Book Review: Life in Opera—Truth, Tempo, and Soul: Encounters with Stars, Innovators, and Leaders of Today’s Opera World by Maria-Cristina Necula (Amadeus Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-57467-179-7)
With a fresh, young, and enthusiastic perspective, in her book Life In Opera, Maria-Cristina Necula compiles interviews with great opera stars and personalities given from 2002 to 2008. As stated on the flyleaf, “Singers tell their stories with uninhibited frankness, from their earliest sparks of passion for opera and the exploration of their voices, to the development of personal philosophies about singing and life.”
Life in Opera consists of 327 pages, some of which features interviews previously published in Classical Singer magazine. The book is organized in two parts: “Part One—The Interviews” and “Part Two—Author’s Corner.” Necula outlines her own journey from aspiring singer to published author, with her beginnings at Purchase Magazine of Purchase College. For that publication, Necula did her first interview with Metropolitan Opera star Dwayne Croft. The reader connects immediately with Necula as she describes her nervousness in meeting with Croft before revealing the ensuing interview. First published in Purchase Magazine, the interview found its way two months later to the cover story of Classical Singer.
Interviews included in the book give remarkable insight into the lives of opera greats such as José Cura, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Samuel Ramey, and Gregory Kunde, to name a few. In all, 29 interviews make up Part One with artists and opera personalities that range from singers to fashion designers, directors of opera, heads of Young Artists Programs, conductors, and music directors. The interviews average about 5 to 7 pages and are a quick, easy, and informative read. Their brevity makes them perfect for an inspirational thought for the beginning of each day or a feel good bedtime story at night.
What aspiring singer has not wondered about professionals in the opera world, asking such questions as “How did they get to the top?” “What are their personal lives like?” “How do they balance career with family?” “How does the opera world fit into their ethical and religious beliefs?” or “How do they overcome life’s challenges?” Who better to answer these questions than those very artists immersed in opera careers?
Honest, heartfelt insights and perspectives are entwined in every interview. On page 152, for example, Necula asks Gregory Kunde how he was sustained through a trial with cancer. He replies, “My faith in God. There was never a question that I was going to get better. It was just going to be a hard road, but I was determined to get there. I didn’t ask, ‘Why?’ All I asked was, ‘How can you (the cancer) help me?’” Necula has a gift of making immediate friends, and those interviewed speak to her questions with frankness and integrity.
In the book’s preface, Necula explains her writing style: “My goal in bringing the words of the interviewees to paper was to stay as close as I could to the natural flow of our conversations. I strived to maintain their manner of expression as unedited and unaltered as possible. . . . It is my hope that this book will offer a wide perspective on life in the lyric universe, from the stars and leaders that define and advance the operatic art form today to the creative individuals that nurture opera’s future and enrich its present.”
Of particular interest is Part Two: Author’s Corner. In this section, the reader is privileged to read 11 journal-like, short essays about encounters Necula has had with such opera greats as James Conlon, Virginia Zeani, and Diana Damrau. Titles of these adventures include “To Thine Own Self Be True,” “In Sync and In Love,” and “A Lesson in Profundity.” These candid essays give remarkable insight into the philosophy of singing and performance. A discography and videography listing for the artists interviewed ends the book.
Well worth the price of admission, this book makes a great companion for that subway ride to your next audition as you glean a little inspiration from its pages.
