Careers and children

I know many women opera singers who decide against having children, in order to concentrate entirely on their careers. I agree that having children and, at the same time, leading careers is difficult, but I refused to sacrifice any aspects of my private life to my “career”.

I was born to sing. Lotte Lehmann said to the public when I sang Master Classes with her at Northwestern University: “Brenda, you were born to sing opera.” This was always my belief, but I was thrilled to be mother to my son, Mark. It was often, if not always, very difficult. As an only parent, I either took him with me on my engagements, or, if it was a short engagement, left him at home with an au pair girl. I was well aware of my responsibility as mother and would not cut any financial corners for his care. Mark went with me to Geneva, Switzerland; Gent and Antwerp, Belgium; St. Petersburg and Talinn in Russia; Tokio; Florence, Italy for the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Catania, Sicily, etc., etc. He learned to feel comfortable in any country and any environment. He was born in Hamburg, Germany and speaks, fluently, English and German.

I often took Mark with me to opera performances. Mark heard my Kundry in Parsival as a child and after that evening, he always asked (when I wanted to take him to the opera to hear me): “Mommy, is it longer or shorter than Parsival?” Parsival was the ultimate limit for him as far as time went. Everything was measured from that night on according to Parsival!
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• Author and date: Brenda Roberts (2009-04-05)
• Permalink: Careers and children
• Comments: Comments (2)