Five Questions with Soprano Brigitta Simon

Being a soprano with Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert means having far more than just a beautiful voice. It means encapsulating the spirit of the Viennese New Year, and it requires the gift of being able to radiate joy through emotive vocals and charismatic stage presence.

That radiance rarely exists on stage alone, but is part of what makes our cast members so wonderful to work with off stage as well. A bright light in both the Salute to Vienna universe and the world of Johann Strauss II performances in Vienna is soprano Brigitta Simon, who is part of our Florida cast this year.

Brigitta Simon performing at Strauss & Co. Opera and Operetta Gala, Fertőrákos Quarry and Cave Theater

Question 1: You have a busy Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert season coming up, performing in Miami, Clearwater, Orlando, Sarasota, and West Palm Beach. What are you looking forward to the most?

Brigitta Simon: I am excited and very grateful that I will be able to sing at five concerts this year. What I am most looking forward to is seeing the audience’s shining eyes and happy smiles during the concert. After all, that is why I stand on stage: to bring joy to people.

I hope to again experience the feeling that I was able to give something intangible through my voice; something that made the audience happy and that they will carry with them for a long time. If I succeed, then I will be happy too.

Simon performing at 200 Years of Strauss Open Air Operetta Gala

Q2: Do you have a pre-concert ritual or routine that helps you prepare before going on stage?

BS: I know many of my colleagues are very happy when a make-up artist and a hairdresser are available before a concert. For me, however, doing my own makeup and hairdo is part of the mental preparation process. It is an indispensable part of my preparations.

As my makeup is slowly built up and my hair is done strand by strand, I also become more and more immersed in myself. The process of getting ready calms me down and helps me concentrate. I often hum along, because the melodies that I will then bring to life on stage are already playing in my head. By the time I am done with my look, I am already mentally ready to go on stage.

Q3: Aside from music and performance, what other passions or interests do you have?

BS: I really love dancing, drawing, and reading. And I love our dogs passionately.

Q4: Not only are we celebrating 30 years of Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert this year, but we're also celebrating 200 years of Johann Strauss II! What is your favourite Strauss Jr. piece to sing or listen to?

Simon dressed for "The Doll Song" at Roy Thomson Hall

BS: I really like Strauss's operetta Die Fledermaus. One of my favorite arias is in this operetta: "Mein Herr Marquis." The character who sings it is Adele, the maid who dreams of a career as an actress.

It was easy for me to identify with her, since her biggest dream and desire is to be on stage. I am very happy that I can perform this aria regularly at the Salute to Vienna concerts.

I also really like the Rosen aus dem Süden Waltz. It is one of my favourite waltzes. For some reason it evokes a particularly romantic atmosphere for me.

Q5: Is there a piece of advice you've been given or inspirational quote that resonates with you and the way you perform?

BS: There is a quote by Roy Ayers that very well expresses my credo: “The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.”

Simon performing at 200 Years of Strauss Open Air Operetta Gala with the Strauss Capelle Vienna

Whether you ring in the New Year singing Auld Lang Syne along with Brigitta Simon or with one of our other fabulous sopranos, we hope the beautiful song and music of Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert inspires joy and happiness in your year to come.

Brigitta Simon: Artist Bio

Brigitta Simon completed her Master’s degrees in opera, Lied and oratorio, and instrumental and vocal pedagogy at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. She has won numerous prizes at national and international singing competitions, and was a 2009 Operalia finalist. She has performed the Queen of the Night (Magic Flute), Olympia (Tales of Hoffmann), Violetta Valéry (La traviata) and Adele (Die Fledermaus), and has collaborated with Plácido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi, Zubin Mehta, and Helmut Deutsch.