Customer Reviews

Complete Preparation: A Guide to Auditioning for Opera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this book Joan Dornemann gives us a basic introduction to operatic auditions from preparation, to aria choices, to behaviour at the audition. She includes little tidbits of her vast experience as a coach for interest. Her approach is kind, but realistic. Therefore, you may be empowered and exhilarated in one moment and completely depressed the next. In the end it made me wish that the purchase of the book came with a private coaching session with Ms. Dornemann. I look forward to a more complete record of Joan Dornemann's knowledge of the operatic repertoire, the pitfalls etc. She has only whetted my appetite.

This book, written by two masters of the opera world, give the student or young professional everything they need to know about making it in the opera world, and that the secret is making tough rules for yourself and aiming for perfection. When I finished, I felt like I had just taken a master class.

I was brought into enjoying Opera by the public master classes by Ms. Dornemann. Those are experiences in colective levitation, when you feel one with a group of public, singers, teachers and composers.

The allways positive messages that she delivers (doesn't matter how they are expressed)read: "I am correcting you because you are terrific!"

The book brings lots of the experience, insight, common sense, kindness and warmth that makes her more than a great teacher: a true magician.

If you have been to one of her master classes, you will love the book, and if you read the book you will buy or borrow or steal a ticket for her master classes

This may not be a book that will hand you that perfect opera role on a silver platter, it does give quite a bit of insight on things all of us auditioning people should know. I personally did not feel that there were any "Eureka!" moments for me in this book, but it quietly reinforced much that I already knew and had buried somewhere in my mind. Joan is like a supportive auntie... reminds you that you already know what to do, how to put it altogether at once, and reminds us of a few commom-sense things that we should know, but don't always remember in the process of nerve-wracking auditions. I truly enjoyed reading this, and is made me feel better about the entire process of auditioning. It will be a book that I re-read often. Thank you Joan for a great book!

This item was received quickly and in the condition as described; however, there was a signature inside the front cover, and since we wanted to get this signed by the author, it will present a problem when presenting the book. If I had known, I would have chosen a different seller to receive a book that wasn't signed by anyone.

Marvelous book for a young opera singer. Joan Dornemann is a known teacher in the world of opera and her advices very important. It's a must for a young singer.