Post | SMARTx

By Fernando Santos on 11/13/2023*

In the vast and resonant spaces of contemporary classical music, there are voices that transcend borders and repertoires, taking us on unforgettable sonic journeys. One such voice belongs to Inês Simões , a Portuguese soprano whose unmistakable, rich and luminous timbre has left its indelible mark on the music scene.

During an exclusive interview with ProART , I, Fernando Santos (FS), had the privilege of talking to Inês about her exceptional career, which includes 27 world premieres, ranging from opera to symphonic and chamber music, with a special emphasis on contemporary music. Her artistic evolution takes us deeper into the mastery of the great Germanic works, finding in roles such as Strauss's Salome and Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder a vast palette to express her music.

Soprano Inês Simões has recently given us some memorable performances, including her Barbican Hall debut with Berg’s Wozzeck Suite and her passionate interpretation of Schoenberg’s Das Buch der hängenden Gärten . These performances are further proof of her love for the music of the first half of the 20th century, a period that she continues to explore with fervour and dedication.

In the 2024 season, Inês will return to the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos to bring Perpétua to life in Augusto Machado's operetta " Maria da Fonte ", marking the first modern performance of this work. She will also make her debut at the Cistermúsica festival and will expand her repertoire with Mahler's Rückert Lieder , further consolidating her place in the pantheon of great Portuguese sopranos.

His collaboration with Brazilian flautist James Strauss and the release of "Poema" for Universal Music Group are testament to his versatility and ability to excel in unusual formations. And it is no wonder, since his debut at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation with the Gulbenkian Orchestra , under the baton of Magnus Lindberg, was a true tour-de-force, presenting six new works in a single concert.

Inês Simões continues her close collaboration with Miso Music, which has commissioned new pieces especially dedicated to her voice. She has sung with renowned orchestras such as the Camerata Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has participated in prestigious events such as the Dias da Música Festival, the Oxford Lieder Festival and BBC Radio 3's In Tune radio programme .

In addition to her solo career, Inês is an integral part of Duo Tágide, with which she explores a repertoire that spans from the past to the present, including a space dedicated to Portuguese song. She reveals to us how this dynamic duo is preparing to release a new album in 2024, with the support of the GDA Foundation , dedicated to song cycles by Portuguese composers of the 21st century.

Universal Music Group Brazil highlights its art:

"Its fluency and uniformity, its free production of perfectly stable tone, are admirable and not very common in the world today."

In the following lines of our interview, Inês Simões shares with us not only the details of her career and her exciting projects but also her unique perspective on music and the life of an artist on the contemporary world stage.

FS: Hello, Inês! It’s a pleasure to have you here for this interview. I would like to start by telling you a little more about how it all began. How and at what age you discovered your passion for music.

Inês : Hello, it's my pleasure! My passion for art was sparked very early: I started studying music at the age of four and it soon became part of my daily life. But it wasn't until I was 13 that I truly fell in love with art. In 1997, I had the opportunity to participate in the children's choir for a production of Perséfone at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos. That moment was extremely memorable for me. The combination of spoken text, dance and Stravinsky's music really sparked me. Since then, I have loved the music of the first half of the 20th century.

FS: And who were the main family references or idols that inspired you throughout your career?

Inês : Both of my grandmothers were great sources of inspiration for me - examples of hard-working, enterprising and courageous women. My maternal grandmother, in particular, had a special connection to singing - she loved to sing fado songs and was a great storyteller. Apparently, when she was a child, they wanted to take her to the radio but her mother didn't allow it: “the radio had a very bad reputation!!…”. She always said that any talent I had came from her!

FS: And what do you consider to be the biggest challenges you have faced in your artistic career?

Inês : I think my biggest challenge was finding the ideal repertoire for me. I had to wait for my technical development to align with my artistic sensitivity - making peace with that wait was a challenging process. I decided to dedicate myself to contemporary music and creation, which I love and which will always be part of my career, while the great repertoire developed within me, in my daily practice and intimacy. Dealing with that wait can be difficult, but perseverance has borne fruit and I can now sing the works that best express my artistic vision.

FS: What about your first major achievement or recognition in the artistic world?

Inês : My first major achievement was, without a doubt, being accepted into the Masters in Voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Dance in London. It was an incredible experience. Just two months after joining the programme, I was invited to sing Berg’s Wozzeck Suite at the Barbican Hall. It was like a seal of approval, an acknowledgement that I had something unique to offer as an artist. I agreed – and still do!

FS: Is there any performance, work or project that you feel particularly proud of?

Inês : I have been working continuously for almost two decades with pianist Daniel Godinho. Together, we form the Duo Tágide, and we try to create concerts that always combine Portuguese song, contemporary song and romantic song (Lied, Mélodie). We recently had the opportunity to perform Schoenberg’s Book of Hanging Gardens Op. 15 for the first time, a work that we both admire immensely. We also managed to record this concert and we are particularly proud of what we were able to convey, especially as it is our first performance of this masterful cycle. This mission of making Portuguese song and contemporary song known to a wider audience is, in my opinion, the only way for us to continue a subgenre of classical music that, otherwise, could become extinct. There are not that many Lied recitals anymore, this is worldwide, we have to be the ones to encourage creation - without a future, there is no past!

FS: What are your hobbies or leisure activities?

Inês : Hobbies… I don’t know if I can call them hobbies because they’re not things I do every day. But lately, I’ve felt a huge need to be in touch with nature. It’s vital for me to go for walks or simply sit in a park and read a book. I also really enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes, but honestly, when I have time, which is rare when you have children, I just want to go see shows! And, of course, being with my family and friends – those moments of socializing – is something I value immensely, especially since I moved to Berlin.

FS: And is there any interesting fact or curiosity about yourself that you would like to share?

Inês : I like to take my time and please don't rush me in the morning! That's why I go to the gym, do yoga at home or swim in the morning before rehearsals, so as not to infect anyone with my morning bad mood!

FS: Finally, I would like to know what your future plans and next challenges are in your artistic career.

Inês : 2024 will be a very busy year, with two productions on tour: the operetta “Maria da Fonte” by Augusto Machado and “It's not over until the soprano dies” where I sing excerpts from some of my favorite characters, such as Marie from Wozzeck, Senta from Navio Fantasma and Salome by Strauss - I love this repertoire! And also concerts commemorating the anniversaries of Fauré and Schoenberg and a recording with Duo Tágide of the album “Canções para o século XXI” which celebrates cycles for voice and piano by Portuguese composers. Challenges? The same as always! Logistics of personal and artistic life, living within this important repertoire while maintaining vocal, physical and mental health and, above all, evolving in technical skills and artistic expression. Making good music. Being professional. Seeking inspiration through constant work. Keep going!

*Interview with soprano Inês Simões originally published at www.proart.art

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