December 2008
Hitting the Highs and Lows with Bass Eric Owens
Eric Owens started out playing oboe and was playing professionally by the age of 15. Soon his love for opera changed his long-term ambitions. Find out how he arrived at an international career, what advice he has for up-and-coming singers, and why this singer has lots of gratitude and no regrets.
Certified Singers ’08-’09
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 soprano Jennie Litster from the Emerging Professional Division and soprano Elizabeth Beers Kataria from the Professional Division.
Pedagogy 101 : Getting to the Root of Healthy Vocalizing through Resonance
In our last pedagogy article, we discussed the importance of proper breath management for the singer. In this article, two experts, Tracy Watson and Betty Jeanne Chipman, discuss vocal resonance—what makes good vocal resonance, how to achieve it, and the freedom of healthy singing you can attain.
One Keyboard to Go, Please
Finding a way to practice when you’re on the road without a piano often presents a challenge. Here are some free-to-cheap options for turning your favorite gadget into a portable keyboard.
Day Jobs for Singer
Most of us would like to be full-time performing musicians, but realistically, all of us have to take on some other employment at some point. So let’s find the best jobs for us. Flexibility? High salary-to-hours ratio? Music- or performance- related? Classical Singer explores some working singers’ outside-the-box jobs.
Inspirazione! : Finding Peace this Holiday Season
With all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, finding the peace and joy we hear about in sermon and song can be difficult or nigh unto impossible. Examining the calming influence of music in these three examples, however, will set you on your way to finding more peace this season, with yourself and with others.
Distant Voices : Listening to Singers of the Past, Part 3
Just in time for the holidays, we wrap up our series on historical recordings with recommendations for starting your own library. A singer, coach, and conductor make their lists of not-to-be-missed singers of the past. Also, find several must-have books, as well as recommended record labels for finding the best recordings at the best prices.
The Tech-Savvy Singer : Amazon Kindle for Singers
This month, Classical Singer reviews an exciting new gadget, amazon.com’s Kindle—a device for reading books on the go. Find out what this paperback-sized device can do for classical singers.
Ask Erda : The Price of Principles
What do you do when the demands of your job conflict with your deeply held values? Cindy Sadler addresses this difficult dilemma.
Doctor, Can I Get the Shot?
When stress or illness cause vocal problems, singers often look for a quick fix, such as a cortisone or homeopathic shot. But is this always a good idea? And what do you, as your own primary healthcare expert, need to know about the shots you get? Here’s our resident medical expert with everything you need to know on the topic.
Janet Bookspan : Teacher, Mentor, Friend
CS remembers the life of performance coach and stage director Janet Bookspan, who passed away in September.
Perfect Collaboration : A Conversation with Frederica von Strade and Jake Heggie about 'Three Decembers'
Jake Heggie’s new opera, Three Decembers, appears this month in Berkeley with San Francisco Opera, starring mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. Heggie and von Stade collaborated on the project from the beginning and for the world premiere of the opera in Houston last March, under the title Last Acts. Read about the collaborative process, how the work evolved, and how these two artists gained insight and inspiration in tandem.
San Francisco Lyric Opera : Intimate Opera with Ambition
The artistic director of the relatively small San Francisco
Lyric Opera company never lets its size hold him back.
Armed with creativity, he finds ways to make big operas—
and big ideas—work.
Learning To Let go : A Discussion about the Inner Game of Singing with Feldenkrais Teacher Maxine Davis
Last month Jill Anna Ponasik shared the experience of her first lesson with Feldenkrais teacher Maxine Davis. Ponasik left having discovered new-found feelings of freedom in her singing, and wondering if she could make them last. This month, find out how she’s doing as the Feldenkrais method continues to inform her singing.
Editor’s Note : ‘To Be, To Do, or To Suffer’
Perched at the top of a hill on Manhattan’s Upper Westside sits a beautiful mausoleum. Its massive dome and stately columns rise high above the Hudson River, and yet President
Center Stage : Barbara DeMaio Caprilli, Dramatic Soprano
Barbara DeMaio Caprilli Dramatic Soprano Winston Salem, N.C. Please tell our readers about your career highlights so far. Odabella in Attila at La Scala, Aida in Verona [and] Rome, Tosca
Bulletin Booard
Submit entries to the bulletin board by e-mail at bulletinboard@classicalsinger.com.
A Heretical Guide To Cantoring in a Catholic Church : The Basics
Church gigs offer a great income source for singers, especially around the holiday season. Feeling a little hesitant about a first-time church job? Unsure what to expect or how to behave? Find out here.
The Singer’s Wish List
Looking for the perfect gift for your singer friend, teacher, or significant other? Or perhaps want to drop some hints about something you might like to find in your stocking? Classical Singer has some suggestions for the ideal gifts for you and your colleagues.
The Singer’s Addiction : Part Four: Finding a New Elixir of Love
In the first three articles of this series, Adria Firestone took us through deciding when to retire, fully grieving for your loss, and discovering your passions. This month she shares how to evaluate your own skill set and find meaningful and fulfilling ways to create away from the stage.
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