Meet the Artists – Saira Frank

April 10, 2019 2018/19 Season, Rusalka Soprano

Saira Frank

2nd Wood Sprite

Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, so not too far away!
If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
Well, one of my actual jobs is managing an opera outreach company, Opera for the Young, and I find that I really enjoy that side of opera as well, so maybe I would still be in the arts. Otherwise, I always thought I would become a doctor when I was younger.
The first opera I was ever in was…
Die Fledermaus at Carroll College in Waukesha when I was 15. I had been in the WSMA Honor Choir, and the director asked the local choir members to be in the opera chorus.
My favorite opera is…
This is so hard to answer! I love verismo and I’ve had the great joy of singing Tosca twice, so I think she wins. There is some music that never gets old.
My favorite food to cook is…
I love making Indian dishes – palak paneer or dal makhani are two of my go-to favorites.
People would be surprised to know that…
I started out as a violinist and even played a bit in college before really focusing on singing.
If I could be in any fairy-tale, I would be in…
Oh man, there are not many fairy tales I’d want to be IN – these stories are dangerous. I love the story of Beauty and the Beast, but who wants to be locked away in a crumbling old castle?
I like to binge-watch…
I fell into Call the Midwife this year…it ate months of my life. There are so many seasons!
What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Keanu Reeves JUMPS to mind, then RBG, JK Rowling, and Joan Baez.
Everyone should see Rusalka because….
Dvorak’s music is so incredibly luscious! It’s an easy treat to listen to and the story is so well-known – a major plus on the opera stage.
One question you wish someone would ask you.
Q: What’s your favorite Wisconsin getaway?
A: My family loves to go to the beach in Kohler – it’s so relaxing to sit and hear the waves and watch a puppy run wild!

Find out more about Saira and our other artists, and don’t miss the chance to see her as a Wood Sprite in Rusalka. Performances are April 26 and 28 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18!