A List of 20 Things Every Opera Singer Needs

This is an alternative list of things an opera singer should possess this day and age.

1. money (haha)
2. a glorious voice (period.)
3. a love life
4. computer with internet access
5. an agent
6. at least 2 languages (4 are better)
7. health
8. a sense of humor
9. running shoes
10. a recording device
11. good teeth
12. a scarf
13. a coach
14. a private listener
15. an objective listener
16. a passport with no special Visa requirements
17. guts 
18. a dark side to their life
19. a Faraday cage when it comes to jealousy and bad vibes
20. a secret

Did I mention nerves of steel, because that's what I keep getting reminded of and it's so true.

Singers who will perform in the Bayerische Staatsoper 2012 Ring cylce

The Complete Ring at Bayerische Staatsoper 2012
(They made a mistake, it's Juha Uusitalo)

samples of singers
Das Rheingold: http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/889-ZG9tPWRvbTEmaWQ9MjU4OCZsPWRlJnRlcm1pbj0xMDMzNg-~spielplan~oper~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html
Sophie Koch, Fricka
Johan Reuter, Wotan

Die Walküre: http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/889-ZG9tPWRvbTEmaWQ9MjU4NiZsPWRlJnRlcm1pbj0xMDM0Mw-~spielplan~oper~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html
Anja Kampe, Sieglinde
Klaus Florian Vogt, Siegmund

Katarina Dalayman, Brünnhilde 

Juha Uusitalo, Wotan (I saw him in Budapest as Wotan, very intense)

Siegfried: http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/889-ZG9tPWRvbTEmaWQ9MjU4OSZsPWRlJnRlcm1pbj0xMDM0NA-~spielplan~oper~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html
Lance Ryan, Siegfried
Catherine Naglestad, Brünnhilde
Juha Uusitalo, Wanderer

Götterdämmerung: http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/889-ZG9tPWRvbTEmaWQ9MjU4NyZsPWRlJnRlcm1pbj0xMDM0Nw-~spielplan~oper~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html
Brünnhilde, Nina Stemme (We all know her)
Siegfried, Stephen Gould
Hagen, Hans-Peter König

So, who are we most excited about-who are we least excited about?

For all you Eva-Maria Westbroek fans in anticipation of her Met debut, here's a little something...

I really hope I get to see her live soon. She has it as far as understanding and expression of Wagner goes, and of course she possesses the instrument. Too bad she doesn't have a wide range of colors in her voice yet. But hers is a large voice, and probably very difficult to manage, and she manages it very well, in my humble opinion. This song cycle becomes an experience.
I like her very much.

Thielemann durch die Nacht

Thielemann - one to get to know

a singer's life...now still?

I always found this interesting. Singers have to lead a seriously disciplined life.

Unbelievable Dolora Zajick

here at 58

Dolora Zajick: What a BRAIN!!

Listen to this woman talk. She is an endless fountain of knowledge. I would like to meet her. She figured out her technique because she's so smart. As my new idol when it comes to big and healthy sound she gives insight into what the essence of singing is. What she says about resonance is priceless. Listen (to her resonant speaking voice) and learn!

I always thought Leontyne Price was tall

Leontyne Price and Marilyn Horne singing a duet from Rinaldo. I'm stunned at the beauty of Price's high notes. They both are about the same height, which means not very tall. Which makes the volume Price can produce even more impressive. Although there have been quite a few "short" blasters.
This is one of those beautiful Händel duets which overlaps so cleverly.

I sang "The Lord is My Strength and my Song" from Israel in Egypt. A great one for 2 sopranos and a little less tricky. Here I found a pretty version:

It works very well in a faster tempo and becomes thrilling.