Opera Singer Golda Zahra Blends Classical, Pop, and Broadway in Her Debut Album
Golda Zahra to Release Debut Album "GOLDA ZAHRA FREE" This October
Golda Zahra, an accomplished opera singer known for her recent performance of the national anthem at a Los Angeles Lakers game, is preparing to unveil her debut album, "GOLDA ZAHRA FREE," this October. The album aims to fuse classical opera with elements of Broadway and pop, featuring a diverse collection of 13 tracks.
“This album is going to be a real plethora,” Zahra remarked. “I like to say, something that we’ve never really seen with a predominantly classical singer.”
Born to Iranian and Eastern European parents, Zahra grew up in Los Angeles and attended Beverly Hills High School. She traces her passion for opera back to her childhood, when her parents discovered the genre during their dating days. “My dad was trying to be romantic, so even though they had never heard of opera before, he took my mom to the LA Opera… and from there, their love for it grew,” she said.
Her initial exposure to opera occurred at the age of four, when her parents took her to see "The Magic Flute" at the LA Opera. Captivated by the stage and costumes, Zahra began singing during the car ride home. Soon after, her parents enrolled her in music classes, nurturing her interest in the arts. She started with classical piano, transitioned to musical theater, and began honing her opera skills more seriously by age eight.
Zahra furthered her studies at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles, participating in an opera chorus program and training with private instructor Kay Montgomery. After graduating high school, she moved to Italy, where she spent about four years at a private academy near Venice. “I feel like when you want to really hone your craft and be the best at what you do, you have to go where they created it,” she explained.
While in Italy, she immersed herself in the local culture and its rich musical heritage. After completing her formal education, she trained under renowned opera singer Barbara Frittoli. “She really paved the way to making me into the artist I am today,” Zahra reflected.
Fluency in Italian and French allows Zahra to perform in multiple languages, often tackling pieces in languages she does not speak. To ensure authenticity, she studies each piece’s meaning and collaborates with interpreters for precise pronunciation. “I make sure it’s the most precise and authentic as possible, being a nonspeaker,” she said.
Zahra’s upcoming album embodies her meticulous approach to music while venturing beyond traditional opera. It features classical selections such as “O Mio Babbino Caro” and “Quando me’n vo” by Giacomo Puccini, along with “Je Veux Vivre” by Charles Gounod, combined with Broadway and pop arrangements. The album was produced in collaboration with Maestro Steven Mercurio and recorded with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
Expressing her artistic vision, Zahra said, “I humbly would like to say that I have two different voices. I have a pop voice, and I have a classical voice, and so this was my portrayal of that.” Her goal is to dismantle the boundaries between genres, illustrating that classical, Broadway, and pop music all contribute to a shared musical experience.
As she gears up for the album’s release, Zahra plans to debut singles and EPs, some accompanied by music videos. Her first single, “O Mio Babbino Caro,” was released on April 24, and her EP, "My Name is Golda," is scheduled for May 22.
“I’m just incredibly excited about this album release because it’s a real labor of love, and I think it’s something that’s really groundbreaking in the classical crossover world,” Zahra stated. “I hope that people can hear my love for music while they listen to it, and it brings joy to them.”
The full album is set to be released on Friday, October 16.
