This week's Student Artist is Merrin Lazyan. She has been studying voice since she was eight years old, but started her real classical training during her freshman year of high school. She has studied and sung classical music, Western art music in French, Italian, and German, as well as operatic arias. In high school, she sang classical choral music and began studying some oratorios (unstaged operas) while singing with the New York Choral Society. With the NYCS, she performed in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall. As the culmination of her vocal study in high school, she performed a senior recital singing art music in French, German, and Italian, as well as Italian arias.
At Tufts, Lazyan has continued her study of classical music and operas. She takes private lessons and is a Member of the Tufts Chamber Singers and Opera Ensemble. She has played the Countess in a scene from The Marriage of Figaro and Gretel in a scene from Hansel and Gretel and will be playing the role of Catherine in an opera called The Lantern Marriage by Offenbach. She also does some musical theater and is currently playing the role of Anne in A Little Night Music, which opens this week.
Daily: What first drew you to the opera?
Merrin: What first drew me to opera (and to classical music in general) was its beautifully expressive nature. Opera music is so dramatic, and since it is intended not only to be melodic and musical, but to tell a story as well, there is so much to convey in just one song. Arias especially aim to trace the development of a character, and there are a great deal of intentions and emotions packed into some extraordinary music. It is just a lot of fun to work with.
Daily: What's the difference between singing normally and singing operatically?
Merrin: There are a few main differences between singing normally and singing operatically. The first is the way in which, in order to sing opera, you really have to use your entire body as an instrument. That not only includes feeling grounded, not just in stance and posture, but also just a sense of connection to your physical being.
Daily: If you could compare opera to any type of nut, which would it be and why?
Merrin: Well, Marc, I see opera as a walnut. Although it may be hard to break the shell and really get into it, once you do, there are glorious colors and textures to be found.
Daily: What is your favorite language to sing in?
Merrin: Italian is definitely my favorite language to sing in! The intonation, bright vowels and the vocal placement of consonants all make it very communicative. Besides, some of the best operas have been written in Italian!
Daily: What is your favorite opera in that language?
Merrin: My favorite Italian aria is called "Pianger? la sorte mia" from the opera Giulio Cesare. It begins with a recitative section (which is singing that is supposed to resemble speech patterns and often precedes an aria) that explains the character's fear that her lover has died. The aria begins with a description of her grief and sorrow, then moves into a middle section in which she becomes angry at the injustice of the world and vows to seek her revenge, and then returns to an even more anguished final section. I love this aria
because it brings both the singer and the listener through the entire grieving process, from denial and disbelief to sadness, then anger and resentment, and finally, to acceptance and an exhausted sense of sorrow.
Daily: What are the odds that the average Tufts student has heard of it?
Merrin: I have a feeling that most Tufts students would not know of this aria, however, some have seen me perform it at studio classes, student recitals and juries.
Daily: Now, if your favorite opera was coming to town and tickets went on sale tomorrow, would you brave the cold and camp out?
Merrin: If Mozart's The Magic Flute were coming to town, I would most certainly
camp out for the opportunity to experience a very entertaining story and one of
the world's most famous soprano arias!
Daily: I think it'd be fair to say that most of us have not sung opera. How would you describe the feeling one gets when performing what many consider one of the most expressive of arts?
Merrin: To sing such an elaborate and dramatic form of music is truly incredible. Operatic music, in its beauty and the stories that it tells, often touches on aspects of the human condition that are both personal and universal. Being able to make that connection and to share my passion through performance is so magical and thrilling for me, and I know that I will pursue this art form seriously and indefinitely.
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