The soprano Golda Schultz was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1983. She studied journalism before switching to singing at the University of Cape Town and then Juilliard in New York. In 2011 she joined the Bavarian State Opera. Since then she has sung at La Scala, the Met and, in 2020, at the Last Night of the Proms, as well as releasing two acclaimed albums. Schultz, who lives in Berlin, makes her debut at the Royal Opera House as Fiordiligi in Jan Philipp Gloger’s production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, from 26 June to 10 July. She also appears at Buxton Opera House on 8 July.
1. Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe, London
This was the first Shakespeare play that I ever fell in love with, aged 13, and I’m super-excited about seeing this new production while I’m in London. For me, the play is about how gossip can get you into trouble and how men are just as gossipy as women when they’re not at war. The characters of Beatrice and Benedick are brilliantly written, and when the chemistry is right on stage it’s so much fun to watch them spar. This will be my first time seeing a play at the Globe and the Shakespeare nerd in me is very excited.
2. TV
I grew up with Star Trek: The Next Generation and I’ve always loved how they combine action with intellectual discovery and debate. The Star Trek universe has continued to expand and now the Discovery series is in its final season. It’s so compelling. The series started in the 23rd century; now they’ve jumped forward in time and are searching for the machine that created the entire universe. So this season is asking: where do we come from? Are we good or evil at our core? It’s so imaginative – and fun to see a female protagonist leading a wonderful ensemble cast.
3. Book
Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren JA Bear
Everybody knows Medusa as the woman with snakes for hair who gets her head chopped off, but this book goes deeper into the myth, telling the origin story of Medusa and her two sisters Stheno and Euryale. They’re very curious about the world and you get the sense that they are being punished for seeking knowledge. I’m still reading it but the writing is great and I love a story with strong female leads. I’ve always been inclined that way because I’ve spent most of my life among strong women.
4. Photography
This is a great new gallery that originated in Stockholm – the Berlin branch opened last year. The building used to be a famous squat – my husband was at one of the last parties before they kicked all the squatters out, so it was interesting to go back and experience the building redone. They’ve got really great exhibitions. The last one I saw was about whiteness in modern culture, by a white South African artist, Candice Breitz. As a person of colour it was fascinating to see someone grappling with their own internal biases and those of the society we live in.
5. Restaurant
The Stranger’s Club, Cape Town
This is a fantastic brunch spot that anybody who’s going to Cape Town should check out. It’s in Green Point, a residential part of town, and the vibe in the place is so great, with big windows and lots of light coming in. The eggs benedict is incredible. You can spend hours there eating, drinking really good coffee, meeting new people – they’ve got long communal tables as well as smaller ones – or just sitting quietly in a corner by yourself and reading a good book. The servers are so friendly. It’s just such a great place.
6. Cocktail
This is a friend’s recommendation, and I’m grateful for it because they make really excellent cocktails – and it’s in Covent Garden so after a long day of rehearsals I can go there to decompress. You don’t just want to drink a gin and tonic, you want something that’s elaborate and a little bit fun to remind you that even though life is complex, that complexity can still be delicious. That’s why I like cocktails. Side Hustle is a classy joint but it still feels welcoming – and they do a very good negroni.
7. Podcast
In the Ring with Eusebius McKaiser
Eusebius McKaiser, who died last year, was my philosophy teacher in South Africa. He used his debating skills to become a political pundit and his podcast is just really wonderful. He asked such great questions of his interviewees and made them really think about their answers – he didn’t let anybody get away with platitudes. Listening to him was always an education and it made me willing to investigate my own thoughts and biases. I’ve been playing through some of his best episodes over the past year – the one about dismantling white supremacy (ep 46) is really worth listening to.
