Just a thought: "We are the microphones of ourselves"..

(....) We sing with our whole body, we are the microphones of ourselves(....)
Rolando Villazon (breakfast Tv talkshow June 2011)
So true when you have had the chance to watch Rolando Villazon sing and perform, either in recitals or in a role.





That is what he selected as the major argument to explain the difference between an opera singer and a pop singer.
He always makes a point in acting his singing. Alessandro, my last vision of him on stage in Zürich opernhaus was also very vivid and even funny, which was his personal touch to the role. He is a great performer and knows all about sustained breath control and projection of the voice to make the 'microphone' effect. Quite true and simply said!
A major draw back in my quiet operatic life, which is my number two "down" (after I missed Traviata at Aix Festival) is the cancellation of Marseilles International Singing Competition.
The main reason for this drawback is the funding problems due to cuts in the culture budget from both Town Hall and Region.

Unfortunately because of drastic cuts on the Culture budget the International voice contest will not take place, we will miss the young singers, the music of it all and of course this big event of having Rolando Villazon coaching the Competition like he did so well in 2009.
Rolando Villazon was ready to come, but could not make it on the dates imposed by Marseilles Opera House, whatwith funding problems, the competition could not take place this Autumn. Our President of the International Voice competition managed to keep the spirit of the competition going by organising a recital with the laureates of recent years!It is going to be a real joyful evening, I remember talking to a young baritone, Florian Sempey, the youngest one of the last 2009 contest and very promising too. Here a photo I took at the semi-finals oct 09. Young and smiling Florian!

He is studying now at the studio of Bastille Opera House : L'Atelier Lyrique', I will be glad to say hello if he is on the show, I do hope so!
What is for sure, neither Florian nor Rolando need a microphone... even if Rolando does lots of tv entertaining with a microphone, when on opera stage his Voce is his microphone... like all opera singers!

From Marseilles Opera House:
____ CONCOURS INTERNATIONAL D'OPÉRA - MODIFICATIONS
Le 9 septembre 2011 - 20H00 à l'Opéra

Le Concours International d'Opéra de Marseille ayant du renoncer à sa 12ème édition, faute de subventions suffisantes, il propose en lieu et place un Grand Concert des Lauréats qui aura lieu le 9 septembre 2011 à 20H00, (date initialement prévue pour la finale).

Ce Grand Concert réunira les Lauréats des Grands Concours Internationaux de Chant, accompagnés par l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, dirigé par Dominique TROTTEIN._____________

To strike a nicer tune than that rather sad one, here is a fine aria from "Rolando Villazon Opera Recital", Conductor Michel Plasson, Münchner Rundfunkorchester. Virgin classics 2006.
Rolando Villazon, tenor, Bizet-Les Pêcheurs de Perles: "A cette voix...Je crois entendre encore".


LINK