2009 – All Articles

How do you get the rehearsal time and musical preparation you need when you’re contracted to cover a role? Three singers share their how-tos learned from years of experience as covers at such houses as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and more.

Tenor Charles Workman, after launching a career in the U.S. and Canada, has established himself in Europe as a leading interpreter of Mozart, Rossini, and French opera. CS first interviewed Workman for this article while he was in Madrid to sing in a production of Janáček’s The Makropulos Case, and he shared an exciting new development in his singing that has enabled him to transcend from a technically brilliant to a brilliantly beautiful sound. Then, to trace the progress of this development, CS traveled to Barcelona more than a year later for a second interview while the tenor was performing at the Liceu Opera House. Workman has continued to deepen the appreciation of his voice’s possibilities thanks to the insightful input of a new friend who has also become his teacher. And, employing the latest technology, he can even sing for her over Skype.

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Not only did soprano Kristin Jensen decide to self-produce her own professional-quality CD, she also decided to raise all of the funds upfront. Find out how she did it and get inspired to do your own.

Warm, dark, bright, silvery, rich, buttery—what do these terms mean, vocally speaking? Learn more about the ever-subjective topic of vocal color, including its natural occurrence and the consequences of trying to unnaturally “make” or “create” it.

We compare these two competing digital recorders to see how they measure up.

Deciding when to “retire” from the stage and what to do post singing career are perhaps the greatest challenges singers face. Three singers who enjoyed major careers share how they made the difficult decision to stop singing full time and how they are finding fulfillment in their “afterlife.”

Nadine Sierra, the youngest singer in the 2009 Met’s National Council Auditions finals, tells how she conquered nerves and sickness to not only survive but win.

A singer’s holiday season often involves being on the road, away from friends and family. Several well known singers share their favorite musical and non-musical memories, reminiscing on this holiday season.

Are you communicating professionalism as well as appropriate gratitude in your interactions with colleagues? Cindy tells you how paying attention to the little things can make a big difference in the long run.

American soprano Michèle Crider now makes her home in Switzerland while managing an international career. Read about the obstacles she faced after first moving to Europe and what advice she has for singers considering the move now.

When things go smoothly and all works as planned, live theater can create magic. But what about when things don’t go as planned? Find out how you can make the most of these moments by improving on improvisation.