When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
I fell in love with opera the moment I set a foot on stage. I’ve been singing since I was 5 years old and when I was 14, I was fortunate to participate in a production of «Boris Godunov» at the Lithuanian National Opera. It was right there and then that I truly fell in love with opera and haven’t looked back since. To me, it was and still is pure magic. I truly consider opera to be one of the pinnacles of art. It showcases the best of us, the humanity, and what we’re capable of when we work together. The stories that opera tells are timeless. Each of us will find a character in opera that we can relate to, because in that moment, on stage, that person is experiencing something we’re familiar with – love, grief, passion, anger… It brings me such joy to be a little part of a story that is brought to life through the most beautiful language we have – music.

If I hadn't become an opera singer, I would be …
... a criminal psychologist!

Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
Each and every performance is very special, but the opening night of Händel’s «Semele» with the Royal Academy Opera comes to mind. I was lucky enough to sing Semele herself AND to work with the wonderful Laurence Cummings!

… the most embarrassing moment?
Not so much as embarrassing, but most of all nerve-wracking. I was really ill and sang a show without being able to speak, but for some reason, I could sing just fine. The problem was the spoken dialogue, which I croaked out like a frog.

… the biggest challenge?
Having to passionately kiss several men on stage while my boyfriend was in the audience. However, he took it quite well!

And what would be your biggest dream?
To just continue singing.

Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
I do! I carry a pendant that my parents gave me as a gift for good luck. Usually, the costumes don’t allow it to show, so I tuck it away in my shoe!

My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Lots of sleep, water and no dairy before singing.

My idol:
Natalie Dessay. She’s a force of nature.

Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Probably Susanna. She’s incredibly smart, witty and resourceful. She always sticks to her principles and keeps her pride because of it. Also, she doesn’t need power or money to be happy, she’s perfectly content with what she has in life and makes the best of it!

This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
Muse – «Butterflies and Hurricanes»

Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
The lakeside just beside the Opera House. It was the first thing I saw when I arrived in Zurich. It was the middle of a very hot summer and I remember enjoying the relaxed atmosphere all around, lots of happy people chatting, swimming, and feeding the swans or the seagulls.

What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
«Schätzli», the meaning and the word itself are very cute!

Lina Dambrauskaite, soprano, comes from Lithuania. 
The twenty-eight-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/20 season.

When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
I always knew I wanted to be a musician, but the decision to be a singer came after I already studied piano.

If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be ...
a pianist, composer or scientist.

Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
Singing «Zweiter Knabe» in «Die Zauberflöte» in 2006 at Opernhaus Zürich was such a huge honour to me that inflamed my passion for opera.

... the most embarrassing moment?
There aren’t too many, but I forgot the lighter once and that resulted in pretending to smoke a cigarette instead of actually doing so.

... the biggest challenge?
Uniting acting and singing. After doing both at the same time, doing just one of those disciplines seems pretty easy…

And what would be your biggest dream?
I don’t have a particular dream, there would be too many roles and houses to list…

Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
Drinking a glass of cold water and trying to smile (even if I don’t want to). This helps to be mentally relaxed.

My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Not thinking about preventing hoarseness. 

My idol:
Again, too many to list. Caruso, Gigli, Corelli, Del Monaco, Masini, Völker, de Muro, de Lucia, Schipa, Anselmi, Sobinov, Björling, Lindi, Piccaver, Hadley, ect. My «first love» was Fritz Wunderlich though… And Roger Federer of course!

Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Most of them are either cruel, stupid or narcissistic, so I hope only to identify with them on stage.

This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
This actually changes every day, today it was «Gott, welch Dunkel hier» from Fidelio.

Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
Cafe H. Schwarzenbach, because they don’t play any music in there.

What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
«Gireizli»

Luca Bernard, tenor, comes from Switzerland. 
The twenty-six-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/2O season.

When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
I remember that music was my friend from my childhood, but definitively, I decided to be a professional singer quite late, about 18 years old. During my studies in Lviv I really fell in love with this business and all components and now I feel in my place and understand that I am doing something that really brings me pleasure.

If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be …
I had to be an architect but the musical vocation prevailed.

Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
I was about to play the main role of Bonafede in Haydn’s opera «Il mondo della Luna». But due to the global pandemic, all my performances in the 19/20 season were cancelled. It could have been a very good experience for me, but I’m sure everything is ahead. I must say, it was a good experience for me to participate in the role of Figaro where I first learned all the intricacies of the music and drama of Maestro Mozart.

… the most embarrassing moment?
When you forget your text on stage and you need to remember it quickly to make sure no one will notice, that’s the most embarrassing moment.

… the biggest challenge?
Learning a foreign language in another foreign language which you do not know very well neither, that’s the biggest challenge!

 And what would be your biggest dream?
I am unpretentious about dreams. I would like to have the opportunity to work with professionals and truly dedicated people in our business and gain experience so I can return to Ukraine and pass this knowledge to the next generation, because in Ukraine there are very talented and hardworking people.

Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
Actually nothing special, but having fun with my colleagues right before going on stage and thus forget about stress and anxiety.

My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Good technique equals healthy singing.

My idol:
My true idol is nature.

Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
At the moment, I am close to the character of Don Juan. I must say that I am in love with the music of Mozart and for my voice is not difficult to convey emotions to the character of Don Juan.

This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
I think it could be «Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht» from «Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen» by Mahler

Which is your favorite place in Zurich and why?
I like to watch the sunset at Uetliberg.

What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
«Isch guët»

Tlushch Vladyslav, baritone, comes from the Ukraine. 
The twenty-eight-year-old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/2O season.

When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
When: If we speak and think more or less seriously, then on the 2nd to 3rd course of the Conservatory, when I studied in the best city in the world, my beloved St. Petersburg. (Zurich, I`m so sorry, but you`re amazing (!) too. Somehow, it reminds me of St. Petersburg, there is also a lot of water and then on top, all those grandiose mountains (wow!)!)
Why: I always wanted to sing rock, even when I studied at the music school, and I thought that having mastered opera singing it would be easy to become a rock singer (I was wrong, a bass voice in rock is not great, but at the Opera it’s still needed).

If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be …
Before, I always wanted to be a surgeon or history teacher. If somehow my life would change at this moment (you never know how it will turn out), I would like to work as a teacher in Kindergarten or primary school, and I’m also interested in the profession of a sports massage therapist.

Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
Hard to tell. But it was definitely an incredibly valuable experience to participate in the two operas «Der zerbrochene Krug» and « Mavra / Iolanta» in Munich. Another incredible (!!!) and crazy (!!!) experience was the participation in the performance based on the «The Snow Maiden» by Rimsky-Korsakov at the summer festival in Munich.

… the most embarrassing moment?
In life or at the opera? If we talk about the opera – I try to forget about it, but nothing out of the ordinary. In short, as it seems to me, I could not cope with one line in one opera and was constantly doing it wrong.

… the biggest challenge?
At the opera: Anything where there is French!
At my little hobby: 109 km of running in the mountains.

And what would be your biggest dream?
There is no such things as «dream», it’s something childish. Due to my naivety as a child, I wanted people on planet Earth to stop fighting each other…
There are goals that can be achieved if there is a desire, the main thing is to step on the gas and don’t let difficulties throw you off course, and if it happens one day, the next morning again – back into the battle with yourself. Hey! You! Who reads this text: never give up!

Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
No, I don't have anything like that. And in general, I don't believe in such things.

My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Ohhh, the main thing is to drink Vitamin C and D, so I don't even get it. Just in case, I have the Russian tablets Laripront and Lizobact which are especially for the throat, and if it gets worse and worse, I have the very good and strong vitamins Orthomol Immun.

My idol:
I don't have one. But if we are talking about big foreign people in art I like, there are a lot of actors and directors from the cinema. I'm an incredibly big fan of cinema. For example, Jim Carrey, Quentin Tarantino and many, many others! From the bass, I really like Nikolay Gyaurov. And, Mahatma Gandhi.

Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Oh, I don't know why, but I really like Varlaam from the opera «Boris Godunov» by Mussorgsky.

This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
«Goodbye Joy, my Life» («Farewell, Happiness») (performed by Chaliapin).

Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
Wherever there is water. And I really like the bridge in the center.

What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
Unfortunately, there is no such word yet (unfortunately, my Swiss German is veeeeeeeery bad, I will not hide it). But, there is one word that was created by a good man, I think, without Swiss German this word would not exist. It’s «Shkugigaga», which means something funny and kind. In this word, I feel a lot of light and madness.

Oleg Davydov, bass, comes from Russia. 
The twenty-seven year old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/2O season.