[78-L] Operatic Sight Reading.

[Jeff Sultanof]

To the list of opera singers who were also versed in an instrument, Rosa
Ponselle says in her autobiography that she was a skilled pianist who could
also transpose (play in different keys).

Much agreed on solfege, although other systems used for sight-singing can
be very effective. In college we learned movable 'do' which has problems
when you get to pieces that are in a number of keys.

Jeff Sultanof

On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 6:08 AM, Philip Carli <
Philip_Carli at pittsford.monroe.edu> wrote:

> I should also mention that solfege is rarely taught any more at the
> conservatory level; a great loss, as those singers who had limited reading
> skills often had considerable solfege ability which helped them learn parts
> quickly.
> ________________________________________
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [
> 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of Philip Carli [
> Philip_Carli at pittsford.monroe.edu]
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 5:54 AM
> To: 78-L Mail List
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Operatic Sight Reading.
>
> As an accompanist of over three decades' experience, though, I can say
> singers who _can_ read - and especially sight read - earn much more respect
> and gratitude from their instrumental colleagues than those who can't, no
> matter how fine their voices. Being a repetiteur can sometimes be grueling,
> depending upon the perspicacity of the singer you're drilling. Of the
> greats of the past,  Giuseppe Campanari and Marcella Sembrich were probably
> the best: Campanari had started as an orchestral 'cellist, and Sembrich
> played piano and violin on a professional level.  And don't forget Jan
> Peerce's experience as a dance-band violinist in the 1920s, which got him
> started on doing band vocals...P. Carli
> ________________________________________
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [
> 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of OKIN EARL [
> spats47 at ntlworld.com]
> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 5:53 PM
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: [78-L] Operatic Sight Reading.
>
> Hi!
>
> As a Jazz singer who loves Opera and collects operatic 78s, I don't see why
> you are surprised about this. The same thing applies to Operatic as any
> other sort of singing. You need a fine voice, great phrasing and a natural
> musicality.
>
> An ability to act is obviously an optional extra which could be very
> useful.
>
> However...sight-reading is not required.
> Lack of that skill just requires the services of a good 'repetiteur'...
>
> Earl.
>
> From: Erwin Kluwer <ekluwer at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Early studio singers - question
> To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Message-ID:
>       <CAEOnyckoM+Sx-VtCz-om2Q_i2eHfynjuWfxPAS7G6e2R7kb8Ew at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Amazingly some of the truly great opera singers :Caruso, Pinza,
> Warren, among others were NOT able to sight read music!!
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