Soprano Emily Hindrichs spills all on how she went from New Orleans to accidentally building a powerhouse career in Europe – landing at Oper Köln and escaping a lifetime of only singing Queen of the Night. She breaks down what fest life is really like (spoiler: structure! colleagues! health insurance!) and why the German system can either lift you up or chew you up if you’re not steering your own ship.

We get into the cultural whiplash of working on both sides of the Atlantic, the steep learning curve of surviving and thriving in the German language, and how to handle feedback without losing your mind. Emily also talks about creating Lighthouse Opera Köln, the mentorship programme she literally runs from her living room, plus the importance of intimacy coordination, stage combat, and saying “nope, not for me” without guilt.

Funny, frank, and full of wisdom, a must-listen for anyone trying to navigate opera without burning out.