Tara Erraught: I always knew this is what I wanted to do

Opera singer Tara Erraught could never understand why her parents insisted she attend school. “I feel really spoiled saying this” she admits, “but I always knew this is what I wanted to do, even from an early age. I thought school was like a free daycare.”

The mezzo-soprano, who grew up on a farm in Dundalk, has worked with the Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian Opera) for the past eight years and lives in Munich. Regarded as a rising star in opera, she has been widely praised for her singing and acting ability, particularly after 2011 when she learned the role of Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi in a mere five days after the original singer fell ill.

“When I was asked to do it, I just thought about it and said to myself, it’s no different than going to the Feis Ceoil and learning your words in the back of the car. I said OK. It was the beginning of everything,” explains Tara.

She started to learn how to sing at the age of 10, when her granny booked lessons with Geraldine McGee. Tara became “totally addicted” to performing, while her focus gradually turned to becoming a professional singer. Her parents, both chefs, have no background in music but always supported Tara’s aspirations.

“From the beginning, my parents told me if you work hard enough you can have whatever you want. If you want to be a singer, fine, but you have to work for it. I kind of still have that confidence. I know if I really concentrate I can do it,” she says, before pausing to laugh at her earnestness. “Maybe that sounds childish…”

There is something about Tara that makes you wish she was your best friend. The singer’s cheeriness is endearing and refreshing, and far removed from stereotypical visions of opera divas. Though an experienced performer, her eyes widen with excitement when talking about her Carnegie Hall debut last year, gushing about the “awesome” venue.

However, Tara’s sunny nature was put to the test in 2014 after a flurry of negative reviews on her portrayal of Octavian in a Glyndebourne Opera production of Der Rosenkavalier in Brighton. The critics, however, did not comment on her voice or performance. Instead, it was her appearance, specifically her weight that came under scrutiny. The controversy sparked a fierce debate on body-shaming in both the UK and across the Atlantic, but Tara says she remained oblivious until the show concluded.

“The first thing you learn as a singer is not to read the reviews until the show is over. There were 13 shows and it went on for weeks and so I didn’t read anything. With my hand on my heart, I missed it all until the show was over,” she says. ‘‘I’m sure for my family and my friends it was awful. But the theatre protects you quite well to make sure you don’t hear things.

“It was only when it started to die down that I was like, what happened? For me, it wasn’t really a thing. You only panic when people say the singing was really bad and no one mentioned that,” she adds.

In fact, Tara said the debate boosted her profile. “By the time the show was over, I had 3,000 more followers on Facebook and a thousand more on Twitter and everyone was being so incredibly nice.

“When I go to America now, I’m shocked by the amount of people who come to my shows because they heard about that. Some of these people have never been to a classical concert before. I’m so impressed by that. It was only a good thing for me,” she says.

Despite her positive demeanour, Tara has a thick skin – an essential requirement for a career in opera. She says that training to be an opera singer is gruelling and she likens it to being an athlete.

After moving to Dublin to study at the National Concert Hall, Tara’s childhood teacher passed the baton to former opera singer Veronica Dunne, who provided the singer with technical training.

Amazingly, given her experience, she is making her operatic debut in Ireland this April at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, performing The Barber of Seville.

“It’s a comedy from start to finish, not as intense as other operas. It’s quite funny. You don’t have to read up on it, you can just show up on the night and totally get it without research,” she says.

“A lot of people will recognise the songs, which is really cool. It’s not all about when the fat lady sings business at all.”

Her enthusiasm for her craft and for entertaining is indeed something to behold.

“When you see in the audience that people are enjoying what you’re doing, that you’re bringing them somewhere for an hour or two… it’s an awesome job,” she smiles.

Tara Erraught will perform The Barber of Seville at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Wednesday 20, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 April. Tickets are available from €15. Visit www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie or call 0818 719 377.