Corona Serenades : Q&A with Nadine Benjamin, soprano (Great Britain)

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Meet Nadine Benjamin, soprano (Great Britain), singer for Corona Serenades

Hailed by Opera Now as one of “a new generation of sopranos who are destined to have impressive careers,” Nadine Benjamin won the inaugural Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize in 2015. An English National Opera Harewood Artist, Nadine made her debut with the company in 2018 as Clara (Porgy and Bess) followed by Musetta (La bohème). Nadine’s roles include Aida, Cio-Cio-San, La Contessa, Nadia (Tippett’s The Ice Break), Desdemona, Violetta, Tosca, Ermyntrude (Mascagni’s Isabeau) and Amelia (Un ballo in maschera) and Rosalinde. In concert, Nadine has performed Berg’s Seven Early Songs, Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Schubert’s Mass No. 5 and the soprano solos in both Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 and Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine. She has sung in Poulenc’s Gloria at Coventry Cathedral, Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Winchester and Coventry Cathedrals. Nadine made her debut at the BBC Proms in August 2019. In 2015 Nadine founded “Everybody Can!” to provide a platform to encourage others. Nadine was “highly commended” at the 2016 Aviva ‘Women of the Future Awards’ and invited to both Buckingham Palace and No. 10 Downing Street in recognition of her work as a mentor and singer.

How has the crisis affected you?

I have to stay at home for 12 weeks. It has really made me stop and take a look at my life on a deeper spiritual level and take a look at how I can connect with others. I now do Facebook Live every Monday to Friday, which helps keep people connected. I have lost five people in my circle of friends to this virus. I pray there won’t be any more. Anything I can do to provide support I am happy to do.

What are your five favourite operas and song cycles?

My favourite operas are Peter Grimes, Otello, Aida, Madama Butterfly and La Traviata. My favourite song cycle is Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Verdi Requiem and all the Verdi and Strauss songs. Verdi is my favourite composer. I also love Liszt. I specialize in American song and have recorded, with pianist Nicole Panizza, an album called Emergence of Emily Dickinson poetry as set by American composers.

Could you talk about your coaching business and its relationship with the arts?

I am a certified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Mind Coach and a Certified High Performance Coach. I love being able to empower someone’s state of mind so that they can find the courage to do what they love in life and live from the inside out. I love being able to connect, champion and celebrate others. I also have a mentoring opera company called Everybody Can! We support people who want to try their hand at a new skill or would like someone to help them work through their goals and aspirations. We are all there to add value to each other.

What movies, television shows and books do you recommend?

Books: Mindset by Carol Dweck; The Happiness Habit by Brian Colbert; Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro (in fact, any book by her); any book by Sophie Kinsella (good, funny reads); The Game of Life and How to Play by Florence Sovell Schinn; High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard.

TV: The Marvellous Mrs. Maisal and Modern Family (both will make you laugh); The Durrells and Heartland (great family dramas); The West Wing (if you like something political); Suits (if you like law).

Why did you join CORONA Serenades?

I joined the CORONA Serenades because people matter and the situation with people who are working to save so many lives is heartbreaking. I also believe in Adrian Rodriguez, who runs the project. His heart also wants to do what is right for others. Our voices will help heal so many and it is an honour to participate in this way.