Soprano takes on dual role for challenging opera by Christopher Morley
Singer shares her insights into playing the part of the druid priestess in Bellini's Norma as well as directing the new production by Midland Opera. Never mind taking on the demanding title-role of the Druid Priestess in Bellini’s Norma, soprano Sarah Helsby-Hughes is also directing this new production of the bel canto opera for Midland Opera. How has it been, supervising rehearsals as well as observing yourself playing this major part, I ask Sarah, one of the many operatic graduates of Birmingham Conservatoire who have gone on to great success?. “Hopefully, the rehearsals operate like a well-oiled machine, and I have enough teacher-vision to know what’s going on around me,” she replies, adding that her work (which includes her artistic directorship of Heritage Opera) involves a 50 per cent division of herself between feet-on-the-ground devising and actual singing. Sarah is based in Sandbach in Cheshire, but comes down willingly on a regular basis to Birmingham in orde