In his career, Lyric Baritone Stephen John Svanholm has criss-crossed the continent and music genres alike. In part one of his portrait, a questionnaire explains the artist; in part two, the artist will explain his latest undertaking, the website The Opera Stage.
Your name:
Stephen Svanholm
From where?
Born in Durham, England, brought up in County Durham (England), Stockholm (Sweden) and Newport, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Where based?
Stockholm
Your Fach?
Lyric Baritone
When have you been in Berlin?
I lived in Berlin from March 2014 to September 2017. (minus a few work periods in the UK)
Two things you like about Berlin:
The creativity, which is to be seen everywhere from street art, crafts, use of space, and music. And also the liberal attitudes to just about any lifestyle imaginable.
Two things you don’t like about Berlin:
Dog poop on the pavements. Other stuff on the pavements.
Your favourite role:
Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Your hero in opera:
Franco Corello for the visceral impact of his singing
Your hero in real life:
Elon Musk
Your favorite quality in a singer:
Chiaroscuro
Best opera production you saw in Germany:
Die Zauberflöte at Komische Oper Berlin
Craziest opera production you saw in Germany:
Rheingold at Staatsoper Berlin
Your biggest career change:
From heavy metal guitarist to opera singer
Your newest project:
The Opera Stage’s expansion with a new website.
Your favourite German word:
Sauerkraut (which is also my favourite German thing)
Read next week: AIF’s interview with Stephen Svanholm about his website The Opera Stage that helps singers to manage their career.
