All Articles – Page 346

Who’s a guerrilla temp? Someone who knows more than the party line we all get when we sign on with a temporary agency. Here are a few statements many of us have heard, and what they really mean.

In the 9:00-5:00 career-track world, retirement is usually figured into the employee’s benefit package. As free-lance singers working for a flat fee, it is up to us to provide for our “golden years.” One method is the individual retirement account: easy, convenient and effective.

Auditioning for a solo position in an oratorio? Here are some tips from Lyndon Woodside, conductor of the Oratorio Society of New York, on what to sing, what to wear, and what to do.

The holidays present some special money-making opportunities for singers, and one of those is caroling! Cynthia Vaughn spoke to some singers who are earning extra cash for the holiday season while simultaneously having a great time.

Like Sherrill Milnes, many singers, conductors, coaches and teachers had mentors as they made their way up the career ladder. Now they are completing the circle: giving back to the field by working with singers in a mentoring capacity.

Sherrill Milnes on performing, mentoring,
and passing along a lifetime’s worth of memories

Say the word “budget,” and you can clear a room of companions in 10 seconds flat. Few of us really want to think about budgeting, and we may even consider ourselves to be doing well to have a savings account. But with a bit of work, some patience, and a helping of frugality, it is possible not only to survive, but thrive as a single-income singer. One thing to bear in mind is that singers aren’t like other wage-earners! Our income arrives in fits and starts, and we may have a great month followed by three very lean ones. This feast-or-famine reality is all the more reason to be aware of your financial situation, warts and all. We found a singer who has performed in Europe and many theaters in the United States, but who has the income of a struggling singer and still manages to save. She isn’t a financial professional, but she is savvy, determined, and very practical.

Is correct diction enough? Or are there plenty of singers performing today who think of the international phonetic alphabet as the only language tool they need? Internationally-known recitalist and teacher, Glenda Maurice, writes on the shortcomings of the diction class and the attendant responsibilities of the vocal artist.

In the August 1990 issue of The New York Opera Newsletter, we featured an interview with Wesley Balk, who at the time was about to publish his fourth book on the singer/actor process, entitled The Radiant Performer [University of Minnesota Press, 1986, $18.95 Amazon.com]. In an encore presentation of that interview, Balk’s philosophies speak quite specifically to the process of singers’ communication.

Cynthia Lawrence on preparing Marvin Levy’s revamped
Mourning Becomes Electra in Chicago

The Most Communicative Singer from our website poll at the Classical Singer Community is the inestimable José Carreras. And it isn’t only his marvelous voice that seems to have reached so many of our readers. It is a combination of music, words, characterization–and heart. Here is a sampling of what people are saying about Carreras and our other top-ranked singers.

In preparing for the November issue on the art of communication, Classical Singer conducted a poll on our website asking subscribers to vote for their choice as best communicator today. In this issue we highlight the top five winners of this poll, one of which is soprano Diana Soviero. Ms. Soviero has mesmerized audiences with her charismatic, emotionally-riveting performances of such verismo roles as Manon Lescaut, Nedda, Tosca, Cio-Cio San, and Suor Angelica. She is perhaps the archetype of the singing actress: a marriage of impeccable vocal technique with stunningly effective theatrical instinct and individuality. But beyond those two aspects is an elusive third–soul.