Could you describe what you do as a musician in plain words that are understandable to a non-musician? I am a professional opera singer who has recently released my very first mini-album. "Quatre Chansons de Jeunesse" music by Claude Debussy with Florent Mourier, Piano.
When and how did you decide to become a professional musician? Did you understand what you signed up for back then? Did it turn out the way you had imagined? I have always loved music, have been singing since I was a child, and I couldn't imagine my life doing anything else! I think that I always realized that being a professional musician has its challenges, but I am happy with how it is going and am learning how to deal with these challenges as I go.
Sarah Dufresne | CMIM Voix/Voice 2022 | Finale/Final
Do you still listen to music for leisure these days? I listen to music every day! I listen to a mix of genres, from classical to top 40 pop music.
What are some works of music that are in your personal sacred shrine? My favourite opera is "The Magic Flute" by Mozart; specifically the recording by Deutsche Grammophon with Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducting. As far as instrumental classical music, I love "Bolero" by Ravel; also, the Deutsche Grammophon recording with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Otherwise, one of my favourite modern musicians is Hozier!
What are some recordings that you were inspired by, and why? I have been really inspired by the recording of soprano Barbara Bonney on her album "Diamonds in the Snow", specifically the clarity of this recording and how it complements the pure and shimmering quality of her voice.
How important is the presentation of sound to you in a recording? Do you believe a recording can be either “musical” or “sterile”? The sound is incredibly important in a recording. In classical recordings, especially, the sound quality usually makes the difference between whether or not I want to listen to it. If there are any sort of distractions in the sound, or if it doesn't have enough of the "live concert" sound, in my opinion, it is not as pleasant to listen to. I also lose interest quickly in classical recordings that sound overly produced or corrected. (Classical music is a live art, and although all recordings are a very polished version of this, they should still sound like someone could perform it live.)
How does audio playback gear, especially headphones, influence the way you perceive recordings and music in general? Does it inform your own performance? Have Hifiman headphones brought any revelations to your creative work? Having great audio playback gear helps to get the clearest idea of the sound that you are putting out. You can also hear in incredible detail, which, on my recent recording, was really helpful while working with the sound engineer. It was amazing to be able to hear every single detail and have a crystal clear version of the sound. Using the Hifiman headphones (Ananda BT R2R), I was able to describe to him exactly what I wanted to hear in the sound. Having these headphones has also made me super excited for my future recording projects, because they allow me to hear studio-quality audio at home. (Which is important, when we are collaborating on our visions of sound over a long period of time; or in my recent case, over the ocean!)
What was your proudest work or moment you could share with us? Proudest recording? I have recently put out two recordings, one with Signum Records- "The Complete Songs of Ravel" with Malcolm Martineau (Piano) and independently, "Quatre chansons de Jeunesse" songs by Debussy, with Florent Mourier (Piano). I am incredibly proud of both of these, and they are both available on Spotify!
Do you have any upcoming performances or albums you’d like to share with us and our audience? You can check out my website sarahdufresne.com, for upcoming performances! You can catch me soon in Munich (Germany), London (England), Vancouver (Canada), and Milan (Italy). You can also follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Spotify. Sarah Dufresne, Soprano
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