Opera is a part of the everyday fabric of life in Vienna, it remains for the people, escaping the ‘elitist’ tag which burdens other nations opera. The city is undoubtedly a center of musical culture, with the Vienna State Opera staging over 300 productions throughout a ten-month span, one of the densest and longest opera seasons in the world.

While the history of Vienna and its opera are well established, recently, a light has been shone on the new generation of opera singers in Austria following their representation during this year’s Eurovision victory.

Anastasia Kosmidou, a young soprano studying in Vienna, is delighted with this representation. We met with her inside the Vienna State Opera House, to discuss her unique journey in opera, from moving country to her quest to become her family’s first musician and getting accustomed to the demands of high-performance through acting classes and snowboarding.