Winona Berry amazes at the Nuits lyriques de Marmande competition

She never ceases to delight not only her public, but also the juries of the competitions in which she takes part. Like at the 37th Nuits lyriques de Marmande (Lot-et-Garonne), an international singing competition held from August 26 to 29, where Winona Berry was awarded the "Michèle Herbé" Jeune espoir prize.
The Saint-Barthélemy-born mezzo-soprano took part in this prestigious and much-feared competition, performing "L'invocation à Vénus" (from Jacques Offenbach's La Belle Hélène) in the pre-selections, "Que fais-tu Blanche tourterelle? "(from Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod) in the semi-final, then "Les tringles des sistres tintaient/chanson Bohème" (from Carmen by Georges Bizet, chosen by Winona) and "È amore un ladroncello" (from Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, chosen by the jury) in the final. It was really like a bubble, and I didn't realize how far I'd come," says the artist. I'd been told it was so difficult that I just tried to stay focused. In the semi-final, it was incredible because I felt so good that while I was singing, I was able to step back from the situation and feel the urge to give people pleasure. "
Winona Berry shared her "Michèle Herbé" Young Hope award with 21-year-old singer Amandine Sanchez. She's an incredible girl," says Winona, "she won six prizes. Two talented young women who naturally stood out from the crowd. After all, there were many contenders: 167 in the pre-selections for the general competition, 50 in the semi-finals and 11 in the final.
Another source of satisfaction for the mezzo-soprano was the fact that a member of the jury spotted her for a project. As Winona Berry is now a freelance artist, such encounters are essential to her career development. But that hasn't stopped her from continuing to take classes. With one goal in mind: to move to Germany. But not just anywhere. I want to go and do studio operas," she explains. These are courses that prepare you for the stage. That's really my goal, so I'm going to prepare for the competitions from September to January. "It's hard to imagine that she won't succeed in taking this next step.