You’re soon going to be playing the title role in John Adams’ Nixon is China. There are soaring melodies and consonant harmonies, as well as contemporary compositional techniques. I find Nixon in China very easy on the ear. French audiences are different than Italian audiences, Italian audiences are different than German audiences, etc.ĭo I have a favorite house to sing in? Now you’re trying to get me in trouble! I love them all. I wouldn’t even know how to make this comparison because European audiences between themselves are so diverse.
How do American audiences compare to the audiences of Europe? Do you have a favorite house to perform in? I also feel at ease singing in German, and in my native tongue as well. I sing in Italian more than any other language, so it’s safe to say I feel quite comfortable singing in opera’s “official” lingua. I will, however, start my preparation a bit sooner if I’m not as familiar with the language, for example Russian, Czech … Technically speaking, I always sing with my natural voice, no matter what language I’m singing in.
Honestly, I prepare all of my roles in the same manner. Looking at your 2016 – 2017 season, I see it all: lots of Italian and then some English, French, and even Czech! How does the language affect the way you sing and approach a role? Do you have a favorite language to sing in? Is there one that feels more natural to your voice? Verdi is, without a doubt, my favorite opera composer. You’re absolutely right! My two favorites are Don Carlo and Otello. What are the operas you’ll never get sick of no matter how many times you hear them? You have an impressive and diverse performing background! That said, I’ve yet to meet an opera lover who didn’t have one or two operas that s/he was particularly fond of. Hendricks was willing to sit down with Opera Sense and answer a few of our questions about this fascinating work. Hendricks is starring in the title role of John Adams’ Nixon in China, a work that premiered in 1987, at Houston Grand Opera. Versatile the world-famous baritone has graced the stages of many of the finest opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House and the Met, singing all the great Italian, Russian, French, English, and even Czech roles.
0 kommentar(er)
