Meet the Student: Q&A with Soprano Dalia Medovnikov

Soprano Dalia Medovnikov, from Woodbridge, Connecticut, stars as Giannetta in Curtis Opera Theatre’s riotous new production of Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore). She entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2019 and studies voice with Emily Olin. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Medovnikov is the Mimi Lane and Robert Durham Fellow.

Tell us about your first musical memory. What led you to pursue a career as a classical singer?
One of my first musical memories is singing for my parents and family friends in our backyard in the summertime. Every year, the quality of the performance improved as I started studying voice more seriously. I always loved opera but was very aware of the challenges pursuing a career entailed. Ultimately, my parents and teacher encouraged me to pursue opera. I am incredibly lucky to have the support of my family on this career path.

How have your experiences here at Curtis impacted your development as an artist and a musician?
Curtis has given me the opportunity to work with some of the best musicians in the world. I’ve met mentors here that I’m sure I will have for life and am eternally grateful for that.

This spring you’re starring as Giannetta and Dalinda in Curtis Opera Theatre’s productions of The Elixir of Love and Ariodante. Tell us about these characters. Do you find that there are any aspects of their personalities, traits, or decisions that you connect with or relate to?
Giannetta is the type to know everything about everyone, the town gossip. She has information others do not, and it’s exhilarating for her to be this “all-knowing” person. When Nemorino’s uncle dies, leaving him a fortune, she leads all the women of the chorus in gaining his affection. As a result, Adina gets jealous and finally realizes she’s in love with Nemorino. It’s thanks to Giannetta that the plot progresses, yet her original intention to attract Nemorino for his money is not completely ethical. I don’t feel I relate to her, but playing her in this opera is a good experience to learn to portray characters I don’t relate to at all.

I also find it difficult to relate to Dalinda, a character who agrees to disguise herself as another woman for a man she loves to damage the reputation of the woman he really wants instead of her. I would not make the same choices as the character, but the role gives me the opportunity to learn to play someone I don’t understand.

Click HERE to watch the On Stage at Curtis episode featuring Dalia Medovnikov and violist Jack Kessler, or click the video below.

In 2022, you attended the Music Academy in Santa Barbara as a studio artist and won the Schmidt Foundation Vocal Competition, along with a grant from the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition. What advice do you have for other young singers who have yet to enter artist programs or participate in any vocal competitions?
I’ve truly learned something from every experience I’ve had. My biggest advice would be to focus on yourself and your own improvement. Comparing yourself to others is often not constructive since each person deals with their own set of problems, and we each have something of our own to bring to the table. Also, you’re bound to run into contradicting opinions. Find your “team” of people who have your best interest in mind and stick to their opinions to avoid confusion.

What are your operatic dream roles and why?
I would love to sing Tatiana from Eugene Onegin someday; I love both Tchaikovsky and Pushkin. The combination of the two makes the libretto just as compelling as the music, which I’ve found is often not the case in many operas. Also, I’d love to sing Mimi from La Bohème and Dvořák’s Rusalka. The three roles come from completely different sound worlds but are all very lyrical and rich in melody.

CURTIS OPERA THEATRE: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE (L’ELISIR D’AMORE)

Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani

Friday, March 10, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Film Center
1412 Chestnut Street

Click HERE for more information.

Single tickets for The Elixir of Love start at $19: Curtis.edu. Subscription tickets are also available.

The Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust, the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation.

Photos of Emilie Kealani: 1.) Nichole MCH Photography 2. & 3.) Courtesy of the artist.