A Glimpse at Measha Brueggergosman

Caught in between a photo shoot and rehearsal, a few minutes with Measha Brueggergosman shows a quick glimpse into the life of one of Canada's liveliest stars in the world of classical music. From tales of a deaf next-door neighbour to her selection of road-trip tunes, and her important work as a self-proclaimed "missionary" for classical music, Measha explodes with vibrancy and an enthusiasm for life. Measha Brueggergosman is a soprano singer with a colourful twist, radiating from the mere tone of her voice. She grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick and migrated to the big city, finishing her first degree at the University of Toronto. With that under her belt, she moved to Germany for five years to do a Masters and pre-doctoral studies. Measha now lives back in Toronto with her husband Markus and two cats Moses and Choba.

With a jet setter's schedule, Measha sings across the globe in Canada, the States, Europe and even Japan. Although the different destinations are fun, getting to and from these places doesn't rate too high on her list. "My needs are simple. I like the Amazing Race, Alias, 24, and I have a book club. I like good food and a good cup of tea." Measha's husband Markus is her personal manager, so when away on business, making a home away from home is a bit easier. But home is where Measha feels most at ease to practice. The most time-consuming process is getting her notes right. "The ideal for me is sitting at my house, at my piano, with my metronome and my highlighter.

But wouldn't having a soprano opera singer as a next-door neighbour warrant the right to file some sort of noise complaint no matter how captivating the voice? Good fortune is something she has no shortage of. To answer this question, you can hear the smile in Measha's voice as she refers to her downstairs neighbour. "The lady is deaf and she is a night owl! Praise the Lord! She had a stroke, God love her, and she's back. Even more deaf!

Measha's roots are firmly planted in the more classical music genres, but she is not ashamed to pay homage to icons linked to pop culture. She admits with glee to own not one, but two copies of Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor. On a recent road trip back to New Brunswick, she and her husband stopped in Montreal to grab an assortment of discs to keep them singing the whole way home. In their bags was a collection of "alterna-bands" including Weezer, James Blunt and the Killers, and she was quick to add how U2, an old faithful, never fails to provide great driving music.Measha has released one solo album already, So Much To Tell, featuring American composers Gershwin, Barber and Copland. Her second album, Extase, featuring French composers Berlioz and Massenet, is scheduled for release in the fall. Both albums have been on CBC Records and she has just signed exclusively with a new recording company. Making CDs has nothing to do with dollars and cents. For her, it is all about the music, an extension of what she wants to accomplish artistically. "Nobody makes money off of classical records. They are just not a money-making venture."

On stage, Measha embodies the dramatic and powerful look of an opera singer with the voice to match. Off stage, she personifies youthful fire and energy. When asked to recall an embarrassing moment while performing, she chuckles and says she can list them off alphabetically. There is the typical dress-tripping escapades which makes for a graceful entrance; but she has cut down on this happening by getting rid of shoes altogether whilst on stage. "A true comedy of errors with me navigating. I don't think I have made it on or off stage an entire concert without tripping or having my train stepped on." Without a trace of humiliation, the bare-footed diva claims all these mini catastrophes are nothing but character building and seem to contribute to the strong presence she radiates.

Measha grew up in a strong Christian home, always tuned in to the CBC, having no exposure to secular music. She believes her path towards classical music had to do more with nurture over nature. After 21 years in the business, she sees herself as an advocate for her genre. "An equal part of my job as a classical musician is to be a bit of a missionary for the cause because I believe so strongly in it. For me it is part of the job and what it means in keeping this art form alive. I don't know what classical musician could claim to make a long term commitment to this art form and expect it to last without investing time in its education and its promotion."

Measha is loving life right now. Always up for a challenge, she hops from television appearance to recital to recording session. Her schedule is kept full and she is kept happy. In her own words, her job is demanding, "The point is to make it look easy. It's like a duck: smooth on the surface but then paddling like mad under water."

For performance dates and more info about Measha Brueggergosman, visit her website at www.measha.com.