January 2009 – All Articles

Building on the continuing discussion of recognition, mourning, grief, and letting go, Adria Firestone discusses the healing, forgiveness, and gratitude that can come after a singer decides to leave the stage.

After making his La Scala debut in 1980 as the incorrigible Falstaff, baritone Juan Pons went on to sing at every major opera house around the world. Still an active artist, Pons also makes time to share his experiences and advice with singers who are just starting out, as he did while visiting students at the Bel Canto Institute in Florence, Italy last summer. Program participant Margaret Higginson shares with CS readers what Pons had to say about his career, how he studies roles, what led him to make the switch from bass to baritone, and how his career has affected his life and his family.

A Google search on New Year’s resolutions instantly reveals a host of websites listing the most common goals. The lists look remarkably similar with essentially the same resolutions worded just

From more than 200 applicants competing in three intense rounds of competition in the Classical Singer AudComps, the judges named the 12 top competitors Certified Classical Singers for 2008-2009. This month, we feature baritone Jonathan Gabriel Michie and tenor Jin Hwan Byun from the Emerging Professional Division.

Kenneth Kamal Scott Tenor Brooklyn, N.Y. Please tell our readers about your career highlights so far. Soloist with Boston Symphony Orchestra with John Williams conducting, starring role on Broadway for

Summer programs offer a variety of options for continuing your training, adding a complete role to your résumé, exploring a new country, learning a language, and more. In an effort

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A longtime summer program that runs for two weeks in Boston and Washington, D.C. each summer offers singers indepth stage and acting training at a very reasonable price. One singer who has attended the program in both cities reports on her experiences.

Mortier Quits The New York Times announced Nov. 7 that provocative impresario Gerard Mortier has decided not to assume the top position at New York City Opera. For the previous

Read about a small but fast-growing program in New York City that offers singers the chance to prepare and perform complete opera roles in a supportive and friendly environment.

When singers consider the pros and cons of summer programs, they sometimes overlook or underestimate the value of making connections. One singer reflects on the many ways friendships forged at three different summer programs have benefited her life and her career.

In 1999 and again in 2003, Classical Singer received a host of complaints from disgruntled singers about the Sessione Senese per la Musica e l’Arte in Siena, Italy. (For the