Devon Opera people
Catherine Hooper sings Musetta
Kiwi-British soprano Catherine Hooper is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and the universities of Cambridge and St Andrews. She has been a Young Artist with Opera Prelude and SongEasel, an Associate Artist with OperaUpClose—covering Senta (Flying Dutchman) and touring the solo production We Two Were Lovers—and part of the prestigious Glyndebourne chorus. At RCM, Catherine covered the Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) and performed scenes as the Countess (Figaro), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), and Alcina. Earlier roles include Vixen Sharp-Ears (Cunning Little Vixen) with Byre Opera and La Musique (Les arts florissants) with the Cambridge Baroque Ensemble. Catherine is also dedicated concert singer and has recently returned from a recital tour of China, as well as performing regularly with the 97 Ensemble at venues including the Royal Albert Hall Elgar Room.
Beach or woodland walk? Woodland walk
Mozart or Massenet? Always Mozart…
Dogs or Cats? Both, how can you choose?
Your Desert Island luxury? My silk sleep mask because no matter where you are, you always need a good night’s sleep!
And most importantly, what is your favourite Opera and why? I have two for very different reasons. The first is Verdi’s La traviata because there is no role more perfect than Violetta and it has fantastic tunes. The second is Strauss’s Salome because, firstly, Strauss is my favourite composer, and secondly, it is the perfect mixture of dark, beautiful, and cathartic.
How are you involved in our production of La bohème? I am playing the role of Musetta.
Do you have any unexpected or surprising talents outside music? I love to learn languages, so I’m a little bit of a polyglot, and I also used to be a professional knitter.