By MICHELLE HERBISON
SOPRANO Donna King owes her opera career to renowned Geelong singing teacher Marcelle Cortous Grose-Menzel.
The 41-year-old from a “completely non-musical family” wanted to learn “normal singing” as a teenager but mistakenly found herself enrolled in opera classes with Menzel.
“The first lesson was very frightening. I didn’t like the music at all but I couldn’t say anything to her,” King remembered with a laugh.
After a full year of studious practise, King fell in love with classical singing so intensely she decided to pursue a career of teaching and performing opera.
The Victorian College of the Arts graduate and mother of four recently resolved to spend more time performing, teaming with McKillop Street’s Wintergarden Café to create a series of concerts.
King will dedicate the first of the unique, themed dinner concerts to her inspirational teacher.
Menzel taught music in many Geelong schools and privately up until the age of 83, aiding the careers of successful singers Cheryl Barker, Peter Coleman-Wright, Kirstin Camm-Bartle, Martin Croft and Duncan Esler.
“Often when I’m singing the harder arias I’ll remember her sitting at the piano telling me something and I’ll sing it better,” King mused.
The Classics by Candlelight concert on April 27 would feature a range of well-known repertoire from the baroque era through to musical theatre songs, King explained.
“I’ll sing a bit of Italian, a bit of German, some songs from Phantom of the Opera, a little bit from Westside Story and some really beautiful folk songs.”
King, who now lives at Point Cook, hoped to draw the general public’s interest because her performances at restaurants and functions often removed the intimidation of opera for newcomers.
“I get so many people come up to me and say, ‘I really can’t stand classical music but you made me cry’.”
King will perform at Wintergarden on the last Saturday of every month this year, including a high tea celebrating motherhood at 3pm on 11 May. She will perform Mad Hats, Masks and Musical Mayhem on 25 May 25 and a celebration for Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s birthday on 29 June.
