now on bbc news, it s time for take me to the opera, with zeinab badawi. i ve been an opera fan for decades, and i m on a mission to share my passion and introduce you to some of the big names today and superstars of tomorrow and ask how they re responding to the changing world of opera. cecilia bartoli, the italian mezzo soprano who originally wanted to be a flamenco dancer, and brings flair and a female perspective. peruvian born tenor juan diego florez, whose first ambition was to be a pop singer and brings rock star appeal. two of the leading lights in opera. but how are they helping to define its future? we also meet a couple of rising stars south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha. she says opera needs greater diversity. and french tenor benjamin bernheim, who welcomes the use of technology, alongside the power of live performance. let me take you to the opera. i m keen to ask juan diego florez and cecilia ba rtoli, two of the most loved and respected star
and brings rock star appeal. two of the leading lights in opera. but how are they helping to define its future? we also meet a couple of rising stars south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha. she says opera needs greater diversity. and french tenor benjamin bernheim, who welcomes the use of technology, alongside the power of live performance. let me take you to the opera. i m keen to ask juan diego florez and cecilia ba rtoli, two of the most loved and respected stars in opera today, about how they re trying to ensure that opera harnesses the power of innovation to secure its future. operatic singing cecilia bartoli is unique in opera. she s a multi award winning singer, a music scholar, and the first female artistic director of the famous saltzberg whitsun festival in austria, where she s been performing for 30 years. cecilia s got that mystery quality that only very few singers have of complete charisma. when you see her on stage, you look at her, and it s very
Festival in austria, where she s been performing for 30 years. cecilia s got that mystery quality that only very few singers have of complete charisma. when you see her on stage, you look at her, and it s very hard to look at anyone else. now, when you were a young girl, you wanted to become a flamenco dancer? a little bit! yes! but it was your mother, who herself was a soprano who recognised that you had real vocal talent and she became your voice teacher. what was it like to be taught by your own mother? to study with my mother was hard. my mother, she s definitely my mentor, my teacher and she was also a guide of what to do and what not to do. i think this is also important. she was quite. i will not say severe. and this is what my mother
Now on bbc news, it s time for take me to the opera, with zeinab badawi. i ve been an opera fan for decades, and i m on a mission to share my passion and introduce you to some of the big names today and superstars of tomorrow and ask how they re responding to the changing world of opera. cecilia bartoli, the italian mezzo soprano who originally wanted to be a flamenco dancer, and brings flair and a female perspective. peruvian born tenor juan diego florez, whose first ambition was to be a pop singer and brings rock star appeal. two of the leading lights in opera. but how are they helping to define its future? we also meet a couple of rising stars south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha.
Applause i was in love with opera from the beginning, but i actually did not know that it was opera. i just thought it was music. cecilia, as friends and family call her, was born in johannesburg in 1993, and has come a long way in a short time. cecilia is a protege of the royal opera house, where i m on the board of trustees. and i m going in to meet herfor the first time. i was singing as a child. my mum said i was a singing baby so i would, like, sing my name ce ce lia as i was growing up. and then ijoined the church choir, and ijoined the school choir. and i took part in the