As a singer, Tatiana Kallmann embraces a not-so-mainstream music genre – pop- opera.
Known also as crossover music, this style fuses modern-day pop songs with classical opera pieces dating back hundreds of years.
The soprano will share this type of music at the Unity North Tampa, on Dec. 23, a church which she has attended, and where she has performed previously.
Kallmann, a Colombia native, grew up in a musical household in Tampa.
“My parents do listen to a lot of music. My father is definitely a huge lover of music – different genres, so I listened from classical to rock. Different genres that exposed me to a wider range of musical styles, which maybe other children may not have been exposed to,” she said.
The environment helped her love of music to flourish.
At an early age, Kallmann became intrigued with opera after hearing her best friend sing “Ave Maria,” by the composer Schubert.
“It was very pristine,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘Wow, what is that?’
“I had never heard operatic singing or classical singing before.”
Along the way, the singer said she’s been influenced by Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Andrea Bocelli and Adele.
However, hearing pop-opera songs by Sarah Brightman made her want to perform them.
Her voice instructor encouraged her to pursue singing at Blake High School, a magnet school for the performing arts in Tampa.
Next, she received her bachelor’s degree at Florida State University, majoring in music.
She briefly returned to Colombia to record her crossover songs, but it was a decade-long stay in Europe that helped her develop her vocal style.
While there, she received training in Italy, Austria and Switzerland, but the bulk of her additional studies was in Germany.
She was selected in the fall of 2010, from among hundreds of applicants, to become part of the “Opernschule,” in Mannheim University of the Performing Arts in Mannheim, Germany. There, she completed her graduate studies and received a master’s degree in vocal performance.
In Europe, she invoked an emotional response from audiences, whether in a theater or a restaurant, she said.
“I love to feel that I’m having a positive impact on people’s lives,” Kallmann added. “I really believe that singing is for our well-being – very therapeutic.”
She also became an instructor there and led her own vocal studio.
She worked with inexperienced singers, teaching them not only to sing, but to have confidence while they performed.
Kallmann describes herself as an avant-garde and entrepreneurial opera singer, who has developed an interactive pop-opera performance act.
She typically relies solely on the power of her voice during performances, without the aid of microphones, instruments or sound boards.
That contrasts, she said, to the typical approach.
“Nowadays most productions that are done, they’re done with a lot of tuning. Any piece you hear on the radio is full of auto-tune,” she said.
She’s not opposed to using technology, but she believes it is important for performances to feature the live, natural voice of the singer.
In addition to performing, Kallmann handles her own promotions.
She uses platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram and her website to expose others to her work.
Going forward into 2020, she plans on performing at large venues and also to seek notoriety by performing on television shows.
She also wants to release records that crossover electronic dance music with opera.
As this year winds to a close, she will be performing a pop-opera Christmas concert at Unity North Tampa Church, 19520 Holly Lane in Lutz.
The concert, scheduled for Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., will feature notable Christmas carols. Admission is $25 at the door.
For more information, call (813) 948-4884. To purchase tickets, visit TatianaKallmann.com.
Pop-opera Christmas concert
When: Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.
Where: Unity North Tampa church, 19520 Holly Lane, Lutz
Cost: $25 per ticket at door; Online tickets: $20 a ticket in advance; a $40-VIP ticket for preferred seating and to receive two signed CDs. Free admission for those under age 18.
Details: Pop-opera singer, Tatiana Kallmann, a soprano, will perform numerous Christmas carols.
Info: Call (813) 948-4884. To purchase tickets, visit TatianaKallmann.com.
Published December 18, 2019
