This book was produced for Placido Domingo's 60th birthday and the 40th anniversary of his debut in a major role (Alfredo in La Traviata in 1961). It is a portrait of the artist in his own words, through his own portrayals of the various operatic heroes he has so grippingly and hauntingly brought to life over the years. The series of interviews took place all over the world over several years, from Seville to New York to Vienna and home in Acapulco. They trace his journey into each of his 62 major roles for the benefit of present and future singers, to single out the specific vocal aspects in each role that he considers significant. - Author's note.

This text features works from 350 composers in 16 different languages and 30 voice categories - all sorted and cross-referenced. This one-of-a- kind reference allows you to search by: Roles, voice categories, aria titles, singers, composers, operas

What makes an opera singer? And where in the making of a performance is the identity of the singer themselves? Linda Kitchen goes behind the scenes with prominent voices who have valuable insight about the world of opera, discussing what it means to be a performer, how they got into the profession and how who they are affects how they perform. Illustrated with photos of the artists in places that lend meaning to their lives by renowned photographer Nobby Clark. Contents Biographies - La favorite, Donizetti Prologue - Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs, Nyman Act One ‘Shoving us from the jetty’ Scene One - Family background The Captain’s Daughter, Cui Scene Two - School days The Wandering Scholar, Holst Scene Three - Defining moment Sonntag aus Licht, Stockhausen Scene Four - Singing study Les arts florissants, Charpentier Scene Five - Preparing Bang!, Rutter Act Two ‘Carry on – it’s going very well’ Scene One - The unfolding The Rake’s Progress, Stravinsky Scene Two - Learning the score La Conquista, Ferrero Scene Three - Warming up La Sonnambula, Bellini Scene Four - The feeling of singing La Rondine, Puccini Act Three ‘No good playing Mime as if you’re Brad Pitt’ Scene One - Character, text, drama The Jewels of the Madonna, Wolf-Ferrari Scene Two - Body work The Nose, Shostakovich Scene Three - The essence The Lighthouse, Maxwell Davies Scene Four - Problems Trouble in Tahiti, Bernstein Scene Five - Humour Comedy on the Bridge, Martinů Intermission - by Thomas Allen Paradise Lost, Penderecki Act Four ‘Goodies and Baddies’ Scene One - People around you The Dangerous Liaisons, Susa Scene Two - Composers From Morning to Midnight, Sawer Scene Three - Conductors Der Corregidor, Wolf Scene Four - Directors Der Schauspieldirektor, Mozart Scene Five - Designers Powder her Face, Adès Scene Six - Agents Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Bizet Scene Seven - Reviewing reviewers War and Peace, Prokofiev Act Five ‘Bowls of sushi on a conveyor belt’ Scene One - Changing paths The New Moon, Romberg Scene Two - Legacy Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Monteverdi Scene Three - Family The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Nyman Scene Four - Life beyond the job Il rè pastore, Mozart Scene Five - The future The Medium, Menotti Scene Six - Advice Le donne curiose, Wolf-Ferrari Epilogue - Hänsel und Gretel, Humperdinck

The vast majority of singers with a degree in performance are un- or under-employed in their field. Despite the fact that talented singers are discovered every day, there are far too few jobs in the field of classical music to accommodate all of them, a problem evidenced by regular reports of opera companies and symphony orchestras closing their doors. Young classical singers, particularly recent graduates of music programs, need not only artistic ability, but also intelligence and an acute business sense to navigate the world of professional singing. In The 21st-Century Singer: Making the Leap from the University into the World , author Susan Mohini Kane has created a user-friendly guide for these recent graduates. Kane combines the benefits of an instructional manual with those of a self-reflective workbook to provide emerging classical singers with both practical and inspirational advice. She begins with a section on self-evaluation, allowing readers to define what motivates their desire to sing professionally and reflect on their passions, before moving on to career advice. In the sections that follow, Kane presents a variety of career paths, such as singing, teaching, and consulting-realistic alternatives to the rise to stardom as an "overnight sensation" that so few will experience-and provides the reader with the tools to develop a concrete plan for whichever path they decide to pursue. Other sections offer instruction on how to develop support systems, train oneself holistically, and take advantage of the newest technological resources available for professional self-promotion. With its dual emphasis on artistic motivation and modern-day business sense, The 21st-Century Singer will prove an essential text for anyone pursuing a professional singing career.

An inspiring self-portrait of a world-renowned African American vocal artist This is a fascinating account of a gifted woman's coming of age and rise to success at a time when black classical musicians faced barriers at every turn. Shirley Verrett possessed a talent and ambition so dazzling she could not be denied?and she became one of the most celebrated artists of her time. I Never Walked Alone draws the reader into the world of this graceful, fiery artist, dramatically telling the story of her childhood and her brilliant international career. The book is filled with behind-the-scenes tales of this diva?s great performances, roles, and collaborations, offering insight into her stormy personal relationships as well as her private struggles and critical decisions. Featuring forewords and afterwords by such figures as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Zubhin Mehta, and Claudio Abbado, this richly detailed book paints a vivid picture of a magnificent survivor and an indelible artist known around the world as the black Maria Callas. Shirley Verrett (Ann Arbor, MI, and New York, NY) is currently Professor of Voice at the University of Michigan School of Music. Christopher Brooks is a biographer and award-winning musicologist.