To: VOCALIST-at-lists.oulu.fi
Subject: Musical Theatre Fachs?
Date sent: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 13:28:37 PST
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I studied for a number of years (10?) with Kathryn DeHaven. She studied with
Robert Weede, and was also engaged to him until his sudden death. She would
sit in the back room while he gave lessons, gleaning his marvelous
technique. One of the things he did and taught was "speaking on pitch" for
musical theatre. Therefore, his operatic voice was not very operatic
sounding when he sang in "Most Happy Fella." So, just because someone is
trained to sing opera, it doesn't mean it's the only way they can sing. I
certainly can "belt out a song" without damage whenever I so choose. It's
great to be able to be more flexible. But "Candide" without beautifully
trained voices? Absurd. You can't sing Cunegonde without technique.
Impossible. High e-flat and coloratura? I don't think so. But you don't have
to sound like a Wagnerian either. A singer can use many tools and stay
healthy. When I sang "I Shall Scream" this fall, I certainly didn't use my
German Leider voice. I just giggle hearing Carerras et al sing "West Side
Story." Pretty funny.

Hey, on another note, (duh) my opera workshop director and I chose the mono
opera "Miss Haversham's Wedding Night" by Dominick Argento. Fascinating
piece. Quite 20th Century, with some lovely melodies here and there. Chordal
structure is fascinating. I will sing at California State University,
Hayward, on May 25 -at- 8. Please come! You can see me be lucidly insane in a
(supposedly) 50 year old wedding dress, plus some other wedding scenes with
other workshop members. What Fun! Verrrry challenging.

Jocelyn Thulin-Gooch
Lyric Soprano
Alameda, California

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