When she joined BBC’s The Voice, Lucy O’Byrne was told that they had never featured a classical singer before and didn’t know what to do with her.
She was nervous and kept wondering what the vocal coach would be like. And then she met her – Methlick-born mezzo-soprano and YL columnist Yvie Burnett.
“Of course, everyone knows Yvie from the telly and off X Factor but I didn’t realise she had been an opera singer,” Lucy said.
“From the word go, we got on like a house on fire. Just instantly she knew where I was coming from and exactly what to do, how to help my voice, how to improve the songs and how to get the most out of every performance. She was so supportive and I wouldn’t have got through the competition without her.”
With the show now behind her, Lucy said she keeps in touch with her Voice vocal coach.
She added: “Even now we always go to the opera together and we stay in contact a lot. And she’s been in the studio with me while I’ve been recording my album. She came to Prague with me when we went to record with the orchestra. She’s definitely been a rock since the moment I met her.”
The Dublin star made history when she became the first classical singer to reach the final of the TV talent show and impressed the nation – as well as mentor will.i.am and theatre producer Bill Kenwright, with her stunning vocal range.
She had decided to try out for The Voice after her career in the theatre world got off to a slow start when she moved to London. She was working in a theatre as an usher at the time, another aspect that was not part of the plan initially.
“After I finished performance college in Ireland, I got an agent in the UK and I moved to London to be in theatre but it wasn’t happening,” she said.
“I got a job as an usher as a day job and most people who are performers, in some stage of their careers, have worked in a theatre in some other capacity other than performing. And it was partly a good decision because everyone on the staff was in the same boat. Everyone got on very well and appreciated we were all trying to do the same thing. It also meant you were still close to what you wanted to do.
“You never lost sight of the reason why you came here. I have a very close family and a great group of friends back in Ireland and it was very hard to leave home. So when you do leave home to pursue your dream and it isn’t happening for you, it’s very easy to lose sight of why you are there and want to come home. Being in the theatre, there was always something to reach for but at the same time there was always the heartbreaking feeling of standing watching other people getting to do it every night.”
Following her amazing performances on the TV show, Mr Kenwright asked her to come and audition for what would be her biggest break yet – for the role of Maria von Trapp in the touring production of The Sound of Music. After a heavy auditioning process, Lucy got the call to say she had won the role and said she “shed a tear or two”.
“It is amazing. I feel so lucky to be given this chance, not just to be in a show but to play such an iconic part,” she added.
“It is probably the best female role ever written in musical theatre. I’ve got some very large shoes to fill but I’m having a ball.
“Rehearsals have been amazing, the cast are lovely and the creative team are wonderful.
“Both our leading men are Scottish and have promised to show me around. This will be my first time ever in Scotland. I’ve always wanted to visit and the chance has never arisen. I can’t wait to get the costumes on and get on the stage in front of people.”
The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of World War II.
The UK tour kicked off this week and begins a week-long run at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, on Tuesday, January 12. Tickets are available online at www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, by phone at 01224 641122 and at Aberdeen Box Office at the Music Hall and His Majesty’s Theatre.