Virtue
Barbara Ellington, Contributor
THESE DAYS she prefers to be referred to as simply Dawn-Marie, but those who have followed her illustrious career over the years, remember her as soprano par excellence - Dawn Marie Virtue.
Dawn-Marie was recently on vacation in the island with husband Errol James and enjoyed the break from colder temperatures in Atlanta, Georgia where she has resided since 1985. She spoke with The Sunday Gleaner about her career, experiences in the opera and her brand new CD, Simply .... Dawn-Marie.
She divides her time between teaching voice at the DeKlab County Magnet School for the performing arts and singing in the Atlanta Opera. She is also artiste affiliate at Agnes Scott College.
"In Atlanta, I have the opportunity to perform with singers of international calibre and I am held to a far higher standard than I would be here in Jamaica," she said in response to our question about performing in both countries.
Dawn-Marie likened the experience to being in a fish bowl versus the ocean. "In Atlanta and other parts of the world, you have to be very good to be employed," she noted while explaining that Jamaica has a wealth of talent but not enough world class opera singers to compare oneself to.
FULL SCHEDULE
The singer has a full schedule all-year-long. The opera season's opening usually coincides with the start of the calendar year but the 2003-2004 season began in September. For the opera singer, the average day begins at 10:00 a.m., with a break at 1:30 p.m. The group returns at 3:00 p.m., rehearses till 6:00 p.m., then breaks for dinner to regroup from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The evening sessions include blocking, use of props, movement and more. Principal members of the cast rehearse first and the chorus comes in at night. Everyone gets a day-off in the week and the company continues like this for several weeks before going to the theatre where they will perform, for more.
"Costumes can be extremely heavy, sometimes weighing more than 20 pounds; we use a rehearsal skirt to help us get used to the weight and wear knee pads because there is a lot of kneeling in the opera," she said.
Opera singers are hired on contract and in Dawn-Marie's case, she has to juggle performance and teaching schedules, but, "...it energises me," she said with her characteristic hearty laugh.
LOSS OF VOICE
Many professional singers have to live with the possibility of losing their voice, does this give Dawn-Marie cause for concern?
"I don't worry about losing my voice at all, I had a great teacher in Joyce Briton and it has worked well for me. My voice is the only thing that will make me go to the doctor in a hurry because I am allergic to changes in temperature, my sinuses clog up so I use a humidifier, gargle and take care of my instrument," she explained.
Additionally, she avoids shouting when she teaches and smoke-filled places, alcohol, milk and dairy products. "You have to know your limitations and be moderate in all things, but I still laugh a lot," she said.
COMPILING THE CD
Producing the new CD took 100 days but it took her longer to decide on the songs to include because she initially wanted only Jamaican folk songs but in the end it has turned out to be a mixture with something for everyone to enjoy. She took a chance in introducing folk songs to a traditionally classical music-loving audience but this has been her passion for years and she remains true to her roots.
The CD includes favourites: Banyan Tree, Evening Time, Me Alone, Sunday Day Clothes, as well as Little Polly Flinders, Humpty Dumpty, and Sing a Song of Sixpence, for the children. The arrangements are exceptionally imaginative and Dawn-Marie's technique is flawless. This CD is perfect for Sunday and relaxed at-home listening or suitable for a long drive in the countryside. Listening to this compilation could easily be compared to attending a recital by the singer.
The songs come from all the countries that have had some influence in her development, these include France, England, Spain, China, Trinidad, Belize and Guyana. She disclosed that she plans to do four more CDs and one will definitely be entirely of Jamaican folk songs.
Although Dawn-Marie is at the top of her class right now, she still has a few more hurdles she'd like to conquer. These include more world travel, working with a large orchestra, and perhaps fulfilling her dream of owning and running a performing arts school.
PERSONAL MUSIC TASTE
When not listening to the all classics station, Dawn-Marie, enjoys some jazz, the music of the 50s, she likes the guitar and Jessie Norman, Rene Flemming, Victor de los Angeles and Kiri Tekanawa. In Jamaica, she likes to perform at the University Chapel and Ward Theatre. She hopes to perform here when the CD is launched this Easter.
Is there any truth to the belief that one has to be full figured to sing well, Dawn-Marie disagrees. "It's all about stamina and training, you have to build those muscles."
Would she change anything about her life so far? The singer responds with an emphatic no; but she would love to have done more dancing.
And what of retirement?
"I don't plan to retire at all, I will teach till the day I die, I will keep working and pray that I stay healthy and in good voice."
Her advice to young opera singers is that they should always be prepared, always increase your repertoire because in this business, it's all about five per cent talent and 95 per cent luck. Be disciplined and if you teach, tell your students the truth about their talent."
