Episode 1: Ariana Strahl - Powerful, Beautiful or Compelling

Soprano Ariana Strahl

Welcome to the very first episode of Doing the Thing: How and Why People Create. In this podcast I talk to artists, craftspeople and tradespeople about how and why they do the things that they do.

In this episode soprano Ariana Strahl talks about classical singing and the opera business, including the joys of finding friendship and community, the limitations of preconceptions of classical voice types, and navigating a career. Also, there are cats.

Soprano Ariana Strahl is an international storyteller. Her “commanding vocal power” is equally comfortable in the realms of symphonic works, art song, and opera. A truly international artist, Ms. Strahl is equally at home in the United States and in Germany, having been an artist in residence at the Komische Oper Berlin, where she brought over twenty roles to the stage. Of her portrayal of Tennessee Williams’ Blanche DuBois, critics praised her as “highly gifted and smart, attractive and empathetic - every move she made was motivated by the drama.” She is an ardent new music advocate, having co-commissioned a song cycle for soprano and large ensemble by composer Eric Malmquist, called Let Me Sing - three poems of American activist women.

When she’s not singing, Ms. Strahl is an impassioned arts advocate and endeavors to develop and cultivate community around musical experiences. Her work with arts communities in both Chicago and San Francisco speaks toward the reciprocal joy that is possible in a community centered around creativity. Her Chicago Back Porch Concert Series brought together some of Chicago’s finest musicians and neighbors during the summer of 2020, with a simple goal - making music apart, together.

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