How Did Barbara Hannigan Prepare to Perform Alban Berg’s 1930s Opera ‘Lulu’?

TL;DR

Barbara Hannigan prepared for Lulu by mastering its notes and rhythms, memorizing the opera through eight-hour workdays, and drawing on the life experience the role demands. Alban Berg’s three-and-a-half-hour opera keeps Lulu onstage almost continuously, making the part both physically and emotionally daunting. Read on to discover why Hannigan considers Lulu honest, self-directed, and worth confronting despite her fear.

Transcript

Lulu is an opera written in the 1930s by the composer Alban Berg it's an it's about an extraordinary woman who is in my opinion the architect of her own destiny even in my opinion of her own death for those of you familiar with the Opera or Vin's play upon which it is based you may have the image of a f fatal you may have the Assumption of a misogy... Read More

Key Insights

• 🕵️‍♀️ Lulu challenges assumptions and presents a complex female character.
• 🎼 Preparing for Lulu requires both musical and emotional dedication.
• 🧑‍🎤 The singer navigates the challenges of aging and the limited time she has as a performer.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Music allows the singer to transcend gender boundaries and express both male and female voices.
• 🧑‍🎤 The singer experiences Stockholm syndrome and survivor guilt during her journey with Lulu.
• 🧑‍🎤 The role of Lulu had a profound impact on the singer's life and became a significant part of her identity.
• ✊ The singer finds strength and power in performing Lulu and exploring the character's emotions and experiences.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Barbara Hannigan prepare to perform Lulu?

She began meticulously with the notes and rhythms, initially setting aside the text and interpretation so she could learn the musical landscape. Later, she spent about eight hours a day walking, jumping, singing, and dancing while memorizing the opera before rehearsals began.

Q: What is Alban Berg’s opera Lulu about?

Hannigan describes Lulu as an extraordinary woman who is the architect of her own destiny and even, in her view, her own death. Rather than seeing her merely as a manipulator or victim, Hannigan portrays Lulu as honest, angry, risky, triumphant, loving, and true to herself.

Q: Why does Hannigan reject the view that Lulu is a misogynistic story?

She rejects the image of Lulu as simply a woman who is used, abused, degraded, and murdered. To Hannigan, Lulu is one of the most honest people she has encountered on or off stage because she forces others to see her as she truly is.

Q: Why is the role of Lulu so demanding?

The role contains three and a half hours of music, and Lulu remains onstage singing for almost the entire opera. Hannigan calls it a marathon and one of the most demanding roles in the operatic repertoire, requiring voice, musical preparation, life experience, and time.

Q: How did Hannigan handle her fear of taking on Lulu?

Although reviews called her fearless, she says she felt deeply human and filled with fear. She heard inner voices saying she was not good or strong enough, but instead of engaging with them, she kept breathing, singing, and moving forward.

Q: What did Hannigan say about aging as an opera singer?

Turning 40 was difficult for her because she believed she probably had another 10 to 15 years before losing some bloom, elasticity, and virtuosity. That limited shelf life made her feel angry, driven, and desperate, while also making her thankful that accumulated experience enabled her to tackle Lulu.

Q: What does singing Lulu feel like to Hannigan?

She says it feels as though her whole body is shaking with resonance and she becomes the sound of humanity. She describes the experience as exhilarating and extremely satisfying in a physical way.

Q: How does Hannigan think about gender in music and opera?

She notes that she spends much of her life performing music and text written by men, often through female characters. While singing, she feels she becomes both the character and the composer’s voice, because she believes sound itself has no gender.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The singer takes on the challenging role of Lulu in the opera written by Alban Berg, finding her to be an honest and inspiring character.

• Learning and preparing for the role requires intense dedication, both musically and emotionally.

• The singer reflects on the impact of aging and the limited time she has as a performer, expressing her anger and desperation to make the most of her career.