Those of you who are receiving the e-mails we send out monthly will know that we asked you to send in your questions for an interview with Joseph Volpe, general director of the Metropolitan Opera. (You can sign up for the free e-mail on our homepage at www.classicalsinger.com. This is how we keep in touch with you between issues. We currently have more than 12,000 people on the e-mail list.)
The questions singers sent in really made me think about how much power we give to other people—particularly the heads of opera companies. I know we’ve talked about this before but some of these letters hit me really hard.
It is a good time to ask yourself if you are a singer who is sad and saying “Why not me?” The question you need to ask yourself is a peppy, “OK, what can I do next?” For your own mental health, you’ve got to be out there making opportunities happen. I hope you’re not waiting for the Met to call you. There’s nothing wrong with doing everything in your power to get that Met audition, but if that doesn’t happen, are you putting together recitals, tours, making CDs and getting yourself out there? It would be such a waste if all the singers who spend all the thousands of dollars on training in conservatories and private studios decide to save themselves for the “big contract” and feel like failures if it doesn’t happen. There are so many places you can be singing right now, in your own backyard. Why wait for Mr. Volpe to call? He’s just one man with one opinion. I agree it would be incredible to be validated by that one opinion. But the opinion of a few general directors out there—and there aren’t really that many when you compare them to the number of singers—just can’t be determining the level of your happiness. The opinion that needs to matter the most is how you feel about yourself. Are you are able to move an audience? Can you do that yet? Go try out your material on an audience and see if you can! That’s the real test of an artist.
You did come up with a lot of wonderful questions—and Mr. Volpe gave a very thoughtful interview. We’ll be bringing it to you when we get the entire story on the Metropolitan Opera done. Thank you for your help.
We’re continually working to expand resources for singers. I’m always getting letters from singers wanting to know how to find voice teachers and coaches in various parts of the country. We’re working on the solution. From now on, every issue of Classical Singer magazine and CS related communications will be directing singers to our new directories: This issue includes coaches who are in the CS Coach Directory. To be included in the CS Coaches Directory, go to www.classicalsinger.com/subscription/coach_general.php3. The August issue will feature a list of all the voice teachers whose names are in our new, online CS Voice Teacher Directory. Go to www.classicalsinger.com/subscription/teacher_general.php3. There is no charge for these basic listings. If teachers want to expand their free listing on our website, we do offer a Complete Listing, which gives singers the complete story about teachers and their studios for a $50 annual fee. Please contact Publisher David Wood (publisher@classicalsinger.com) or Advertising Director Ken Sheehan (advertising@classicalsinger.com) to get additional information.
I hope you are enjoying your summer. Next month’s issue is: How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? Practice Practice Practice or Pay Pay Pay!
CJ Williamson, Editor
cjw@classicalsinger.com
Box 95490
South Jordan UT 84095
