Eliza Rudnicka: Positive energy straight from the opera
Five questions for Eliza Rudnicka
Your Leipzig and good coffee?
I always have short distances: it depends on where I live, it has to be on the way. If I have a rehearsal in the morning and evening and then still want to manage my sport, I drink my coffee on the go. I like to have a coffee in the city center. Café Pushkin, Imperii and - if someone invites me - I won't say no to a FALCO (I'm normal, yes? laughs). I really like the Café Cantona - it may be a little out of the way, but it has flair. As soon as you enter the café and close the door behind you, you're immediately transported to another world.
Your Leipzig and bike?
I'm currently the proud owner of a city bike, so I can use it practically anywhere in the city. The furthest I've been is with my friends in Machern and my regular route is towards Schladitzer Bucht. I find peace and quiet there. I love Leipzig precisely because you can reach all the lakes and parks within three to eight kilometers. Everything is so close and compact. If I could, I'd hug the whole city with my hands.
Your Leipzig and culture?
I really like going to concerts at the Gewandhausand watching films at the Passage Kinos. But because of my work, it's difficult for me to go out in the evening. Sometimes I just don't have the energy. And of course I love going dancing with my friends, although I think we do it far too rarely!
Your Leipzig and architecture?
My favorite is Grimmaische Straße - all the nooks and crannies and passages. I also like the Barfußgässchen. But whenever I'm there, it's always terribly windy ;-)
Who is your musical superstar at the moment?
My musical spectrum is very broad. Music and lyrics always find their way to me at the right moment - from classical to electro. Recently - I'm afraid to even admit it! - I watched the new version of "Dynasty" - a good detox for the soul. "Dynasty" brought me back to the song "You Can't Hurry Love" by Phill Collins, which I now listen to passionately again. I'm crazy about TV series. Anything that's good, I watch quickly - even in English, which I still need to work on. I also recommend Gladys Knight. What currently gives me good energy: "Brand New" by Ben Rector. From the older artists, it's Melody Gardot, Eliane Elias, Nina Simone. I am so grateful that music came into my life. And that I was given this talent by the universe. I can sing, share my voice with someone, inspire people through music and lyrics. Recently, I've been using music to inspire myself to write poetry. Strange, isn't it? That's why I imagine my life
Eliza's path to becoming an opera singer
Eliza, what brought you to Leipzig?
I've been here for almost 14 years. It happened right after my studies, when I realized that I wanted to move abroad from Poland. At the time, I met a woman who was hiring choristers for the "Schlossfestspiele" festival in Schwerin. I got the choir place and I already knew on the way there that I would meet someone there. That's how it was: the fateful man then helped me to put down roots here in Germany. Thanks to him, I completed a German course for foreigners. Later, I managed to get a job in the Leipzig opera choir. I handed in the documents, went to the audition and the very next day I was delighted to get the "trainee position". After six months it became a half-time position, and after two years a full-time position. But back to the question: I simply came to Germany out of pure love.
What does the work of an opera singer look like in times of corona?
We have been working from home again since February. Unfortunately, we have no other choice at the moment. We are busy preparing for "Wagner 2022". We use sheet music and audio recordings at home to make learning easier. Theoretically, we could also try it via Zoom, but that's not the same as live. With Zoom, I would probably only hear myself and not my colleagues. But that's what choral singing is all about: Singing together and creating unity through sound. Practicing at home is different - you have to discipline yourself and simply "work hard". Regardless of whether you sing Wagner solo or in a choir, you have to be fit to get Wagner into your vocal chords and learn everything by heart.
What does practising look like in practice?
It depends on how quickly you learn. Some people only need an hour, others sit at it for hours. You start with a warm-up. You have to warm up your voice with special exercises. Then you sit down at the piano and practise - either from start to finish or just the difficult parts. You practise until it sounds good and the tempo is right. You can also practise on the sofa by listening to the recording. For me, it's less important how much time I need for the rehearsal than how effectively I work. It takes a lot of concentration to work alone. I really miss the stage. I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to going back to work and making music with my friends. Because our teamwork sometimes resembles a kindergarten (laughs). It's a lot of fun.
In addition to the opera choir, you are also a member of the newly formed Leipzig ensemble Femmetasie.
Yes, it's a new project by the opera choir singers and a pianist. In the first year there were six of us, now we're trying it with five. We sing classical music, jazz standards and pop hits in small a cappella concerts. We want to do something else alongside our work in the choir. When it was still possible, we used to organize concerts. That was a lot of fun. We recently met up online on Zoom. That gave me such a kick that I decided to start recording for my Instagram and Facebook profile again.
Exactly, your project on Instagram: Why don't you tell us the story behind "Antivirus ET" - the story of fighting Corona using singing, a paper crown on your head and a toilet paper roll as a microphone.
I have to admit that I was very shy as a young girl. Today, I am who I am. I've built up my self-confidence bit by bit over the years. During (and somehow thanks to) Corona, I set myself a challenge: I wanted to post a short movie on my Instagram account every day for 21 consecutive days. Regardless of how I'm feeling that day or how I'm feeling, I'm just going to sing. Now I'm getting good feedback. I even have an admirer who asked me the other day how I was doing and when I was going to post new recordings again. And at the end of last year I got a lovely message - full of gratitude for what I'm doing. The fans are counting on me! :-) That's why I'm motivated to sing every day - not just classical music, because I have more than enough of that at work. I'm happy to put a smile on someone's face with my craziness. After all, it's all about positive energy.
Thank you very much for the interview and we are delighted that you have shown us a piece of Leipzig's musical world.
Leipzig is also the aforementioned "Little Paris" for me. I admit that the city is unique. Many young people come here to study, many artists find themselves here and discover their own places here. This city has a wonderful energy. It is a shining "little Paris" that you can embrace and where everyone finds their place to feel free, happy and at home. Because where is home? Where you feel like you've arrived at the source!
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