I am surprised that everybody in Bangalore speaks English. In Cuba, you need to know Spanish and in Russia you need to know Russian, says opera singer Nicola Beller Carbone about her first impression on Bangalore.

Nicola, a soprano who has visited India for the first time, will be accompanied by Stefan Blunier on the piano for a concert sponsored by Ganjam. “I always wanted to be in India, a country known for its democracy, religion, culture, aesthetics and outfits,” says Nicola, feeling comfortable in a dark green ghagra-choli.

“I have been overwhelmed by the traffic, haphazard driving, autorickshaw, fruit and vegetable vendors by the roadside, the gardens and the parks,” she told Metrolife, in a freewheeling chat.

European opera

At the Bangalore concert Nicola, who speaks several foreign languages, will be singing in Operatic arias in Italian, German, Spanish and French.

How is European opera different from Broadway musicals? “Broadway musicals are 20th century and later day compositions while European operas have been composed from 16th century onwards.

Musicals are dependent on electronic amplification, while operas value acoustic and voice. The former uses dancing as a part, while the latter doesn’t use dance. Musicals have entertainment aspect, while operas are more for a select audience.”

An opera can be as short as an hour and a half or as long as five hours like Richard Wagner’s ‘Die Walkure’ or The Valkyrie. “There are 20 singers singing solo and a 90-member orchestra. Since the concert is long, there are two intermissions of 20 minutes each. A concert starting at 5 pm would end around 10 pm,” she says.

When asked if opera singers are born or made, Nicola says, “Opera singing is made up of 80 per cent discipline, hard work and know-how and 20 per cent talent.”

Born in Germany, Nicola grew up in Spain and presently lives in Florence, Italy. After studying acting in Zaragoza, she qualified as a singer at the Escuela Superior de canto in Madrid, under the maestra Dolores Ripolles.

In 1991 she obtained a contract at the Opernstudio of the Bayrische Staatsoper. In 1993 she became permanent soprano in the company of the Gartnerplatztheater Munchen and has been working as a freelance from 2001-2002.

The concert is on July 31, 7:30 pm at the Sathya Sai Sanskruta Sadanam, Hosur Road.