M.Daariima: I perform Carmen without breaking my character

The 56th performance of the opening season of the Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet featured “Carmen” by French composer George Bizet. The main character, who is a beautiful gypsy woman named Carmen that works at a cigarette factory, has been depicted magnificently in the 21st century by singer M.Dariimaa.

The ticket for the performance was sold out within only few days, which shows how successful the opening opera of the season has been. The UB Post had the chance to sit down with the amazingly beautiful M.Dariimaa, who plays Carmen.

How many times have you performed as Carmen?

Honestly, I am not sure, I have lost count. I worked as the prima donna (lead female singer) of the theater since 2007 and I have been bringing Carmen to life since then.

Art evolves year by year. Do you feel as if the Carmen you bring to life has become more real as your performance takes the audience back two centuries and immerse the audience into the play?

We try. We are not aware if we are reaching the hearts of the audience, only the audience can say. However, we gauge the performance through the applause of the audience. When I performed for the opening of the season, the maestro who has been conducting the opera for 40 years told me “not bad”. The maestro does not often praise singers and when I heard him say that, I was confident I performed well.

How many Carmens has there been before you in Mongolia?

I am the eigth Carmen. Fun fact, the first ever person who performed as Carmen was named Dariimaa as well. She passed away many years ago. After her the mezzo-sopranos, such as State Honored Teacher Ts.Yuruu, D.Baavaijav, Ch.Munkhshur, A.Dolgor and State Honored Actress D.Dolgormaa have performed as Carmen. Nowadays, State Honored Actress P.Dorjkhorloo and few singers such as I bring Carmen to life.

How much power and effects does Carmen require to bring to life? Is it true that if you are a mezzo-soprano, this performance does not require much strain on the voice?

It’s a big and difficult character to sing as. The main characters are on the stage for at least three hours, in which we sing, act, dance and in some cases even fight, not to mention we fall in love and even lose faith. I believe the personality of the actress is very important. I am the youngest of my siblings. From a young age, I was known as one of the “crazy” girls, because of that I don't really break character performing the role.

These days you are more known as Carmen, but how many other operas have you performed in?

Currently, I am singing the mezzo part in all the operas that are being played in Mongolia. In particular, I am singing in “Uulen Zaya” by Ts.Natsagdorj as the echo, “Chinggis Khaan” by B.Sharav as Ambai Khaan’s queen Sokhai and Oelan mother, “Uchirtai Gurvan Tolgoi” by B.Damdinsuren as Nansalmaa.

In Mongolian operas, the roles of mezzo soprano is rare. I also had the role of a beggar, a queen and a mother in “Lambuguain Nulimas” by Kh.Bilegjargal. Mezzo sopranos are a perfect fit for the role of a mother.

When opera singers get very good at their job, do they get prideful knowing that they can sing any role any time?

People shouldn’t do that. If you go one or two days without doing vocal training, your voice changes and becomes unfit. I don’t have such prideful thoughts, and am always striving to do more.

Your role as Carmen has become your name card. What will you do next?

I want to improve myself and perform internationally. I had the opportunity to perform in Italy as Cinderella’s stepsister three times. It was difficult creating a role that everyone knows very well in the motherland of opera.

I did not belittle myself. When I gave birth to my child and was at home, S.Dashbyamba sent me to perform in France. Paris is such a romantic city and it left me with a high impression. After performing internationally in large cities of the world, it made me want to take large steps.

These days, I want to perform in Russia. I spoke to a maestro that performed in Mongolia with our invitation occasionally. If we keep talking about this, I have a lot of hopes and dreams.

Do you have talented people in your family?

My father was a great writer. He worked as an accountant for Khovd Province’s movie theater, but he did all the writing there as well. He wrote very well. My mother’s cousin is Kh.Baatar, a great composer. He wrote the song “Zulzgan Tsagaan Khusnii Mine” and other hit songs of the time. So I guess my family is artistically talented.