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| Measha Brueggergosman: text-messaging junkie |
May 5, 2008 |
 By Hailey Eisen
Canadian soprano superstar Measha Brueggergosman is the new face of classical music. This 30-something, Fredericton, N.B.- born performer has a vibrant energy and a voluptuous voice that’s receiving rave reviews across the globe. She is also a developing BlackBerry addict but—perhaps not surprisingly—she does not carry an iPod.
A Google search of her name turns up YouTube videos, a MySpace page and the performer’s own innovative Web site which, among other features, offers a sound-bite pronunciation of her somewhat unusual name. Chatting from her Toronto home last month, Brueggergosman described her love-hate relationship with technology, her devotion to text messaging and her adamant refusal to join Facebook.
“I think Facebook is the most amazing high-tech gossip chain I’ve ever experienced, but I believe that it was created by some crazy spy and that Big Brother is watching,” said the songstress who, at the time of writing, was gearing up to host the 32nd annual Juno Gala Dinner & Awards in Calgary.
Having recently replaced her Palm Treo with a BlackBerry, Brueggergosman said she realizes now why people get so addicted. “I can’t seem to figure out how to turn the e-mail function off.” Though she complains that the device is not user friendly, when asked if she’s planning to get rid of it, her response comes with a laugh: “No, I’m actually kind of in love with it.
“When I’m standing in the middle of the Piazza Navona in Rome and I have no idea where my rehearsal is, the BlackBerry GPS is super helpful,” Brueggergosman said. For someone who spends so much time traveling, keeping in touch with family and friends is really important. A self-proclaimed text-message junkie, Brueggergosman uses text to communicate with her husband, her parents and her friends. Call her BlackBerry number and the voicemail recording tells you not to bother leaving a message at all. “Just send me a text,” she said. “And, if you don’t know how, you’d better learn.”
Though she doesn’t own an iPod (“I make enough noise, I don’t need music constantly playing in my ears”) she does support Apple’s iTunes, saying it has been great for the classical music industry. “It really makes classical artists more approachable,” she said. “This way you don’t have to commit to a whole album until you find something you really like.” And as for YouTube, she says she’ll love it until she finds herself on there doing something really embarrassing.
Measha online
Though she hasn’t upgraded her computer in a while (“I use my husband’s old laptop”) Brueggergosman is in the midst of a major Web site makeover. “It’s time for a new and improved site,” said Brueggergosman, who oversees all of her own content development. The current site, www.measha.com, has a friendly, casual tone and aims to introduce fans to the “real person” behind the voice. Besides the innovative name-pronunciation feature it also boasts a colourful photo gallery, a news page describing all of the songstress’ latest goings-on, and links to song clips and music videos. In the Measha’s Finds section are recommendations for some of the restaurants, bars, vintage clothing stores and hotels Brueggergosman has visited in her travels.
The new site will launch soon and feature jazzed-up version of these features and provide more “fun stuff” on this international star.
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