This episode of An Honest Look features Golda Schultz, a soprano who made her professional start at the Bavarian State Opera and has gone on to become a regular presence at leading houses on both sides of the pond. She spoke about moving beyond the concept of perfection; growing up in South Africa; the characters who most inspire her; and more.

*2:00 – [musical excerpt: “Ach Ich fühl’s” from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte] – making her breakthrough at the Salzburg Festival

*5:29 – living in the land of Mozart (the father) and Richard Strauss

*9:53 – the history of Golda’s hometown, Bophuthatswana, and what it means to be South African

*13:35 – [musical excerpt: “Summertime” from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess] – her first encounter with opera and vocal studies

*16:33 – picking and choosing characters

This interview was originally conducted for the New York Philharmonic

Musical excerpts provided courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

Intro and outro composed by Miguel Kertsman