★★★  Inter Act  ★★★
with
Prof.
Janice Chapman FGS, AUA, OAM
Janice Chapman
photographed by Fran Marshall
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1
Emma:
Have you had a favourite rôle (or rôles) - a particularly good vocal ‘fit’ for you - that you enjoyed more than others?
Janice:
My favourite rôle was probably Sieglinde in ‘Die Walküre’ which fitted perfectly. I loved singing Aida except for one note (guess which one!!)
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2
Emma:
Do you think that non-singers realise how all-consuming a singer's work often has to be?
Janice:
Non-singers say things like “Oh I wish I had a wonderful voice like yours, then I could be an opera singer” .. The general public have very little understanding of the training which goes into doing this very complex and highly skilled art form, and no idea that it can take more than 10 years to become good at it. Nor do they have any idea of the enormous sacrifices singers have to make in order to do the job.
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3
Emma:
What voices inspired you most when you first trained?
Janice:
Kathleen Ferrier, Maria Callas, Christa Ludwig, Joan Sutherland.
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4
Emma:
If you had taught yourself at the start of your career, what might you have advised yourself?
Janice:
Open your mind to learning everything possible (leave your ego behind!).
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5
Emma:
As your reputation for teaching singers is worldwide, did you anticipate that helping singers would form such an important part of your work?
Janice:
When I was only a singer I had no ambition to teach .. I needed to lose my way as a singer before opening up to the real learning I needed to do, both to teach and to put my own singing back to good order. I made a quilt and dated it .. 1980, the year I decided to ‘give up’ singing!!! What a joke!!! It wasn’t possible. Then I started to teach in a very lowly capacity and started the journey of being an ‘ongoing learner’.
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6
Emma:
You have spoken often of the Australian singers' facility for twang. Would you say that there are performing strengths particular to different nationalities?
Janice:
The ‘twang’ in the Australian accent is a huge advantage. Other accents have it too and it is an important component of ‘unamplified’ singing. I don’t necessarily think it plays a part in ‘performance’ .. rather it is a voice production advantage (very low effort and super efficient).
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7
Emma:
Have you had a favourite dress?
Janice:
Yes I have had a favourite dress .. my mother was a superb dressmaker and when I won the “Sun Aria” competition in Australia back in 1961, I was wearing a red satin fully lined gown which she had made especially. I have a big photo of me on that evening holding the trophy and wearing the dress. (Soprano in red.)
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8
Emma:
How do you think such a tough anti-social experience as 2020 will impact people in the performing realms most, when human interaction is returned as a normal part of normal life?
Janice:
I have a feeling (and a hope) that there will be a ‘backlash’ involving a huge ‘lust’ for the art form from which we have been deprived (live singing). I think that when I am back in the room ‘live’ with a gorgeous operatic voice I will weep for joy and relish being bathed in the vibrations and the emotions.
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9
Emma:
Have you loved performing, teaching and researching equally?
Janice:
I have loved performing and teaching enormously. I found researching exciting too in a different way, as at the time the information that was emerging was so exciting in itself and played into everything I needed.
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10
Emma:
When, how or by whom were you introduced to opera?
Janice:
I was introduced to opera at the age of 12 when I went to Unley High School in Adelaide, and the Head of Music was an ‘opera fan’. He put on a school production every year and I was ‘hooked’ then.

I sang in ‘Hugh the Drover’ by Vaughan Williams, ‘Iphigénie en Aulide’ by Gluck, ‘The Bartered Bride’ by Smetana and ‘Oberon’ by Weber. By the time I was 16, I had done chorus and 3 minor rôles, then he wrote his own opera for me to ‘star’ in (‘The Emperor’s Nightingale’ by Duncan McKie). I then went to the Elder Conservatorium of music and sang leading rôles all through my training.
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11
Emma:
Do you have a particular favourite performing memory? Have any performing moments held surprises for you?
Janice:
I have many performing memories but singing rôles such as Miss Jessell on the English Opera Group’s Russian tour and then years later, Mrs. Grose, (both conducted by Benjamin Britten himself) have to be ‘stand outs’. How privileged I was! And of course the ENO ‘Ring Cycle’ with Reginald Goodall, when I sang Helmwige, Third Norn and Sieglinde.
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12
Emma:
Many people think of opera as ‘posh’ - either because of the venues, the rarity or the price. How would you correct that image for those who feel daunted by it?
Janice:
Opera isn’t ‘posh’ .. it is an amazing and enriching art form which should be available to all. We need to get back into schools!
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13
Emma:
Confidence (or at least the appearance of it !) is key to singers, yet nerves can affect anyone. What are your thoughts on understanding, recognising addressing and/or managing them?
Janice:
Confidence is essential .. you have to train and sacrifice to do the job, and of course you need to have the right instrument in the first place. Nerves can get in the way and singers need to become master of their instrument (which is their whole self). But ultimately you are a conduit through which the composer and the audience are served. You are all important and not at all important at the same time. Ego/pride/perfectionism are all enemies.
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14
Emma:
What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?
Janice:
Bach orchestral music.
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15
Emma:
Do you have any non-musical hobbies?
Janice:
Pilates and being a granny.
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16
Emma:
How would you describe your own vocal identity?
Janice:
Lyrico/spinto soprano.
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17
Emma:
Can you offer any observations, particularly for younger singers at the moment, as to how to maintain or re-find the joy in their singing?
Janice:
When I was recovering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, I sang every day just to keep myself alive. I only had stamina for 15 minutes but it was important and I felt my spirit restored.
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18
Emma:
How was your 2020?
Janice:
2020 was horrid, having to teach online but I learned a lot I didn’t expect to learn.
I am so grateful to Janice for the helpful and fascinating answers she has given here. I know that they will be read with interest by singers and non-singers alike - and will give a little insight into her life and singing world.

You can find further information about Janice's work, her book ‘Singing and Teaching Singing: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice’ and the ‘SATS’ courses here:

https://www.classicalvoicetraining.com/meettheteam/janicechapman

Return to Emma's Voiceblog
18th. February, 2021