Dear Linda and Vocalisters:
You wrote:
>I feel Lloyd has been rather backed into a corner to defend his position,
>and has taken a rather more extreme line than he may have done
>otherwise. There are many times in opera where the minutiae _are_
>important.
COMMENT: Basically I do not feel backed into a corner. I have not
taken a position that opera is only music. What I said was that the
primary dramatic element in opera is the music. If that is not
present the primary drama is missing.
But a primary element, while essential to the existence of the art
form, is not the whole of the art form nor have I ever said that
either. All of the elements of opera are necessary; some are
essential.
But I will argue with the opinion that opera can be sung only well
and not excellently and yet retain its hold in the elevated world of
art. Opera must, at all times be sung excellently and sung as opera,
not as some other form of song. We sometimes like to call this
"opera style" but it is more than that. It is singing that allows no
quarter but the finest of tone production and intensity done with
nuance of phrase and accuracy to the composers intentions (as we can
know them) and it all must appear authentic to the art form, real to
the emotions and believable within its context. Authentic, Real and
BElievable. "AREBE" as Wes Balk would say.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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