>(kissing a conductor's butt for a role is probably the only activity >most singers do that uses anywhere near as much energy as an athletic event.)
I'd have to strongly disagree with this (even if it is a joke). We're doing a rather long excerpt from Hansel & Gretel for the Halloween concert I've put together for Sunday afternoon (tomorrow) and the Witch gets a real good workout with all the staging and all. The music itself isn't the easiest in the world to begin with, but adding in pretty physical staging makes for quite a workout - even for Hansel & Gretel.
I would have to agree that performing a large lead role DOES require a lot of physical stamina. Not necessarily being in great shape physically - just stamina. You consider that singers aren't mearly standing up there yelling at the audience (hopefully): We're using so many different muscle groups just to produce well sustained and healthy tone and breath support, then you add in staging and, on occasion, heavy costumes, and you've got the makings of quite a healthy little workout.
And by the way, you'll never find this little diva kissing any conductor's butt for a role - maybe that's why I haven't had a whole lot of roles...hmmmm
Anyway, just my $0.02 for what it's worth.
Laura
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========== This will be our reply to violence: To make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before. -Leonard Bernstein ==========
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