The two days in Dusseldorf were pretty dire actually, with huge pressure to get through a hundred singers in the two days. But we did it, and our patience was rewarded in the last hour of the second day with this little miracle.
I should explain how we conduct these auditions. It is like a blind wine tasting. I have no idea of the background of any of the singers – where they have studied, who their teachers are, what engagements they have had etc So I do not see a resume, something which usually accompanies a singer in the ordinary general auditions one does on a regular basis. So there is no chance that the “label” can influence my “tastebuds” in the subtle way that some prior knowledge can modify one’s perception of quality. Yes, we must admit it, it can happen!
So this young lady appeared, aged 24, not unlike three dozen others I heard during the previous 30 hours. Then something unusual happened – here was someone so totally prepared musically, completely sound technically, and so into what she was singing, that I sat up and took special notice. As her first choice Anne Truelove’s aria from The Rake’s Progress for a young Korean who appeared not to speak much English might be thought to be risky. But it was immaculate! It might have been Felicity Lott or Heather Harper…..perfect enunciation, every word given its right weight and inflection. I was captured. And then she went on to do the same with Bellini.
So I did something I rarely do – I asked her who her teacher was. And it turned out that she is at one the finest schools in Germany with one of Europe’s most highly regarded singing teachers. They really make a difference these teachers. In this case it is someone who did not have a substantial career as a singer but turned out to be a miracle worker as a teacher. He has been around working these miracles these last 30 years or so. We are indebted to him for a whole generation of world-class singers. It is sometimes true - “Those who can - do, those who can’t – teach.”
So I am now in St Petersburg in my cosy little hotel, The Arkadia. The Wifi is free and the whole feeling is of old Russia – not your normal comfortable western hotel. But as far as I can see so far it is to be recommended. We shall see how I get on for these two days.
But now I have some work to get done before going out to have a look around. I will be back later!
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