O del mio dolce ardor
About the artist(s)
British contralto Naomi Felix was born in London but educated in Guyana, where she began singing at an early age in her school and church choirs.
Highlights from Naomi’s conversation with The Enormity of Now are below.
Who are you?
I’m Naomi Felix. I’m a sister, loyal friend, a good daughter I believe. I’m just Naomi.
And what do you do?
At the moment, nothing. Before Covid, the odd bit of singing here and there. Do I call myself a singer? I’m not really sure. I do a couple of weddings, some funerals, the odd concert recital but does that define me as a singer?
How did you get here?
I started singing in the church choir from age eight. When seventeen, we left Guyana and ended up in Holland for three months, Italy for a year, and New York for three. Then back to the UK at twenty-one, wondering what to do. I decided to have voice lessons, got into music college, and went from there. That’s how I got here, thirty, forty years later.
Singing is a release. I can be someone else when I sing. It brings me joy to stand up and try to get across the composer’s thoughts. There’s a lot of fear from beginning to end. I wonder why I’m doing this if I’m so fearful. But it’s something I have to do. I’ve been blessed with this talent and it would be a shame if I didn’t make full use of it, as much as I can.
I’ve made many comebacks. I’ve given up, started again so many times. Maybe it’s the joy I get from it when it’s working well. I just feel happy when I sing. I feel even more joyous when I sing sacred music. I feel at peace when I sing sacred music.
What is the voice that you found while finding your voice?
I’m still trying to find my voice. I haven’t found it yet. My voice still hasn’t been heard and I don’t know if it will ever be heard. It may always remain hidden. I’m still searching.
Artist Biography
British contralto Naomi Felix was born in London but educated in Guyana, where she began singing at an early age in her school and church choirs. She continued her vocal studies at Trinity College of Music in London, later touring the UK and Japan with the musical Carmen Jones under the direction of Simon Callow.
Her performances have taken her to the USA, Holland, and Italy where she resided for a year and also include Porgy and Bess in Portugal and performances with various choirs at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, and Santiago de Compostela.
She sings as a soloist at St Peter’s Italian Church in the City and currently studies with David Jones (NY) and Ann De Renais (London).