Reference by Jochen Breiholz
I first met Kirsten Schötteldreier in September 2015 in Antwerp in my capacity as Director of Artistic Administration and Casting of the Flemish Opera (Opera Vlaanderen). We were rehearsing a production of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser“, and one of the lead singers, who was struggling with his vocally very demanding role and who had previously worked with Kirsten, brought her in on his own account to help him deal with the more tricky parts of the score.
Kirsten instantly struck me as an exceptionally open, positive, enthusiastic and winning personality. She worked miracles with that particular singer. Her approach is refreshingly different from that of the coaches who come from the field of traditional singing technique. Kirsten works on an all-embracing physical, energetic level that has its roots in the centuries old Chinese Qigong, a system of coordinated meditation, breathing and movement.
Kirsten’s work and the quick and astonishing result she got from that singer impressed me so much that I decided to work with her on a regular basis. In the spring of 2016, when I took over the position of Director of Artistic Administration and Casting at Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria, I hired Kirsten to work with the singers of my ensemble in group workshops and individual coachings throughout each season. Again, the results were (and are) nothing short of amazing: she took the vocal material that each singer brought to the table and transformed it into something richer, more expressive, more multi-layered, more beautiful than it had been before. More than that, Kirsten has the ability to open up singers, to find and bring out the “true voice“ that is often hidden deep inside. It is quite common among opera singers that they are not fully aware of their potential, of what they are really capable of. Kirsten brings out this potential. She makes singers grow and develop.
One of the great things about her way of working is that she does not have a “one fits all“ way of working, but instead looks for an individual, personalized approach for each single artist she works with. I have seen and heard Kirsten change voices and change singers for the better many times. She is a great partner to work with, not least because she is in every moment fully aware that these days singers are also required to be excellent actors and that ideally the acting should not be comprosmised by the vocal demands of a role (and vice versa). Consequently, Kirsten attends as many stage rehearsals as possible to find out what the demands for each singer are production-wise, and how she can tailor the perfect approach for each cast member to their part.
The work of Kirsten Schötteldreier is an inspiration and an asset for any opera house.
Every singer, from young beginner to already more experienced artist, can benefit from her knowledge and her wonderful coachings.
Jochen Breiholz
Artistic Director at the Opéra de Lyon