Canadian baritone Gerald Finley has plenty to teach young singers. Today he finds himself touring around Europe and North America’s most iconic opera houses and concert halls, performing the roles he loves most. This week he will perform in a semi-staged production of John Adams's Nixon in China at the BBC Proms in London. Not bad for someone who began his career as a boy soprano at a church in Ottawa.
Tempo caught up with Finley after a recent performance at Chamberfest Ottawa to find out what tips he has for young singers. He offered two helpful repertoire suggestions for students.
1) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
“A fundamental to hear how a composer can make drama and music intertwined.”
2) Ludwig van Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
“Shows how a composer can make extraordinary sounds through orchestra and choral singing.”
Hear more music for students, young ones and the young at heart on today’s special Labour Day edition of Tempo at 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2. You can find more video with Gerald Finley on Tempo’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Related:
Debussy at 150: The Impressions still deceive
Gerald Finley exceeds high expectations at Chamberfest 2012