Dear Editor: I was pleased to read Adria Firestone’s recent article in Classical Singer regarding retirement (Sept. ’08). This topic has just become a possible reality for me due to a gentle “nudge” from my manager to consider retiring.
At first, I was very upset over this. As a person who has made a career of funny, bass-baritone character roles, I really expected to be singing these parts for a long time. I hate to admit it, but I cried. I felt a loss and sat on my pity pot for a few days. I didn’t throw a tantrum, but I felt an emptiness. Then I began to question if this was a management issue or a retirement issue. Should I stop? Should I seek other management? Am I ready to give it all up? After all, I do have a teaching position, and I have always supported myself with teaching.
You see, I am under the impression that a singer actually knows when it’s time to quit. There have been a few productions [that] when leaving the theater following the last performance . . . I felt I would never return to that theater or company. I think a singer knows what roles he or she should no longer sing. However, I didn’t feel I was ready to stop. If I did, I certainly wanted to be the one to make that decision.
We have so little control of what we do in this business. Think about it: others hear us, others hire us, others make decisions, others direct us, the list goes on. I wanted to be the one to say, “Basta!”
Anyway, I took matters into my own hands. Instead of relying on management, I arranged auditions for roles I knew I wanted to sing and that I have had success in singing. I’m happy to say, I was cast in both operas and in the roles I wanted. This season, I will be singing in two productions with Opera Delaware as well as in the world premiere production of Libby Larsen’s newly composed opera, Picnic. I will also be celebrating 30 years of professional singing. I suppose “the end is near,” as they say, but I want to make the decision to leave on my terms.
When is it time for a singer to stop? The answer is not simple and it is highly individual. There are so many issues surrounding this decision. One has to consider physical changes which occur as the body ages. One has to consider vocal stamina. One has to consider physical energy. One has to consider changes in repertoire and technique.
I think it depends upon why one performs. I truly believe [that] when the joy of singing is over, when the pleasure becomes a struggle, when the fire no longer burns in your core, when you are technically not able to sustain your best vocal production, then it’s time to step aside.
—Donald Hartmann, Greensboro, N.C.
