Baroque under the stars, virtuoso Vengerov and a Sunday spiritual afternoon. The 34th Festival Krumlov has begun.
14 / 07 / 2025
Ester Pavlů: I Fell in Love with Opera – Carmen Is My Dream Role.
25 / 04 / 2025
A mezzo-soprano who captivates with her values, energy, singing in the bathroom, and vibrant presence both on and off stage.
On Ester Pavlů’s website, you’ll read that she is one of the most promising mezzo-sopranos, earning praise from audiences and critics alike at home and abroad. What it doesn’t say is what a force of nature and constant source of energy this young woman truly is. Despite her passionate love for opera, Ester Pavlů places her two sons and husband first (you decide the order 😊). Like any good mom, she doesn’t waste time on nonsense and has a laugh that can brighten your day. A charming woman blessed with extraordinary musical talent, she lives life to the fullest and is grateful for dreams that have come true – such as her role as Carmen, which she will perform at the 34th Festival Krumlov.
How did you get into music?
My parents are musicians, but I actually grew up surrounded by a very different genre than classical – more of a rock style. My mom did study classical music, but didn’t pursue it much afterwards. When she took me to the opera at the age of 15, I fell for it completely. She later helped me prepare for the conservatory.
Do you have a secret to maintaining your voice?
I’m not sure there’s a universal trick. I take care of my voice, of course, but I don’t drink raw eggs (laughs). Before I had kids, I felt I was super sensitive to any kind of weather – wind, cold, heat… who knows (laughs). Since having kids, I don’t worry about it anymore – or maybe I just don’t have time. I get more stressed when I’m alone without them, because I have time to overthink things like whether I slept well (laughs). With family around, I just don’t have time for nonsense. I drink mineral water, suck on every throat lozenge under the sun, I love one special candy from a family-run business in Switzerland, I inhale steam, use a straw for vocal warm-ups—but I don’t overdo it.
You have two sons – are you introducing them to music?
The older one has been taking guitar lessons for three years and music theory for four. I also signed him up for a preparatory music course. Now the younger one has started going too, and next year he’ll begin piano. It all happened very naturally – they were both eager. Music is part of their environment. My husband, although not a professional musician, plays guitar and has a band. We travel together to concerts, and the boys have seen me on stage many times. I had to push the older one a bit at first because I want him to have broader horizons (the older son, who is playing next to his mother during the conversation, grins conspiratorially). A lot also depends on the teacher. If the teacher is great, kids love their lessons – and I think we’ve been lucky with that.
If you weren’t an opera singer, what would you do?
I never really thought about it. Since childhood it was clear I’d either have a band or do musical theatre – but then opera swept in and took over. I was always singing – barely talked, just sang. It must’ve been a bit unbearable. My parents were absolutely certain what I’d become (laughs).
Do you sing at home – in the bathroom, or with the family in the car?
Oh yes, I sing in the bathroom – whatever comes to mind or what I’m currently learning. Even roles that aren’t suitable for my voice. If a melody sticks in my head, I start singing it. In the car, not so much – the boys won’t allow it (laughs). They want to play their teen music, which I don’t know well and don’t really understand – but it sounds pretty good. They’ve got great taste.
Is there a genre outside opera you’d like to sing? And where do you most enjoy singing?
I’m no longer drawn to musicals at all. But I still love bands, so singing with one again wouldn’t bother me (laughs). As for venues – well, I love being in character, being someone other than Ester on stage. I enjoy developing a role, playing with it, diving into the whole backstage atmosphere – not just the singers, but everyone making the performance happen.
Do you have a dream role?
It has always been Carmen. Even when I started conservatory – I sang it constantly, even during breaks. My classmates can confirm that some of them couldn’t take it anymore. I know Carmen inside and out – even the other characters and chorus parts. It was my dream – and it came true, right here in Prague. I first sang Carmen at the National Theatre, which is just incredible. Before conservatory, I didn’t know much about opera or classical music history – I slowly grew to love it, discovered more and more works, and saw my dreams gradually come true. Eboli, Amneris, Santuzza, the Foreign Princess, Witch (Ježibaba), and more. And next season, my first Wagner – Kundry in Parsifal. I have to say, the offers have come at just the right times. But the most important dream of all has come true – I have a family. And I get to do this job, which is also my passion. I’m so grateful for that.
You sang with Plácido Domingo at Festival Krumlov last year. Did anything surprise you about him?
It’s a shame it rained at the start of the concert – although the rain in the park added a special atmosphere. Plácido Domingo was incredibly kind. It was amazing to watch him in rehearsals – he was fully present, listening, conducting silently to himself. It’s unbelievable how much energy he still has at his age. During the concert, he even listened to the rest of us. It was an incredible experience – especially when you know him from recordings and think, “If only I had been born earlier!” (laughs). But the dream still came true – unbelievable. After the concert, he sat with us until about 3 a.m. at dinner – the concert ended really late (laughs). And you could tell he didn’t want to leave. Truly fascinating, especially since the next day he flew to a Spain match in Berlin, I think.
You seem full of energy too – where do you get it from?
I used to hug trees with my parents in the woods when I was little – don’t have time for that now (laughs). But my kids give me so much energy. When I’m away from them, I feel terribly sad. Coming home to see them fills me up. The essence of life isn’t opera singing – it’s my family. I don’t like empty days. I always need to be doing something, and performing also gives me energy. I could rehearse every day! And when the performance finally comes, I get into costume and just enjoy the moment on stage. All the emotions I carry – as a singer, mother, wife – I let them out there.
You recently released a new CD. What inspired you to record songs by Antonín Dvořák?
I’d been thinking for a long time about recording my own CD. There were several ideas, but once I met pianist Charles Spencer, I decided to record songs that have accompanied me since the beginning of my opera journey. I didn’t record all of them, but some I’d sung even during conservatory. Charles was totally open to the idea – it was new territory for him, as he’d never recorded Dvořák before and it’s not part of his usual repertoire. We recorded in Austria, and it was beautiful. I learned a lot and gained a lot of insight. A truly valuable experience.
What is your connection to South Bohemia?
A strong one – my dad was born in Jindřichův Hradec. Since childhood, I spent summers in a cottage in the village of Řípec. I rode my bike a lot, swam with friends at the sand pits. I didn’t have time to explore Český Krumlov much last year, but I used to go there for summer music courses with my teacher Vladimír Chmelo. That’s why I love the Krumlov monasteries – we had voice lessons there. I have one strong memory of nighttime Krumlov – I was walking alone from a performance at the revolving auditorium, standing up on the bridge, looking down at the lit-up town. It was magical. But I’ve never had the chance to see the Baroque Theatre – hopefully this year. I love that moment in the evening when people disappear into restaurants and hotels, and the magical town is yours alone.
Video – camera, edit: Filip Zoubek
You seem incredibly optimistic. Can Ester Pavlů even get angry?
I’m a Taurus, and my husband is an Aries. This November marks 20 years since our first date. I used to be very fiery – and still am – but I had to learn to back down at home, otherwise it would be madness (laughs). Besides, I don’t stay angry long, and I can’t pretend to be mad (laughs). It’s usually nothing serious. Disappointment is different – that can last a while, and there are rare cases where I don’t forgive.
What’s on your schedule this year?
I’ll sing Carmen in Riga and Prague, the Foreign Princess from Rusalka in Prague and Fribourg (Switzerland), and also record the new opera Oracle in London. There’s a beautiful concert La Valse & La Mer with the FOK orchestra, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Tomáš Hanus, Fibich’s Šárka in Smetana Litomyšl (I’ll sing Vlasta under Robert Jindra), and Kundry from Parsifal in Riga, directed by Katharina Wagner and conducted by Marek Janowski. But I’m especially looking forward to Carmen at Festival Krumlov – with Maltese colleague Joseph Calleja. He’s a star – rightly considered Malta’s ambassador. Even local taxi drivers know him and are proud. He’ll be a fantastic Don José. He seems like a firebrand, and I love when someone matches my intensity on stage. Playing passion alone is hard – when you get something back, you really enjoy it. Joseph is a brilliant singer, and as a southerner, he’s bound to bring a lot of fire – so I think we’ll click. I’ve sung several times with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra – we definitely have mutual friends.
The concert Passionate Carmen: Opera & Ballet will take place on Saturday August 2 at 20:30 in the Brewery Garden.
– Photos the visual Passionate Carmen: opera, ballet
– Contakt: Štěpánka Filipová, filipova@festivalkrumlov.cz, 724 302 802, www.festivalkrumlov.cz
