Canadian contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay takes us to Erfurt, Germany where she is performing the role of Erda in Theater Erfurt‘s current production of Wagner‘s Das Rheingold, running March 23 to May 9 (info and tickets here).
After being named one of Radio-Canada Revelation in classical music in 2022-2023, Rose has been busy with debuts at the Metz and Reims Opera in the role of the Second Spirit in Rusalka, the role of the Innkeeper in Boris Godounov with Bayerische Staatsoper, and the titular role in Carmen with Edmonton Opera. She also produced and released her first mini-album of original songs, entitled Je me souvenir à toi. Upcoming for Rose, she is performing a series of Bach Concerts with Insula Orchestra (info and tickets here), Verdi’s Requiem with Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (info and tickets here), and a concert entitled Concert lyrique Amour voyageur with Abercorn Lyrique (info and tickets here).
On her way to Paris, Rose had a few moments to share what the Opera House at Theater Erfurt is like, where to find the best coffee in town, and what she has been doing for fun while overseas. Read on to find out more.
City where you’re working?
I am writing these lines on the train between Erfurt, where I am on a long contract for 3 months, and Paris where I’ll do two performances next week. That makes for a glorious Wagner, Bach, Wagner sandwich within two weeks….
How long are you working on contract?
It is my first time in Erfurt. I was hired through the Jeunes ambassadeurs lyriques program to whom I am immensely grateful for this opportunity.
What’s the opera house like?
It is the most modern opera house in Germany (or so I have heard), only 25 years old! People are kind and easy to work with. The space feels large but is actually very nice to sing into. They do a vast variety of projects and have a smaller studio box hall as well for alternative projects. I was surprised to see that everyone from the audience was invited to attend the premiere party taking place in the studio box. It made for an even more festive evening!
Where is the most peaceful place in the city?
The city is quite peaceful overall. You can hear birds singing at any hour of the day. There is a small river crossing through the old part of town where I love to sit by to read.
Best coffee or tea?
I have fallen in love with Epitome coffee, which I hear have other branches in Germany so I’ll be on the lookout for those when traveling.
Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
There are quite a few medieval themed restaurants and biergartens which I am always a fan of.
An activity you have done that is unique to the area?
I visited Bach’s church in Leipzig which is a short ride train away and heard the boy choir that originated in his time perform the Motete on a Saturday afternoon. It was truly soulful and uplifting.
How did you find your accommodation?
The opera house booked me the most charming apartment in an old stones and wood hotel called Heberge am Moritztor. I think it’s the best accommodation I’ve had so far. It really felt like home. I was there for a month and a half during the rehearsal process, but now that we have started performances, I’ll be traveling on different contracts and auditions in between. The show runs for about 2 months with 7-10 days intervals in between each performance. That is something quite different from my experiences in Canada and France.
What’s the most important thing you think of when it comes to finding accommodation as a singer?
The bed! I always ask how recently they changed the mattress and am not afraid to ask if it is of good quality. I also bring my pillow with me everywhere. I’ve had such terrible experiences in the past, breaking my back and having to do several physiotherapy sessions when on contract. Bad sleep affects your voice, your body alignement, your mood…Owners of rental apartments on plateformes like airBNB have often never actually slept in their bed, and they are not aware of how bad it can be. I am on a mission to make them back-health-conscious.
When in Germany, also ask about the WIFI, because it is terrible in a lot of places. They are about ten years behind in that regard. It’s refreshing at first to disconnect from the digital life, but extremely annoying when you’re trying to get travels organized or for online meetings.
Is there anything you recommend beyond what we’ve asked here?
I now travel with a starter kit of spices so I can quickly be inspired to cook. It can be overwhelming to take healthy habits when you are constantly changing environnement. I also carry my yoga mat and my elastic bands for home training, a mini keyboard, and my matcha kit. My luggage is huuuge, and very heavy, but it is my home. I am a very tall harfoot on constant migration. I also have friends all around the world who have granted me a little space in their wardrobe because I am an incorrigible thriftshoper. They all wonder if I’ll ever come pick up my stuff again.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ROSE NAGGAR-TREMBLAY
VISIT HER WEBSITE
© Tam Photography
©Epelletier Hiphopera
© Theater Erfurt
Das Rheingold
Theater Erfurt
March 23 – May 29
CONDUCTOR: Pedro Halffter and Clemens Fieguth
DIRECTOR: Jurgen R Weber
WOTAN: Albert Pesendorfer
LOGE: Brett Sprague
FRICKA:Katja Bildt
FREIA: Laura Nicole Nielsen
FROH: Tristan Blanchet
DONNER: Alik Abdukayumov
ERDA: Rose Naggar- Tremblay
Alberich: Máté Sólyom-Nagy
MIME: Ewandro Stenzowski
FASOLT: Sam Taskinen
FAFNER: Kakhaber Shavidze
WOGLINDE: Candela Gotelli
WELLGUNDE: Daniela Gerstenmeyer
FLOSSHILDE: Valeria Mudra
Richard Wagner worked on his main work for around a quarter of a century: The Ring of the Nibelung . With his four full-length parts, Das Rheingold , Die Walküre , Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, he revolutionized the musical theater of his time. Wagner’s vision of performing the Ring as a whole and in his own festival hall only became a reality in Bayreuth in 1876, nine years after the Munich premiere of Rheingold .
In the first part, Das Rheingold , known as “Eve” , the foundations for the epochal human drama are laid: power and greed, love and violence are central themes in this first part of Wagner’s four-part Ring of the Nibelung . With its staff of mermaids, dwarves, giants and gods, it also seemed like a fairy tale.
The tragedy begins with the dwarf Alberich stealing the Rhine gold from the Rhinemaidens, which, when forged into a ring, grants limitless power. For this spell, however, he has to renounce love. However, Alberich cannot enjoy his newfound power for long because Wotan, the father of the gods, more or less forcibly takes the ring from him. Alberich places a curse on it that promises death to any future owner. While the gods triumphantly enter their castle of Valhalla, built by the giants, the downfall of the world of the gods has already begun.
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