Customer Reviews

Living Opera

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"Gripping" probably isn't the sort of term one uses for a book about interviews of various opera personalities. Nevertheless, there are moments when you really cannot put it down, especially if you're a trained musician and really know what each person is talking about.

Not only does Jampol interview opera singers, asking penetrating questions about everything from daily life to vocal technique, but he interviews conductors, managers and directors as well. It's truly about opera as a whole, not only the vocal aspect of it, though naturally that dominates the book's content. Therefore, one gets a very good look at a wide variety of aspects in opera, and often one gets to read firsthand the difficulties each person has or has had. And since it's "living" opera, each person interviewed is currently engrossed in that world professionally.

The vocalists Jampol interviews often give tantalizingly brief insights to vocal technique that other singers will enjoy. For example, Renee Flemming gives a wonderful account of how she uses imagery to blend different registers. I personally enjoyed reading about how conductors prepare themselves in tackling opera. Insightful, too, were the remarks from directors and managers.

Even if opera isn't necessarily your thing, I cannot see how any trained musician cannot read this book and at least walk away with a few useful bits here and there. For the lover of opera, this book serves as a sort of behind the scenes look at this complex world of opera. Indeed, for anyone who reads this book, they'll probably come away with a much greater appreciation of this art form.