In today’s interview, we sit down with Frederica von Stade, one of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos of our time, honored with the title of Chevalier, which is France’s highest honor for the arts, twice the winner of Grand Prix du Disque and nominated nine times for a Grammy Award for her extraordinary contributions to music.
“Music has been the greatest gift of my life—it’s given me a language to express what words cannot,” says Frederica, who family and friends have nicknamed Flicka.
Flicka reveals the secrets behind her passion-driven career, unforgettable roles like Cherubino, in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, and the spiritual thrill of singing Mahler—“I think I’m in heaven. I might be able to fly.”
From backstage antics with Luciano Pavarotti (“He was helping himself to everybody’s meal”) to her tireless work with the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra, the story of Frederica von Stade is a masterclass in talent, luck, and kindness.
Watch this interview for an intimate look into the life and legacy of an iconic figure in the world of classical music.
