October 2006

Our series on singing and financial success continues, as Lynnette Owens introduces Success Principle No. 2. Discover more about how your thought patterns directly affect your actions, and subsequently influence the resulting outcomes. Learn the truth about many money myths and how to effectively change your negative patterns of thought.

Classical Singer proudly salutes Michael Spierman and The Bronx Opera Company on nearly four decades of achievement and wishes them continued success in the years to come.

Welcome back to “Inspirazione!” We hope you enjoyed last month’s inaugural column and that you’ll stay in touch with your own inspiring experiences and techniques by e-mailing lisa@classicalsinger.com. Over the coming months, Lisa will expand the column a bit to include more tips and ideas from experts such as the teacher, the coach, and the stage director of the year, so stay tuned! This month, consider how you use your instrument, specifically when you’re not singing.

When Erda reminds you this month to “mind the gap!” she’s not talking about riding the tube in England, but rather answering queries from two different singers. Both ask what to do about the gaps on their résumés, and Erda has just the advice they need.

Singers are unique in the music world in that our own bodies are our instruments. Whatever affects our physical, mental, or emotional states can affect our instruments—and some of the most profound and insidious effects can take hold with the things we put into our bodies, especially alcohol, cigarette smoke, and recreational drugs. When does the use of these substances become abuse? How does substance abuse really affect our instruments, our bodies, and our lives? CS readers weigh in.

With sensational singing and great successes behind her and nothing but opportunity on the horizon, Andrea Gruber seems to have it made. Unbeknownst to many, however, her struggle with addiction almost ruined her career. Now, with ten years of sobriety under her belt, Ms. Gruber speaks candidly about throwing off the chains of addiction and saving her voice.

Hailed for his booming baritone voice, strong stage presence, and all-around charisma, Charles Taylor has appeared on stage at the Metropolitan Opera, Portland Opera, and Pacific Opera, to name just a few. Taylor’s road to fame, however, has been anything but typical. After years of substance abuse, Taylor resolved to sober up and start again. He has applied that same determination to his singing career and is now reaping the rewards.

Exactly what are those two nubs on either side of your palate? Do you need them, should you ignore them, or have them taken out? CS’ resident physician shares the answers.

Jennifer Porto traveled to Germany to study German art song and learn the language, but along the way she has gained additional valuable insights. One of those moments came when she auditioned for the Hochschule’s production of Handel’s Alcina. It brought into focus the knowledge that she had truly ended a great love affair—an affair with the wrong music.

Upon his recent retirement, Joseph Volpe handed the reigns to Peter Gelb, making him the new general director of the Met, America’s premier opera house. With big shoes to fill, Gelb’s vast experience in production has prepared him well—and he has big ideas for change and improvement at the Met. In this Classical Singer exclusive, Gelb shares how his parents helped shape his cultural interests, how his early years as an usher at the Met have influenced his ideas for generating excitement within those walls again, and why he advises singers to think of opera in terms of “musical theater.”

I had occasion recently to pick up a trade magazine for lawyers. I’m always intrigued to see another magazine, so I opened the issue with interest. As I glanced through

After three intense rounds of competition among more than 200 applicants, the judges of the AudComps 2006 named 13 singers Certified Classical Singers for 2006-2007.This month, read about sopranos Eun-Hee Kim, from the Professional Division, and Maija Lisa Currie, from the Emerging Professional Division.