Opera Dialogues

In this episode of Opera Dialogues, hosts Kitty Whately and Nina Brazier dive into the technical side of singing through pregnancy and after birth, joined by two leading voice experts: vocal coach and rehabilitation specialist Gillian Ramm and Professor Dinah Harris from the Royal College of Music.

Kitty kicks things off with a deep dive into the physiology of pregnancy and how it affects the singing voice — from increased blood volume and reduced lung capacity to thickened mucus, acid reflux, and the hormone relaxin loosening joints and ligaments. Gillian offers practical tips for managing reflux-ravaged cords, including steaming, semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, and her brilliant "practice snacks" approach to rebuilding vocal stamina in short, manageable bursts.

Professor Dinah Harris shares her decades of experience rehabilitating singers post-birth, introducing the accent method breathing technique that helped Louise Alder get back to work after her C-section. She and Gillian demystify what "support" really means, discuss the importance of pelvic floor awareness, and stress that — whether or not you've had a C-section — recovery takes as long as it takes.

Gillian also makes a passionate case for the performing arts to adopt the kind of sports medicine support that elite athletes take for granted, and encourages singers to build their own "A team" of specialists before starting a family.

Coming up in the series: a fascinating conversation with obstetrician Dr. Brian Tsai on what really happens during a C-section, an episode with a group of opera dads exploring career path options and family life, and stories of lived experience of singing during pregnancy and after childbirth from busy international singers Lise Davidson and Sydney Mancasola.

What does it really mean to pursue an opera career while starting a family? From singing through pregnancy and returning to the stage after birth to IVF, childcare, finances, and the realities of balancing family life with a demanding career, Opera Dialogues opens up the conversations that matter.

We launch October 29th, with episodes every other week.

Let's open up the conversation.

From jumping in as a rehearsal pianist at the Salzburg Festival, through taking on ENO at the age of thirty-one, and onto the legacy of the LPO , Ed Gardner gives a refreshingly honest insight into his journey from a young chorister to the multi award-winning conductor that he is today. Nina chats to Ed about nurturing and sustaining his musical - and managerial - relationships, his approach to collaboration, and why cross words in a rehearsal room isn't always a bad thing

Find out more about the London Philharmonic Orchestra and their upcoming season here and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra here.

How can we find balance when our schedules can be so punishing? How can we find meaning in our work in a world that celebrates immediate success? And how can we tackle that unrelenting desire for perfectionism? Returning guest Lou Platt explores these questions and more, and gives ideas and insight into what we can do to better take care of our mental health and wellbeing.

You can find Lou on her website or at Artist Wellbeing, on Twitter here, & on Instagram here.

What happens when the career you have is not the one that you really want? Do you stay and climb the ladder, or do you take a risk and step into your story? Nadine Benjamin found herself thriving in the world of Finance, but always remembered her teacher Mrs. Lake who introduced her to the Queen of the Night's music at school, telling her that she too could sing like that one day. Taking three months out to try to make singing into her career, Nadine's talent alongside her bravery and tenacity took her from constantly asking for auditions, to writing up her business plan and asking people to support her, on to finding her own unique path to training her voice. Needless to say, she didn't look back. Now, alongside her thriving career - from ENO to the Royal Opera House & Glyndebourne and beyond - she works as a mentor, Mind Coach, certified High Performance Coach, & founder of her own mentorship programme Everybody Can! where she coaches and champions others to step into their own stories.

If you need to reach out for help – The Samaritans can be found here https://www.samaritans.org/ and called on 116 123 for free (UK).

You can find Nadine on Twitter & on Instagram, via her website and through Everybody Can!.

Hailing from the German equivalent of the Von Trapp family with plans to be a solo violinist, Kathleen's career took an unexpected pivot when she was unceremoniously sacked from her first job and bumped into Richard Branson in the veg aisle in Marks and Spencers. Gathering her thoughts alongside her graphic designer boyfriend Alan Long, she launched WildKat PR, a creative PR agency for classical music, something that Kat felt needed a serious change of image. From being less awkward on social media, to finding out whether we really have to be 'across all platforms', onto resilience and recovery in the face of failure, we explore the highs and lows of Kat's journey, and discover tips on how to survive and thrive in the performing arts world.

Find out more about Kat here and more about WildKat PR here

Follow Kat on Twitter here and Instagram here, and read more about her latest venture PostKultur here.

For over a decade, Kate was a busy lead Soprano singing across UK opera houses and around the world. However, some worrying panic attacks and serious vocal health issues came to the surface and required swift surgery. During her own long rehabilitation process, she discovered a newfound fascination with vocal health, and wanted to ensure that other people didn't have to go through a similar experience alone. She has dedicated herself to removing the mystery and stigma surrounding vocal health, wellbeing and injury, and actively encourages singers to be open and reach out for help when they're suffering. Kate chats about listening to your body, knowing and setting your boundaries and the desperate need for kindness in the opera world.

You can find Kate at the Valentine Voice Care Clinics in Lewes & Glasgow, through the Voice Care Centre in London and Clyde Consulting Rooms in Glasgow, and on Instagram.

Allyson was surrounded by music in Ottawa as she grew up - from jazz to classical and calypso - and playing the piano was an intrinsic part of her childhood, where she gathered happily with friends at festivals and competitions. She initially planned to become a paediatrician after her music degree, but music persuaded her to continue her studies - from the Conservatoire de Musique in Quebec to Oberlin Ohio and onto the Royal Academy of Music in London. As doors opened for Allyson and one opportunity led to another, she developed a career carefully balancing her work as a Music Director with accompanying, coaching, teaching, composing, as a recitalist performing around the world and as Artistic Director of Nitrovox, an a cappella group that tells stories about the African diaspora through spoken word and song. Allyson shares her unique experience of becoming a fully-rounded artist, and reveals her thoughts on the relentless quest for perfection in the opera industry.