Great artists of tomorrow
Natalya Romaniw soprano
‘My first ever role was Anna Trulove in
Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress with Welsh National Youth Opera (WNYO),’ remembers soprano Natalya Romaniw. ‘And gosh, I loved it so much. I thought to myself – if I’m lucky enough to do something I love this much as my job, I’ll be luckier than most people.’
Soon after that stunning debut performance with WNYO, Romaniw won the 2008 Welsh Singers Competition, and was automatically entered into the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World as the Welsh representative. ‘Other singers in that competition had already sung at La Scala in Milan, or the Metropolitan Opera in New York, while I was only 22. I shot up a bit more than I should have, for one so young.’
It didn’t do too much harm. In 2012 she won the Kathleen Ferrier award at Wigmore Hall, and was offered places on young artist programmes at Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and Houston Grand Opera. ‘I was in a place where I could say, “Right, I’m going to leave now, and really learn my craft”, so I decided to go to Houston. I’m so glad I did.’
Between seasons in America, where Romaniw sang leading roles in Houston and New York, she returned for summer seasons at Opera Holland Park and Glyndebourne. Her busy schedule certainly paid off as, since her full-time return, she has been in high demand across the UK. But she’s learnt some important lessons along the way. ‘You’ve got to think about building your career in terms of longevity, so if people do get excited and offer you things which are beyond where you are, it’s hard but you’ve got to say no. You have to stick to what fits you like a glove – right now.’
One such role, which Romaniw first performed last summer at Garsington Opera and will sing twice more in the upcoming season, is that of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. ‘I absolutely love singing in Russian,’ she says. ‘My grandfather was Ukrainian, so I grew up singing little Ukrainian songs with him. I think – because the language is fairly similar – somehow I recognise and have a flair for singing it.’ Interview by Elinor Cooper; Natalya Romaniw sings in Eugene Onegin with Welsh National Opera from 29 September to 30 November
‘You’ve got to think about your career in terms of longevity’