Sophie Burns

What did you dream about as a child?

As a child, I always had an active imagination. I was constantly dressing in wild outfits, inventing games, and putting on elaborate performances. I started singing lessons at nine, and I adored my singing teacher. The way she engaged with music seemed magical to me. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a singer.

Do you have a mandatory ritual
before going on stage?

Dancing is what lifts me.  Laughing while I move, finding joy in every step, following my own instinct.

What makes an opera director truly exceptional?

A good director fosters a human connection with everyone in the room. They ignite a shared passion, inviting each person to contribute and fuel the creative fire.  This collective energy thrives on individual contributions, culminating in a powerful, shared creation.

What does the Utopia Orchestra mean to you?

The pursuit of great love, of power in art, and the courage to face the
risks involved.

What is the magic of performing
Bach’s St Matthew Passion?

Within Utopia, we are all invested in the pursuit of beauty — beauty found in the raw and brutally pure emotion of the text, the music, and what it means to us collectively and individually. Each voice matters, and we join together in a brave attempt to grasp that beauty with two very real and human hands.

Music to describe the spirit of Utopia?

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Amour! Viens aider ma faiblesse, a dangerous yet seductive call to love.