Opera Singer Francesca Chiejina Reaches for the Stars
Nigeria-born soprano Francesca Chiejina has had a glittering start to her operasinging career, having already performed at the Royal Opera House. She shares her advice to those looking to follow in her footsteps
Where did the passion for becoming an operasinger come from?
My music has always been a consistent part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are musical and I think the earliest musical memory I have is sight-reading piano in Lagos and feeling so excited. I was learning how to read the white and black dots andmaking music by pressing these ‘things’. One of my
first musical memories. My dad started me off withlessons when I was really young.
So your father had an influence on yourmusical ambition?
Yeah, he loves music and wanted me to take part init. I think a memory that sticks with me is cleaning
on Saturday mornings doing chores and listening tomy dad’s Motown records.
What roles have you taken at the Royal Opera House?
The past two years I have been a Jette Parker Young artist and those duties are to sing small supporting roles and cover big roles. If they get sick you can jump in. You learn so much from them by just watching. They keep you very busy, I learnt a total of 12 new roles and that’s a lot – six perseason.
How many hours do you put in to learning those certain roles?
When I’m on a tight schedule – 5-6 hours a day. You can’t sing healthily on more than two hours a day. Usually it’s two hours of singing, eight hours of study and that’s lucky if you don’t have a rehearsal.
With rehearsal you’re looking at 12-14 hours a day.It’s intense.
What kind of feedback have you received from people?
Feedback is overall positive actually. With the voice it’s very subjective – some people love you and some people will never like you. I keep it in mind it’s a taste thing. Overall, feedback is positive since I’m developing. It’s a sign and people in the business know I’m growing – and I’m grateful people notice that.
Where does your inspiration come from for performing?
There’s a Malian singer, Oumou Sangare, that I saw at the Roundhouse [in London] and she’s been singing since she was 10 and her voice is still fresh – it blows my mind. She’s incredible. I like Laura Mvula, she’s from Birmingham and she’s a composer and singer. I like all sorts of singers – opera-wise I like Leontyne Price. I listen to them on a tough singing day – those voices inspire me.
Can you tell us more about your African heritage and how it was growing up in an African family?
I grew up in Lagos. My parents are from Delta state. I’ve been there a few times and I’ve been to Lagos a lot. They showed me their school and the roads they walked along. It’s emotional to see where they came from and I’m very proud and curious about what it was like to grow up in rural Nigeria. It really humanises my parents.
It’s not common to see singers emerging from the continent, do you think this will be a new trend?
I hope it’s a new trend. I feel it becoming a new trend. I feel it will take time. There are a few of us coming from the continent. There’s a strong tradition in South Africa creating incredible singers. There’s a few of us in the UK, Germany, Italy and the US waving the flag. I think it will take people like us sharing music with the world and bringing it back home and sharing it. There’s so much talent in Africa.
What advice do you give to people in the continent who may want to follow the same career path?
I think YouTube is a valuable source. There’s so much opera on YouTube – take it all in. If you are able totake up languages, then I would. If you have the money I would take up classes at the MUSON Centre where I started piano. It would be good to learn an instrument along side training your voice. Learn music and art history too. There are master classes on YouTube where you can listen to some of the best voices in the world.
Have you performed in Africa?
2015 was the last time I performed in the continent. I shared a recital with two other Nigerians, Agatha and Prisca. It was really fun and I did a private performance where I sang Ave Maria. Now that I am free of this contract hopefully I will be singing a lot more.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
I’ll be 37, and at 37 the human voice is beginning to approach its peak form. I think 35-45 delivers the juiciest part of your voice – so hopefully I’ll be really good at singing. I’ll be working and trying to stay healthy. At 37, hopefully I will be singing all around the world but you never know where you’re going to be in 10 years time. Perfection is unattainable but you can strive.