A Somewhat Surprising Soprano! (I.P.)

A Somewhat Surprising Soprano! (I.P.)

‘When?’ asked Natalie.

‘For about the fourth time…TOMORROW!’ said Eloise.

Eloise, having won a scholarship, was in her final year studying opera at the Royal College of Music. Since then but while still studying she had sold more than 2.5 million copies of her début album, no small achievement for a twenty two year old. Her success, however, hadn’t gone to her head as she was still very popular because of her easy manner and her willingness to help any one new to the college.

‘You must be very nervous,’ said her friend.

‘Actually, no I’m not,’ said Eloise.

‘No, I find that surprising.’

‘I don’t see why. It’s not as if it’s the first time I’ve performed in public.’

‘No, I suppose…but tomorrow you will be tested in a very public arena. I wouldn’t blame you if you were scared witless.’

Eloise was in no doubt it was going to be the biggest occasion and challenge of her life but rather than be frightened by the prospect she embraced it.

‘Have you decided what you are going to wear?’

‘I’ve bought a red satin evening gown.’

‘Evening gown?’

‘Yes, why do you say it like that?’

‘Like what?’

‘Well, as if it wasn’t appropriate.’

‘Oh no, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I wouldn’t know what would be considered appropriate for an occasion such as the one you’ll be experiencing tomorrow. It was just that as you will be performing in the afternoon I thought…oh, I don’t know what I thought.’

Eloise, however, knew just how important it was for her to look right as apart from the audience that would witness her performance it was also going to be televised. With this in mind she had selected a long red satin gown split to the thigh on one side but with a high neck and no sleeves. From the weather forecast she knew it would be cold but she cast aside all suggestions of wearing anything to cover her arms and was prepared to take whatever the elements decided to throw at her.

Her shoes were open toed with death defying killer heels and, other than her long pendant ear-rings, a present from her mother, she had decided not to wear any other jewellery. Her gown was simple but well cut which, being tall, she knew would accentuate her slim figure and she wanted to go for a classic look which she thought would best befit the occasion. She also intended to wear her long brown hair loose as although it might be windy she still wanted to look like herself and not like some sophisticated stranger.

‘But you’ll freeze out there if you don’t wear something to cover your arms. You’ve seen the forecast.’

‘Yes, I have but I can’t wear a cardigan over the top it would completely spoil the look of the gown and then it would have been a total waste of money.’

With all this decision making about what to wear she was far from feeling nervous as she could hardly contain her excitement at the prospect of what tomorrow would bring. At the same time she had to admit to herself, at least, the odd butterfly did flutter its wings every time she allowed herself to think for too long about it.

Still, she was determined nothing would be allowed to keep her from giving the very best performance of her young life. Anything less would surely bring down the wrath of her three elder brothers. They had always supported her musical aspirations but this was an occasion so close to their hearts that they would take it very badly if she didn’t give of her best. However, Eloise knew her brothers were confident that they had no worries on that score as they realized she would do her utmost because she was as much bound up in their obsession as they were.

She set her alarm carefully, checking it more that once because she knew she had to be up early the next day but as it was nearly ten o’clock she decided to have one last practise before turning into bed with the hope that sleep would quickly find her. The last thing she wanted for tomorrow was to have dark circles and puffy eyes through lack of sleep. She was absolutely determined that nothing was going to detract from her performance.

The next morning she rose early and with mounting excitement got herself ready for the occasion of a lifetime. As she stepped onto the park at Twickenham the adrenalin was flowing freely as 82,000 English and French fans roared their approval but once she began to sing those immortal words “God Save Our Gracious Queen” there was absolute silence until she finished and then the crowd erupted into joyous appreciation of a wonderful performance.

For the rest of that day and for most of the following two weeks she could think of nothing but how well received her performance had been. On the strength of that performance Eloise had also been invited to sing at Wembley for football’s Champion’s League and for the FA Cup finals.

From a young age Eloise had spent every Saturday going to the nearby park and shouting her support from the sidelines for her rugby playing brothers. She became well known in the area and eventually was asked to be the club mascot; an honour she took very seriously and was immensely proud of such a title being bestowed on a girl.

Today, however, she is back on the pitch but this time not the hallowed turf of Twickenham but the pitch at her local park. It had been a year now since she had taken up rugby properly and she trained twice a week with a ladies team from South London and according to her coach she had already impressed her team-mates with her speed and technical awareness.

What people find most surprising about Eloise is her willingness to swap her elegant red gown and killer heel shoes for a rugby shirt and shorts teemed with a fine pair of rugby boots as well as sporting a gum shield. I don’t think there can be too many young sopranos willing to get down and dirty in a rugby scrum. Although I do think it fortunate that when she sang the National Anthem she had decided to leave the gum shield at home otherwise her performance might have been memorable for quite different reasons!

End