'I enjoy working with Tom Goossens. I taught him at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, and when I later saw his De Barbier (a production by Goossens for DESCHONECOMPANIE based on Il barbiere di Siviglia, ed.), I was jealous of the actors. I wanted to be in it too, but I don't have a particularly good singing voice. When Tom was looking for a replacement for a role in Fledermaus Forever, his adaptation of Johann Strauss' operetta for Muziektheater Transparant, he called me and asked if I knew anyone. ‘Or are you available?’ he suddenly asked, and that's how it happened. So I became Alfred in Fledermaus Forever, a character who is said in the play to have a terrible voice (laughs).

Later came Die Fledermaus for Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, and that's when my love for Tom and his work was complete. He is someone with a very good eye, who manages to draw me into the story of an operetta that is far removed from my everyday life. Tom can make an audience that never goes to the opera or operetta listen to that music. And he can surprise the audience that often goes to the opera. Tom is also a warm and loving person. He always gives me a lot of direction, which I appreciate. It makes me feel guided. We are always on the same wavelength.

‘Tom Goossens can make an audience that never goes to the opera or operetta listen to that music. And he can surprise the audience that often goes to the opera.’

— Tania Van der Sanden

Before a performance, I also like to have a coffee with a chocolate. I always have chocolate in my car. Actors brush their teeth before they go on, but toothpaste makes my mouth dry. So I brush my teeth without toothpaste and then I like to have something sweet in my mouth. It's also delicious to find some cold coffee with a piece of chocolate after the performance. I love cold coffee. Learning my lines is just blocking, blocking, blocking, and finding memory aids.

In Die Fledermaus, I had a card with the scene layout in my pocket as a cheat sheet. Fortunately, I never had to use it. Something else that really helps when you're studying is to do something else. Recite your lines while vacuuming or washing dishes, for example. And know exactly why a word is there. Why does it say “nice” and not “fun”? Very important. I never warm up either. If I feel my mouth is a bit sluggish, I sometimes say ‘pakkende paarden, pakkende paarden, pakkende paarden...’ (grabbing horses, grabbing horses, grabbing horses...), but definitely not like soloists practising their scales. Even that sounds beautiful when opera singers do it. I'm really looking forward to hearing that again soon with you all for Peer Gynt: singers warming up. (laughs)

Photo © Diego Franssens