Today I am talking to Marrianne Town Smith, a dramatic soprano who found her voice much later than what is the usual trajectory for classical singers. Having had a highly successful career, Marrianne’s life in marketing was halted due to changes in her personal circumstances. And then she found singing. In our conversation Marrianne tells about her experiences of stepping into the daunting realm of a music conservatoire in her early forties, she explains of what makes communication a primary skill both in business and in music, and highlights the importance of living life to the full.
Marrianne Town Smith started to sing in 2007 as a hobby and distraction from a fast-paced Marketing Management role. Since then she has been on an adventure into opera and classical music, doing as much to learn and grow with a full time job as was possible. In 2015, she successfully auditioned for a Postgraduate Vocal Studies programme at Trinity Laban and graduated with distinction in 2017. She has performed many roles in operas and staged scenes at Blackheath Halls Community Opera, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music, AIMS international Singing School and City Lit Opera, as well as regularly performing recitals in venues around London and the south east. She has sung in masterclasses with Susan Bullock, David Gowland and Christa Ludwig. In 2018 she sang her first opera role with Opera in the Meantime, singing the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel. In 2019 she covered the roles of Maddalena in Andrea Chenier, and Madeleine Lidoine in Les Dialogues des Carmélites with Midsummer Opera. She performed her first role with orchestra singing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in Sicily at the Mediterannean Opera Studio and Festival in July 2019. In December last year she sang both the Witch and debuted the role of Getrude with Opera in the Meantime’s revival production of Hänsel und Gretel. 2020 started with two Requiems and the opportunity to add oratorio roles to her resume, with Verdi’s Requiem and the Brahms's Requiem, both conducted by Peter Fender. And then sadly Covid-19 took over and all other plans for this year have been postponed. However, she remains optimistic—she has been working away in her garden “She Shack” learning new roles and repertoire. She is also having online coaching with amazing International singers and stage directors as well as continuing to work with her wonderful teacher Raymond Connell.
Website: www.marrianne.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marriannetownsmithsoprano
