Hi Kate,
Thanks for the kind remarks!!
I have to disagree with you on one point about dear Dame Joan though. She certainly was not one of the worst actresses on the operatic stage. She was hampered (she felt) by a very large physical frame, and she found movement awkward. She also had alot of back trouble which often required her to wear a steel corset. Having seen her many times on stage, never once did I feel I was watching a staged concert. She was a very convincing Lucia and Violetta, and when she was given the opportunity, she could produce good fiery moments in Norma, for instance. I'm not going to say that she was one of the great singing actresses, but she infinitely better than the semaphore cum flail your arms around of some of her collegues. This, I suppose is my real point. Her performance was 'honest'.
She never did anything she couldn't do, and had a sort of stately regality which was most affecting.
The other thing that puzzles me, is what do you mean about being more confident? I've never been accused of being diffident, so that amused me greatly!!
Anyway, thanks again for the comments, and yours were most interesting too.
Best wishes,
Ian Belsey. Voice technician. Bromley, Kent, England.
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