RUBY HINDS: SINGING’S IN THE FAMILY

Ruby Hinds’ love of singing began innocently enough--as a child, at home, gathered around the piano with her two sisters while their mother played and coached.

“I think whatever talent the three of us possess came from our mother. She could easily have sung opera professionally,” suggests Hinds, who appears as one of eight soloists with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl tonight for a performance of Mahler’s mighty Symphony No. 8.

“The thing I remember most about those early days was mother constantly correcting us when we practiced. She, with her perfect pitch.” Hinds gives a light-hearted grunt at the recollection.

The Hinds sisters have grown up yet their love of singing has remained. And so has their love of singing together .

Even now that soprano Esther is 42, mezzo-soprano Ruby is 33 and soprano Grace is 30, even now that each has her own professional career, the Hinds sisters still get together to sing for fun. And, on occasion, they do so in public.

“It’s very tough to coordinate our schedules,” the mezzo notes. “But last season was busier for the three of us. We did both Spoletto festivals.”

Early in their careers, both Ruby and Grace gained inspiration from older sister Esther, who has so far carved the most noticeable career of the three. “I think that watching her success has made it easier for us,” Ruby Hinds says.

The importance of family has affected the mezzo’s career in yet another way. Five years ago, she gave birth to a daughter. The decision was made to set aside performing.

After a three-year maternity leave, Hinds is only now returning to music. “I suppose we could speculate about the effects of that lapse, but it was an important time in my life. I’m happy where I am now.”

Since her professional debut in 1978, Hinds has sung a number of operatic roles on such less stellar stages as the Lake George Opera Festival and Manhattan Opera Theatre.

“Stages such as the Met and San Francisco Opera are places I would love to sing. But it’s just a matter of time. Right now, there are a lot of things in the works, operatically.”

Concert singing also holds an appeal. In fact her previous two local appearances came in orchestral settings: in the Philharmonic’s performances of the Rome segment from “the CIVIL warS” last November, and in a program in May focusing on manic depressive composers.

“Hey, Los Angeles is becoming my home away from home,” Hinds jokes.

Though she expresses a desire to develop an international career in all phases of solo singing, Hinds hopes to find time for an occasional on-stage family reunion. Such small matters as career considerations cannot intrude: Singing with Esther and Grace is simply too much fun.

“After a concert,” she observes, “we always seem to get comments from people saying, ‘You guys seemed like you were having a good time up there.’ And it’s true. I’ll tell you, the rehearsals at our house are not believable.”