What the Fach?

FIVE STARS FOR THERAPY: MENTAL HEALTH & OPERA JOURNALISM

We're joined by the fabulous Hattie Butterworth: journalist, editor, cellist, and mental health campaigner... what can't she do?! Hattie is the founder of the podcast Things Musicians Don't Talk About [https://www.thingsmusiciansdonttalkabout.com/], a revolutionary platform, which has helped change the stigma surrounding mental health with musicians. Hattie shares her own journey with severe anxiety, OCD, depression, and an eating disorder — and how the culture of perfectionism in classical music both fuelled and concealed her struggles. Challenging the stigma around medication, therapy, and diagnosis. We ask ourselves: is the hyper-focused, obsessive mindset that makes musicians excel the same one that can spiral into disorder? Where does dedication end and dysfunction begin? Hattie pulls back the curtain on how reviews actually work — word counts, forgotten performances, critics who may not even be musicians... sparking a discussion of body shaming in reviews and editors' responsibility to protect performers. We love Hattie, and we know you will too! Book mentioned: Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts [https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/overcoming-unwanted-intrusive-thoughts-book-sally-m-winston-psyd-9781626254343?sku=GOR008688285&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=23886647698&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIC6-aJyE2uCk2KTaY4OgJShu&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxvjRBhC2ARIsAI7KJa3fdKgDptymaCT9YoXlrkRtaXDIt5_7Ee9wHjzO6QNCcSV32oHg0QIaArUgEALw_wcB] by Sally M. Winston, Psyd and Martin P. Seif, PhD

SOCIAL MEDIA FEVER: OPERA ON INSTAGRAM

In this episode we chat to Shakira Tsindos – mezzo-soprano and creator of Your Artist Media – who manages the socials of opera singers like Aigul Akhmethsina , as well as promoting star artists represented by agencies such as MWA and MK Impresario. We know intimately that, as opera singers, socials can feel scary. How can you present yourself online without feeling vulnerable? When your instrument is constantly changing and evolving? Just how online do we need to be? Callas didn't have to be online... so why do we?! We know that, now more than ever, the industry expects us to have an online presence, so Shakira offers her tips and tricks to make all of social media business much less daunting. Sometimes it's just about knowing where to start! Comment below what your favourite tip was!

CATCH-UP: TAKING UP SPACE & USING YOUR FACE

Timothée Chalamet said opera is dead. The Met is down to nine donors. And someone in a young artist program was told to try a weight loss drug. We are back in the same room and we have a lot to say. Featuring: karaoke confessions, frozen foreheads, billionaires buying streaming services, and a feminist theory that connects all of it... Comment below with your thoughts and feelings!

CATCH-UP: SINGING FOR A LIVING COSTS A LOT

January catch-up incoming 💋 We get real about the taboo no one wants to touch: audition costs. From eye-watering audition expenses (how much did we actually drop this season?!) to tales from a European audition tour backed by the ultimate keyboard-warrior mum. We dive into our audition experiences too, sharing the highs, the lows, and the full horror stories, plus some very exciting updates on young artist programme developments. We're spilling the tea, crunching the numbers, and getting into the nitty gritty – because it’s time singers stopped whispering and started being honest about how we make this career work.

CROSSING CONTINENTS: FEST VS GUEST

Soprano Emily Hindrichs spills all on how she went from New Orleans to accidentally building a powerhouse career in Europe – landing at Oper Köln and escaping a lifetime of only singing Queen of the Night. She breaks down what fest life is really like (spoiler: structure! colleagues! health insurance!) and why the German system can either lift you up or chew you up if you’re not steering your own ship. We get into the cultural whiplash of working on both sides of the Atlantic, the steep learning curve of surviving and thriving in the German language, and how to handle feedback without losing your mind. Emily also talks about creating Lighthouse Opera Köln, the mentorship programme she literally runs from her living room, plus the importance of intimacy coordination, stage combat, and saying “nope, not for me” without guilt. Funny, frank, and full of wisdom, a must-listen for anyone trying to navigate opera without burning out.