been given, the major issues of our industry have been highlighted and we finally have the space to confront them. Technically as a person of colour, I never saw myself this way, nor did I feel that it was an obstacle per say. I did know that I had to fight my way through and thought that that was the case for everyone. This time has given me space to understand that my struggles were not just common but much worse for many of my BIPOC colleagues. What I hope for our industry and our collective careers is that we can finally make space for everyone and a conscious effort to include different cultures and experiences in our hopefully new world of opera and classical music. It would be not only be reflective of our society but also contribute to a much richer art form.”
Soprano Miriam Khalil with her husband, Against the Grain Theatre Artistic Director Joel Ivany, and her two sons.
How much time have you spent considering a new career?
“I haven’t really considered a new career as much as I have considered this a good time to sharpen my skills and do projects that I don’t have time to pour into normally. I’m in the process of working on my languages, and learning to play piano (I graduated with grade 6 piano but have not kept it up and have always dreamed of getting better). I’m also teaching a few students online and planning my strategy should this lockdown go on longer than anticipated.
“In the past, I have considered furthering my education so that I can open different doors in my career. Now I have time to really consider this and plan how best to go about it. For the time being though, I’m focussing on being a mom, wife, voice teacher and continuing my role as Associate Artistic director for Against the Grain Theatre.
What plans, singing or otherwise, do you have for the coming season?
“Because my engagements through December have been moved, I now have the time to plan a recording project with my good friend Julien LeBlanc. We’ve worked together since I moved to Toronto to attend The Glenn Gould School for the Performing Arts and have been performing recitals together ever since. I’m also teaching online and making tons of crafts, baking and biking with my boys.”
Miriam Khalil
Jenna is the editor and co-creator of Schmopera. She also writes for The Globe and Mail and Opera Canada. She’s a pianist and vocal coach, and working with singers is how she fell in love with opera.
