Ambur Braid got her dream opera role — and singing it still makes her cry

21:53Ambur Braid is starring in the opera that changed her life

Ambur Braid always wanted to be a singer, but it wasn't until she saw Alban Berg's opera Wozzeck as an undergraduate student that she knew she wanted to pursue opera as her career. Now, the Canadian soprano has come full circle with a leading role in the Canadian Opera Company's new production of Wozzeck.

"It's so visceral. This show hits you," Braid say in an interview with Q's Tom Power. "At the end, there is this incredible moment that's so simple. And it's heartbreaking. And it just destroyed me. And I said, I need to be a part of this."

Even after countless rehearsals, Braid is still struck by the power of Wozzeck. Partially inspired by World War One, the opera tells the story of soldiers and citizens living in a militaristic small town in the early 20th century. "I just cry every time. It's so beautiful when it resolves."

Braid says its themes are timeless — both narratively and musically.

"I mean, it's society now," she explains. "It's the wealthy taking advantage of the poor. It's poverty. It's jealousy. It's love. It's murder…. But humans are humans, and this is the beauty about art, right? We're reflecting it all."

Wozzeck is a groundbreaking piece of work because it was one of the first atonal operas. This means that the music isn't in one particular key — and it often sounds off-kilter and strange. That atonality allows the audience to hear the world from the perspective of the character Wozzeck. 

"It's very hard to memorize the correct notes, because nothing is expected," Braid tells Power. "It has this oral landscape of what Wozzeck hears. So think of yourself as being totally drunk … and you hear music in a different way. And it's this very trippy experience."

Wozzeck is a demanding show. It's both extremely technical, and intensely emotional. But Braid is more than ready: she has dedicated her whole life to performing at this level.

"You can liken it to being in a monastery at times, because you do have to be so cautious about everything you do, so aware of what's happening with your body and your health," she says. 

"And then, then you have the constant learning. The work that is never done…. I mean, my life is planned out until 2028, 29 now. And that is a wild thing to think about. Every week off it's, 'When can my coach come? When are we doing this?' And you live for the work." 

The full interview with Ambur Braid is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Ambur Braid produced by Glory Omotayo and Catherine Stockhausen.