Marlou van den Berge | documentary | in production
‘Old Voices, High Notes’ is a film about four internationally renowned opera singers who, due to their age, are challenged to meet with the high demands imposed on them by the opera world. Are they able to reinvent themselves? What happens when they shed the yoke of excessive perfectionism and embrace the ‘imperfections’ of their voices and changing bodies?
Starring Doris Soffel (76), Roberta Alexander (75), Charlotte Margiono (70) and Sandrine Piau (59).
Showreel
The stories of the four internationally acclaimed singers from the film are deeply human. They look back on illustrious careers, followed by the vulnerable years of aging, and take the viewer with them to the years that followed, right up to the present day. Sandrine Piau (FR), the youngest of the four, is still in the middle of the transition phase and exploring new avenues.
Charlotte Margiono (NL), after a major international career with ups and downs, is returning to her roots and finds her way once again to enjoy making music. Doris Soffel (DE) is the oldest singer still performing on the big stages. Quitting is not an option.
Roberta Alexander (US/NL) saw her diary becoming increasingly empty but continued to sing and teach until the very end. She died during the filming process and was unable to attend her last première later this year.
The film shows the ruthlessness of the opera world. From artistic directors to directors, from managers to the press. It also shows the inhibiting effect of internalised self-criticism among singers who still have so much to offer in terms of depth, lived musicality and life experience. What can we learn from the way these singers embrace the human experience of aging, of no longer being able to do everything we once did, yet still having so much to offer?
