By U.BATCHIMEG

One of most talented Mongolian female vocalists in opera is S.Munguntsetseg who became a State Honorary Artist after taking first in The Glinka International Vocal Contest back in 2009. She has given an interview to Unuudur newspaper. Below is the translation.   
-There are people who are wondering why you did not participate in the International Tchaikovsky Competition this year.
-It was so unfortunate. People are eligible only up until an age of 33, but I am 34 years old. So unfortunate.
-You would have a taken an award during this competition if you participated.
-Mentally, participating in a competition can be so much pressure for the person who is taking part. If you don’t gain success in the competition you are participating in, it is hard. There is so much pressure, responsibility, fear, and excitement behind success. Unless one experiences this feeling, one cannot understand how it can be. Young vocalists from State Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet have participated in The Glinka International Vocal Contest recently, and I was excited as much as them because I know how hard and depressing it can be. When I participated in this contest in 2009, I almost could not sleep a wink during the 14 days I spent in Moscow. All I thought about was the contest. Even after the contest, I could not get out from the condition I was in before the contest for several days.
-Have you always been this hardworking and dedicated?
-I think all artists are hardworking. I think one can achieve success after working hard.
-All people have ups and downs in life. How do you relieve stress?
-In my first vocal competition, I took third and I participated in the contest as my teacher recommended. Taking third in contest is a big thing and I thought I had become a good opera singer at the time. I took part in one vocal contest the following year, but I was eliminated during the first round. I thought it was end of the world and I cried my eyes out. By facing this defeat and thinking about the competition as a challenge, I have become more mature in handling loss and wins. I have improved my vocal skills through my participations in internal and external vocal contests. Of course, I made achievements in some, and in some, I did not. When I was in Bulgaria, I participated in the Bulgarian National Vocal Competition and took second. After participating in over 20 international contests and gaining much experience, I took part in The Glinka International Vocal Contest. I even learned about handling my anxiety when I am on stage. By winning in the Glinka International Vocal Contest, I have gained so much hope and faith.
-Did you go to Bulgaria when you were senior student at the Mongolian State University of Art and Culture?
-I went to Bulgaria when I was a senior student in 1998. I finished my last year of BA and studied for an MA degree. I studied and lived in Bulgaria for almost 10 years.
-We heard that you graduated high school in Tuv Province.
-I was born and raised in Zuunmod soum, Tuv province. My parents are ordinary people who dedicated themselves to their four children’s well-being. I have three younger brothers and I am the only girl. As I am the only girl, my parents did not let me do any hard work like carrying water or splitting firewood.
-You were  a child who  did not like singing, is it true?
-I think I was destined to become a singer, otherwise, I would not have become a singer. When I was in high school, I participated in school singing and dancing showcases, just because I had to, not that I liked taking part in. I even took first in a singing competition when I was in fifth grade in high school. I blushed so hard when I was on stage, so I got so many nicknames. Maybe, that’s why I did not like singing.
-How did you end up becoming a singer, then?
-I was going to become an actress and I wanted so badly to enter the Mongolian State University for Art and Culture. However, two invitations of opera singer class of the university were sent to our province, but not one invitation for the acting class came. So I thought, ‘After I enter this university, I can change my class.’ My teacher Dashiimaa was the reason I did not change my class to acting class. My teacher said, ‘You have a future pursuing this singing career.’  Her words changed my life entirely.
-The singers who take first in international singing competitions get offers to sing on world renowned stages. Have you ever gotten these kinds of offers before?
-It has been six years since I came to Mongolia after studying in Bulgaria for 10 years. Time flies. During those six years, I have been busy managing my private and public work. I have received offers from several places. I have played a main role in ten operas, including Aida, Cio-Cio San, and Tosca. As a young person, achievements that I have made are huge, because in Mongolia, opera singers have more opportunities compared to other countries’ opera singers. However, one can get a role by working hard.
-Many artists sacrifice their private life by dedicating themselves to art.
-Yes. I have faced this kind of thing before. I wanted to be an ordinary woman who has a family of her own and kids and a husband. I did not want to lose that happiness of family. It would be tragic if one does not have a family and children in the end. It would be useless to have that kind of fame and prestige. I did get an offer to work as main vocalist in Bulgarian Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet and it was one in a life time opportunity. There were people blaming me for turning down this offer, but my main purpose was to live happily with my family. And now I have a daughter.
-Will you have more children?
-I want more children. My daughter wants a sister or brother. When my daughter turns four, I will have two or three children.
-What do you like doing except for singing?
-When I was little, I liked shoveling snow. And I like walking after snowfall.
-Music artists of pop and rock music hold solo concerts. Is there any possibility for opera singers to hold solo concert?
-I was planning to hold my solo concert on December 15. But due to an international event and concert, it was postponed. Currently, I am planning to release my album.
-Some people say one is born with talent, but some say one should be hardworking for it to be nurtured. Do you think you were born with your singing talent?
-Compared to my counterparts, I worked hard for my singing skill thanks to my teachers at university.
-I don’t why, but it seems that opera singers can sing long songs well. Do you sing long songs?
-I like listening to long songs. If I sing along, I can sing. I sing a long song by myself, I do not think I can.