Date sent: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 10:01:23 EST
Subject: Re: Domingo - a baritone?
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 12/16/99 2:28:20 AM Central Standard Time,
chosdad-at-concentric.net writes:

<< It does seem
a bit presumptious to me for Ms. Mercedes to "know" that Domingo
struggles as a tenor simply because he "has never found the key to
unlocking his top notes." Again, the assumption is that we all fit into
nice little boxes - so Mr. Domingo is NOT a baritone, but he IS a
tenor. Isn't it possible he is kind of in-between, and tenor top notes
are hard for him because tenor isn't a perfect "natural" fit for him,
even though his competitive advantage is optimized as a tenor? Ms.
Mercedes is narrowly focusing on his statement that he is "a baritone"
and missing what I believe to be an essentially accurate statement - I
believe Mr. Domingo is merely attempting to explain to the interviewer
that he has to work (via daily practice) to sustain the tenor
"tessitura" and that it is not natural for him.

For what it's worth ...

Cheers,

Michael Gordon
>>


I've sung in several productions with Mr. Domingo and Karen is right, he does
struggle. His tongue is usually in a retroflexed position and he tends to
bring up his shoulders just prior to the start of a phrase, indicating
extrinsic involvement. I don't think it was presumptuous of Karen at all,
especially when he's on record with the quote you cited and the physical
struggle that's evident to those who watch closely.

Randy Buescher