Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

What is your favorite opera? Why?
My favorite has always been and always will
be Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro. Mozart is my
ultimate musical hero; his singular, seemingly
impossible genius has always fascinated me.
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin is a close second.
This opera’s transporting melodies, the poetry
of Pushkin and the relatable young woman at
its center speak to me completely.
In your travels, what was your favorite
culture you encountered? Why?
I have always been particularly attracted to
Italian culture. Italian opera is just the tip of the
iceberg - in my opinion, the expressivity, color
and historical richness of Italian literature, music
and art simply can’t be matched. I also find
Italian landscapes, cities and cuisine to be so
very satisfying, and I look forward to discovering
more and more of it in the years to come.
What advice would you give to someone else
planning to embark on their own move to a
new country?
When you move to another country, it can be
hard to find your place there. I think it works
best to balance your social efforts between
natives of your new country and fellow expats
(of any nationality). You certainly want to make
Page 90
Elizabeth with her husband Sebastian at Oktoberfest
in 2019 (left)
Happy international traveling with my two sons.
(right)
As for work, I am currently self-employed,
primarily pursuing job opportunities between
the languages – translations and beyond.
What preparations, if any, did you make
before moving to your new country? For
example, did you learn the language or study
up on the culture? Tell us how you did it?
I took a lot of German classes in college and
spent a semester abroad. Afterwards, however,
I neglected my German studies, figuring that I
would not use the language much more in my
life. Fate had something else in store for me,
however, when I met my German husband-tobe
10 years later. It certainly proved to be much
easier to refresh my German than it would have
been to start learning from the beginning. I did
manage to forget all the noun genders along the
way, however, to my continuing consternation.
What was something about your new country
that you were not expecting? What surprised
you the most?
I love the openness to and opportunities for
travel here in Europe. It might seem obvious by
looking at a map, but when you truly realize that
you are just a few hours away from entirely new
cultural experiences, it’s quite the inspiration.
Furthermore, the range of cultural opportunities
within our own city of Hamburg is truly a
treasure trove – opera in particular, of course,
but also many other forms of music, theater or
art that one might seek.
Tell us about the opera group you formed in
your club.
In 2012, once my kids had gotten a bit older,
I resolved to get back to the opera house as
often as I could. I discovered that many people
I knew were interested in going to an opera but
hesitant about actually attending. Would it be
too difficult, too unapproachable, too long? My
answer has always been a firm “no, it wouldn’t!”
A bit of familiarity with the music, the story, the
composer, and, ideally, the current production
makes all the difference. So that’s what I do at
Opera Club. We choose an upcoming opera and
then I seek to make it accessible to everyone,
from beginners to budding opera buffs. With
videos, recordings and discussions – plus
occasional special guests from the Hamburg
State Opera ensemble – we make the works
come alive together, and then we reap the
benefit of these efforts with a “grand finale”
outing to the opera house. We have grown into
a fantastic, dynamic group and have enjoyed
many adventures together over the years.
How do you feel opera binds people from
different cultures together?
Operas may be performed in different
languages, but they all speak a common
language of music and of passion. This art form
blends vocals, orchestra, theater, visuals and
spectacle in an incomparable manner that is
readily available for people from any cultural
heritage who choose to listen. The world of
opera welcomes you unequivocally no matter
what your situation might be in terms of age,
relationships or nationality.
Happiness is a visit to the Vienna State Opera.
90 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 91