I had the absolute pleasure to chat about authentic connections with the brilliant, savvy, and talented Alyson Cambridge. Alyson Cambridge is a producer, model, and vocalist.
During our discussion about living ageless, authentic, and indefinable we chatted extensively about opera and its joyful vibrations.
Vocal vibrations offer this beautiful, joyful inner peace that not very many people get to experience.
I once had the rare opportunity to attend a sitzprobe and I remember it so clearly. I was standing there, and it was the first time in my life that I felt the vibrations of a singer hit me and bounce off – it was life-changing. Telling my story to Alyson gave me chills because it was such a different, and powerful feeling. That whole experience also taught me that I could hear better with my eyes closed.
Alyson is living an ageless, successful life in NYC.
During our chat, she told me about her childhood – she wanted to be a pop star or an actress but discovered this extraordinary talent when she was 12. Her phenomenal talent, hard work, and her authentic connection to opera landed her in New York singing at The Metropolitan Opera when she was just 23 years. Now, in her joyful, ageless life she is on an active mission to debunk some misconceptions about the opera world and bring it to the masses.
Rock Me Amadeus
Her current project is a unique and spectacular show called Rock Me Amadeus. She describes it as “a show that really takes the wonder and the awe of opera outside of the opera house.” Alyson’s show is a perfect fusion of classical music, opera music, and classic pop/rock.
“in bocca al lupo” / “crepi il lupo”
“in bocca al lupo” is a tagline that I adopted as my mantra for about twenty years. The rough translation is “in the mouth of the wolf” and the response is “crepi il lupo” or “may the wolf die”. It’s a popular Italian idiom, but it’s also used in opera and theater. While I don’t know what it’s like to be on the opera stage, I imagine that the courage to go and sing above the orchestra or sing to the high seats, it’s much like slaying that wolf. For me, in my personal life, professional career, and even running marathons, it was the tagline I used to get through obstacles. Every time I was standing in the mouth of the wolf, I was ready to slay that wolf.
Opera singers are truly indefinable.
Alyson explained to me how opera singers produce their sound and how people experience it – there is no auto-tune, no manipulation. It is pure, raw, intense vocals that can only come from years of training, breathwork, and technique. The goal is always to have even the people in the back of the theater hear those vocals as beautifully and as crystalline as those sitting in the front row.
In opera, authentic connections to the audience are so vital.
She described it as going in with a precise skill level and knowledge of technique, yet still portraying a character, and telling a story vocally. Opera singers use their artful talent to emote and make the audience feel something.
Though, in being authentic for the audience there’s also intense pressure on, especially the younger artists, to be perfect. For Alyson, she eventually let go and learned to sing with her technique, but also learned to express her truth. This is such a great example of living joyfully, authentically, and agelessly.
I had such a fantastic time chatting with Alyson Cambridge. Her talent and vivacity just radiated during our conversation. She’s a great example of a successful, smart woman living agelessly, authentically, indefinably, and joyfully.
If you’re ready to take the next step, join our Ajles Life community of like-minded, smart, savvy women, or join us for our next Doyenne dinner.