In a recent interview on a new (to me, but it's been around for
about five years) blog, Thomas Hampson talks about how the opera singing
industry has changed since he started his career. Back then...
“There was this
foregone conclusion that with every operatic role and experience, you should
develop into something vocally and theatrically better,” Hampson says. “I don’t
see that kind of emphasis today.”
What he does see is a
focus not on developing opera singers, but on developing opera productions.
With the integrity of a singular production a growing priority, companies are
on the hunt for singers who fit a specific aesthetic – be it musical or visual;
and in response, singers are training not to become autonomous and unique
artists, but to become useful to the operatic industry. In fact, they’re
persuaded to do so, Hampson argues. “We no longer encourage young singers to
become singers. We teach them how to become voices that are useful for an industry
purpose. That bothers me a lot, as a pedagogue.”
