caio wrote:
<< any actor with such cliched emotions opera singers display would be considered a ham actor. >>
although, i agree with you that this is the common practice, i don't think it is the ideal in anyone's mind. however, more than not are willing to settle for it. i believe it comes from a concentration on one aspect of singing at the expense of all the other elements. that one aspect is the construction of tone.
acting is hard. people actually study acting and still have a hard time with it. opera singers spend so little time working on it and usually, it is with a retired singer who also never studied acting. they end up looking like a botero painting come to life. this again, i don't think is the ideal but, many are willing to overlook it.
there are exceptions. i saw teresa stratas twenty years ago in 'lulu' and that was real acting. she can move. she is the only opera singer i can remember seeing, who doesn't look as if her character's main dilemna is 'support'.
mike
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