But I don't sing in German

Since my return to singing over the last three years, I have done quite a bit of singing in Italian and English. I recently had the chance to sing Escamillo and have at least four French arias ready to go, but based on my own perception of my voice and my “look” I have steered clear of the German repertoire thinking to myself: I don’t really sing in German. I even went as far as to tell someone those exact words in a recent audition for a piece in German. Any wonder I didn’t get it?

As I have discovered in this business, some artists easily fit into a niche and others (and I feel I fall into this category) tend to be able to bounce about and sing a wide variety of literature. I always thought that perhaps the only role I would sing in German would perhaps be Papageno, but as it turns out I am about to sing the Music Teacher in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and immediately follow that up with Falke in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Even more interesting is that I am up for another German role next season. All of sudden I’ve gone from someone who “doesn’t sing in German” to someone who is singing in German.

I have always thought I knew what was best for me and where I would end up in the opera world, but again, I am surprised (like I was with being cast as Escamillo earlier in the season) that there are people who see as more than just a “black” singer and who believe I can transcend roles that would traditionally go to white performers. It’s a wonderful feeling to see that opera while trying to focus on realism and appeal to the general public also wants to find new and exciting ways to express itself and that includes casting those who may not at first glance seem an ideal fit, but might have something unique to say about a particular role.

It reminds of the statement “Don’t tell yourself ‘No.’” I truly believe that the singers who are succeeding spend more time telling themselves “yes” and less time worrying about what others think. So here I am: a black lyric baritone who has sung everything from Mozart’s Figaro to Britten’s Theseus to Rossini’s Fernando in La gazza ladra to Escamillo and many interesting and surprising roles in between. I have trained, studied, practiced and believed so why shouldn’t I be a singer who sings in German? So I say “yes” to what may come because I always need to remind myself that I can…even auf Deutsch.

Peace,

Eric