Dear Editor: I found two of the articles in your March issue interestingly contrasting: “Nudity in Opera Today” and “Ageism in Opera.” If I may be allowed to correlate the two, I guess that one of the advantages of age is that I don’t believe that too many people would want to see me naked on stage (or anywhere else for that matter), and that if I were to be asked to disrobe, I would head for the nearest exit first and not ask questions later.
Mariano Vidal
The writer splits his time between Weehawken, New Jersey, and Sullivan County, New York. As he puts it, “Dual residences also come with age.”
Dear Editor: I just finished the March issue. I loved that every article was on hard-hitting topics. One thing you seem to have overlooked, though—all these legal issues only pertain to the U.S. Most successful full-time singers do at least some of their work in Europe. Foreign laws weren’t even touched on in the whole issue. Germany probably has different anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws than we do—and that’s where a lot of this stuff is going down.
Amanda White
New York, New York
Dear Editor: I deeply appreciated [Megan Gloss’s] article in this month’s Classical Singer [“Skeletons in the Closet,” March issue]. I went through a series of incidents at my former church that caused me to lose my religious faith, nearly caused me to quit singing, and left me with an annoying case of PTSD (which is being treated). I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to know that my experience is not unique, and that I am not crazy for resisting the conclusion that bad—even criminal—behavior is just “part of the business.” If you can, would you please convey my profound gratitude to the singer who gave this quote: “I had a stage director be physically abusive toward me—pulling me very abruptly with force to and fro by the wrists, for example, rather than asking me to cross down center.”
Although it’s not the worst behavior described in the article, or even by this singer, I was glad to see her call it what it is: abuse.
Kelly Vomacka
Dear Editor: I just wanted to tell you that I really appreciated the articles included in the March 2010 issue of Classical Singer. The articles regarding ageism and nudity especially gave me insight into what is out there in the opera world.
Although this was not the main point of the article on ageism in opera, I was encouraged by the statements regarding singers who develop later in life. I am a recent university graduate with a bachelor of music degree, but my experience is still rather lacking. I am trying to really hone in on my technique, but I still have a long way to go to be vocally developed. It was so nice to read about voices that develop later in life, and I realized that it is OK that I have not reached my full potential. I felt a little weight lift off my shoulders, knowing that I am still young and have many years ahead of me in which to develop.
I also found the two articles on nudity in opera very educational. I was not aware that nudity was so prevalent on the opera stage. I’m glad I have a little warning of what I am getting myself into—not that I would ever go against my values—but it is encouraging nonetheless to know that I do not have to give in to pressure from directors or anyone else who would try to make me do something I am uncomfortable with. Also, the information from the American Guild of Musical Artists was encouraging to know that there are people out there who still support individual morals.
Thank you for including these articles, and I look forward to more articles in the future dealing with issues that are pertinent to young singers like myself.
Valerie Haas
Glendora, California
