Ka­ro­li­na Gu­mos

In the Ensemble of the Komische
Oper Berlin since 2006. Named a
Berlin Kammersängerin in 2022.

HOMELAND
Gdynia / Poland

STUDIES
Akademia Muzyczna in Poznan (Wojciech Maciejowski)
Hochschule für Musik »Hanns Eisler« Berlin (Anneliese Fried)

1. Which opera character have you learned the most from (and what)?
Technically speaking, it was Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier. Beyond the deep love with which I sang the role, it was a wonderful lesson for me in pacing myself without having to rein my enthusiasm. From a character perspective: Carmen’s uncompromising self-determination allowed me to always breathe freely on stage – even in death... ;)

2. What do you sing when no one is listening?
Right now, I enjoy humming along with Johnny Hartman or Chet Baker. But that changes constantly, since I love to wander between genres and let myself be inspired anew time and again.

3. What profession would you have today if you hadn’t become a singer?
I feel immense gratitude for my profession, which is made up of many snapshots. If, however, I had to choose something more permanent, something that »lasts«, film directing would appeal to me: bringing out nuances and moods, building tension, shaping time. That could bring me great joy.

4. Which artistic experience changed everything for you?
The greatest artistic experiences are given to me by the greatest of all artists: nature. Its extravagant and inexhaustible ingenuity—in the smallest as well as the largest details—puts many things into perspective and inspires me anew time and again.

5. What do you do after the performance?
After the performance, a little epilogue usually begins for me: I put myself in the hands of Deutsche Bahn. Sometimes the journey home even surpasses my own performance in terms of dramatic twists, artistic pauses, and the length of the “performance.” So it remains exciting...