gj Michelob -> RE: Career options in Flamenco - What are your goals? (Dec. 26 2009 8:34:51)
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The question left to answer is personal, and has to do with how good you think you are, and what are you willing to sacrifice In high school our little garage band had a fine gem, a singer with an incredible voice and the cunning ability to emulate any other singer. As we grew up, he and I both enrolled in law school, leaving behind any ambitions to pursue a career in music. I remember distinctively his red livid expression as the criminal law professor humiliated him on a wrong answer. He –the singer- threw the books out of the law school’s ancient balcony, in Bologna, Italy, and walked away. It was the spring of the year of our Lord 1983. I never saw or heard of him, again, not until 10 years later to the exact season. I had moved to New York and a client rewarded me with tickets to my favorite Opera, Rogoletto. When Rigoletto walked the sacred planks of the Metropolitan Opera’s stage my heart skipped out of compas… there he was, my high school singer. He commanded the scene with incredible ease, the uncontested centerpiece of the performance, the finest baritone voice and actor I had ever seen in action. The audience agreed, applauding him in standing ovations which evoked more rock concerts than the refined poised crowd of the opera house. Backstage we hugged. My presence had given him the opportunity to vindicate the shame he had left behind, he confided, as people pressed him for an autograph. He had –unknown to me- become the “baritone” every conductor, every tenor and soprano wanted in the most prestigious casting. I promised him not to reveal any of our past, an I will not disclose his name faithful to my promise. Yet, this story shows how at times we bury our dreams and talents under social pressure and expectations. However, as my grandmother used to say, “when divine providence will choose you, “she” knows where you live”…. I will add, and she might need to smack you stiff out of the lethargic routine you have fallen into, before showing you into heaven.
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