Customer Reviews

A Singer's Manual of Spanish Lyric Diction

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I have found this manual to be quite good, which is convenient since there is practically nothing else out there for Spanish singing that I know of. Castel's book provides quick-reference as well as detailed guides to pronouncing Spanish, and he gives good coverage of Spanish variants that one may come across. The repertoire suggestions are handy as well. About the only thing I can think of to improve the edition would be a CD with audio samples of the various sounds, since there are some that are indigenous to Castilian Spanish. This of course would drive up the price, but I think it'd be worth it since most people purchasing this book *genuinely* want to sing well in Spanish.

As a pianist and coach for Western Canadian Opera companies and Universities, I consider Nico Castel's book to be an absolute must for those considering Spanish repertoire. Nico Castel has a unique knowledge of languages and a remarkable gift for communication. Utilizing the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this volume is ideal for singers and coaches beginning to work with Spanish repertoire, or for those already familiar with the language and genre. I recommend it very highly.

As a pianist and coach for Western Canadian opera companies and Universities I can absolutely recommend this volume as essential for every singer and coach interested in pursuing Spanish repertoire. Nico Castel is an amazing artist with a remarkable facility for languages and a gift for communicating his knowledge. This book, utilizing the International Phonetic Alphabet, is ideal for singers attempting Spanish repertoire for the first time, and for those experienced in the language and genre.

This is a great book for Spanish diction; the only really essential information is the table in the front with rules for every letter's pronunciation. I'm a vocal coach, and have found this book invaluable in coaching songs of Spain and the Americas. With its simpler vowel system, it's a shame that beginning singers don't start out with Spanish rather than Italian - it's easier to do correctly and convincingly! There are several typos scattered throughout the IPA given for some words and musical examples that directly contradict rules given earlier, and some forgetfulness with open/closed E (all should be sung open) - this can be confusing, but if you stick to the rules it should be fine!