Haydn Private University – From Mozart to Verdi: JHP student sings at the Vienna State Opera

“Recently, during one of the training sessions, I received information that I should participate in 'La Bohème' at the opera house that evening. It was really exciting,” says the 26-year-old from Kiev. In a family of musicians: his father is a violinist in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and his mother is a composer and pianist. When she was four years old, her family moved to Vienna.

She discovered her passion for opera at the age of six. “My mother showed me a documentary about Maria Callas. I immediately fell in love with this woman, with her voice and the world of opera! At that moment I was sure that I had just found my calling,” says an elated Dankiewicz.

In addition to her studies at JHP, Dankiewicz sings at the Vienna State Opera: she begins with Giuseppe Verdi's “Otello,” followed by “La Bohème,” and in the spring Mozart's “Abduction from the Seraglio” will be performed. We are also working on “Carmen” as well as “Lohengrin” and “Parsifal” by Richard Wagner. “I belong to the so-called ‘middle subject’ and currently sing a group of high mezzo-soprano pieces,” explains Dankiewicz.

“I feel very comfortable at JHP”

The Ukrainian is passionate about her studies at JHP. “I feel better! Unnecessary competition and pressure of expectations have no place here. We have a nice atmosphere and the relationship between students and teachers is harmonious. It is a small house but very good.” Managing Director Franz Steindl and Director Gerhard Kramer see the successes as confirmation of the ongoing work at JHP: “The investments in music infrastructure in recent years are paying off, the high quality too and the education of our teachers supports the fruits! Above all, our young artists have good nerves!”