Cincinnati

Cincinnati probably wouldn’t occur to most people as an obligatory stop on a national talent search. But we come here every year. It’s a great place for us to become acquainted with developing talent because we’re introduced to many wonderful singers from the great training programs at CCM and Indiana University.
A few really riveting characterizations today. How refreshing it is when someone starts singing, and within 5 seconds, establishes such a strong character that we can forget that we’re hearing an audition. The eternal question: How much of that can you really teach? In-depth study of the art and craft of acting is more and more frequently a part of the American singer’s training. And it always pays off. But occasionally there’s someone who appears to come alive on the stage in a preternatural way. And it’s just hard to believe that he or she wasn’t born being able to do that.
PS: A sidebar for the aficionados and the singers out there: two newish arias we heard today that we think should be offered more often –
• Volate amori from Handel’s Ariodante – a great alternative to Tornami a vagheggiar
• Invocation à la mort from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld – short lyric soprano aria in French