Fife singer secures spot with Paris Opera

Niall Anderson will soon be performing at one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, after agreeing a 10-month contract with Paris Opera.

The 25-year-old Fifer will perform in concerts and recitals, including Don Giovanni, and be learning from some of the best opera singers in the world.

When he is not on stage, Niall will be improving his craft, sitting in on singing lessons, masterclasses, and movement and dance lessons.

“It’s quite amazing,” he said. “The classic music life is quite weird.

“It’s a pinching yourself moment, you never expect it to happen.

“You do these auditions without thinking you’re going to get anything. I got the call a couple of hours after the audition.

“I was speechless and couldn’t get the words out of my mouth. It’s really exciting to be singing on one of the biggest stages in the world.”

Niall, a bass-baritone, starts at the end of August and will work with the company until mid-2020.

However, like most people, Niall, who lives in London, has been affected by Coronavirus.

“I’m supposed to be at an opera festival but I’m not sure what’s going to be happening with that,” he said.

His rise from school singer to opera performer has been a quick one, as he only started performing opera when he was at university.

“I did school shows when I was at Kirkland,” Niall said.

“Musicals and Stars in their Eyes, things like that.

“I went to Aberdeen University and did musicals. My teacher told me to give opera a go.”

Despite his reservations, Niall quickly found her had a talent for opera singing, and secured a spot in the opera society.

“It snowballed from there. I got a place at the Royal Academy of Music and then at the opera school.

“I’ve only really been doing opera for the last six-seven years. I’m really glad I did it and that it came at the right time.”

Niall thanks his family and Kirkland music teachers, Alison Fleming and Sandra Johnstone, for their support of the years.