Canadian maestro Jordan de Souza is social distancing with family, from his home base in Berlin. He’s mourning the temporary loss of communal music-making, but living his dream as a stay-at-home parent.
Between mid-March and the present, how have you adjusted to this “new normal”?
“Mostly by avoiding poorly recorded ‘Corona content’! With so many cancellations, I’ve taken a step back from specific projects and enjoyed working on my ‘process’. And I’ve always dreamed of being a stay-at-home dad, which has been my silver lining…”
Aside from your ability to work and perform, what do you miss most right now?
“Family. One of the few downsides to living abroad…”
What is a prediction you have for the opera industry during and after this pandemic?
“We will cherish even more deeply each privileged minute we have making music together in the flesh.”
How do you imagine your re-entry into full-time work will look?
“Not how I imagined it. Our creativity will be put to unexpected tests in the coming months, and we’re certainly up to the challenge! I woke up this morning with visions of a one-woman Traviata…”
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.
