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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

""Singing, not color, is important: Estes""

CR Gazette - Feb. 1983

Singing, not color, is important: Estes

By Monical Wolf
Gazette staff writer

"Composers wrote for voices not for skin color" says Simon Estes, says Centerville, Iowa, native who is the only black man in the world playing major opera roles. The soft-spoken, world-famous singer says he still fights barriers because he is black.
Last night, Estes made his first appearance with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra. He performed Aleko's Cavatina from "Aleko" by Rachmanioff; "Ella giammai m'amo" from "Don Carlo" by Verdi; "Madmina (Catalogue Aris)" from "Don Giovanni" by Mozart; "Die frist ist um," from "The Flying Dutchman" by Wagner.
The entire program repeats Monday night at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

ESTES HAS SUNG over 92 operatic roles in six languages. He has performed in virtually every major opera house in Europe and many in the United States. The bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York City in 1982.
The engaging man who openly shares his concern for aspiring black musicians -- especially male opera singers -- says he is not bitter about the struggle he has endured because of his skin color. "I don't have one bitter atom in my body, I'm not after revenge. I speak about this (racism) because it is a fact."
Estes told about his struggle to gain a place in the world of opera. He said it's much easier for a black man to get jobs singing in the European opera houses because they are, for the most part, government subsidized. In the United States, he pointed out, most opera houses are supported privately. Many houses would not engage him for fear of losing a major financial contributor who opposes featuring blacks in major roles.
The situation, says Estes, has greatly improved. But one recent incident is still on his mind. He is finally playing the major role of the Nordic god, Wotan, in the opera "Die Walkure" by Wagner. He will play Wotan in Berlin and at the Metropolitan in New York but he will [[italics]]not[[end italics]] play at the famous Bayreuth Wagner Festival.
Estes says he, with his powerful bass-baritone and a remarkable range, has been judged by most conductors to have the ability to be the "greatest Wotan in the world for the next 15 years." But producer, Peter Hall, refuses to let him play the Nordic god at Bayreuth.
Even Georg Solti, conductor of the Chicago Symphony, at first refused to conduct with Estes playing Wotan. But Estes says he had a long talk with Solti and convinced him that "skin color wouldn't make any difference." Even Wagner's grandson, says Estes, is agreeable to his doing the role, but Hall will not change his mind.
Estes would still like to perform as Wotan at the Bayreuth Festival. He says when they first refused him, he struggled with the rejection every day for a year. But, he says, "I got over it."
Estes says he is not averse to being made up lighter for some roles. He says, though, that the European audiences now prefer that he appear just as hey is. "They just want good acting and singing," says Estes.
Estes, who got his own start in opera at the University of Iowa under the guidance of his voice teacher, Charles Kellis, remains interested in exposing others to the world of opera. For that reason and because he had so little money to get through school, he has started two musical scholarships -- one in Centerville and one at the U of I.
Estes subscribes to the idea that it's better to help people while he is still alive instead of giving a lump sum after he dies. "These are living wills instead of dead wills," he says.

ESTES WILL SPEAK and sing at 4 p.m. today at the Bethel A.M.E. church, 512 Sixth St. SE, where his sister, Westella Thompkins is a member. After church, a gathering of about 18 family members will be held at Westella's home. Estes says he is especially excited to see his mother and brother, who reside in Des Moines.
In addition to his symphony[?] duties, church appearance [and?] family gathering, Estes will [?] with school children Monday [?] part of the symphony's "Music[?] Makes You Somebody" program. Estes will talk to them about [his?] training and career, then answer questions. He'll be at W[?] Elementary from 9 to 9:20 [[and at]][?] Harding Junior High from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; and Jefferson [High?] School 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. M[?] day.
Saturday Estes spoke at [a?] luncheon, hosted by the [Cedar?] Rapids/Marion Arts Coum[?] which concluded the Symposium[?] on Arts Education at Kennedy[?] High School.
Tickets for Monday's performance at the Paramount are available[?] from the Symphony Office, [?] Second St. SE, or by calling [?] 8203. Prices are $7.50 and $10[?} MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

[[Photo caption]]
Opera star Simon Estes

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CR Gazette - Feb. 1983 Singing, not color, is important: Estes By Monical Wolf Gazette staff writer "Composers wrote for voices not for skin color" says Simon Estes, says Centerville, Iowa, native who is the only black man in the world playing major opera roles. The soft-spoken, world-famous singer says he still fights barriers because he is black. Last night, Estes made his first appearance with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra. He performed Aleko's Cavatina from "Aleko" by Rachmanioff; "Ella giammai m'amo" from "Don Carlo" by Verdi; "Madmina (Catalogue Aris)" from "Don Giovanni" by Mozart; "Die frist ist um," from "The Flying Dutchman" by Wagner. The entire program repeats Monday night at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. ESTES HAS SUNG over 92 operatic roles in six languages. He has performed in virtually every major opera house in Europe and many in the United States. The bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York City in 1982. The engaging man who openly shares his concern for aspiring black musicians -- especially male opera singers -- says he is not bitter about the struggle he has endured because of his skin color. "I don't have one bitter atom in my body, I'm not after revenge. I speak about this (racism) because it is a fact." Estes told about his struggle to gain a place in the world of opera. He said it's much easier for a black man to get jobs singing in the European opera houses because they are, for the most part, government subsidized. In the United States, he pointed out, most opera houses are supported privately. Many houses would not engage him for fear of losing a major financial contributor who opposes featuring blacks in major roles. The situation, says Estes, has greatly improved. But one recent incident is still on his mind. He is finally playing the major role of the Nordic god, Wotan, in the opera "Die Walkure" by Wagner. He will play Wotan in Berlin and at the Metropolitan in New York but he will [[italics]]not[[end italics]] play at the famous Bayreuth Wagner Festival. Estes says he, with his powerful bass-baritone and a remarkable range, has been judged by most conductors to have the ability to be the "greatest Wotan in the world for the next 15 years." But producer, Peter Hall, refuses to let him play the Nordic god at Bayreuth. Even Georg Solti, conductor of the Chicago Symphony, at first refused to conduct with Estes playing Wotan. But Estes says he had a long talk with Solti and convinced him that "skin color wouldn't make any difference." Even Wagner's grandson, says Estes, is agreeable to his doing the role, but Hall will not change his mind. Estes would still like to perform as Wotan at the Bayreuth Festival. He says when they first refused him, he struggled with the rejection every day for a year. But, he says, "I got over it." Estes says he is not averse to being made up lighter for some roles. He says, though, that the European audiences now prefer that he appear just as hey is. "They just want good acting and singing," says Estes. Estes, who got his own start in opera at the University of Iowa under the guidance of his voice teacher, Charles Kellis, remains interested in exposing others to the world of opera. For that reason and because he had so little money to get through school, he has started two musical scholarships -- one in Centerville and one at the U of I. Estes subscribes to the idea that it's better to help people while he is still alive instead of giving a lump sum after he dies. "These are living wills instead of dead wills," he says. ESTES WILL SPEAK and sing at 4 p.m. today at the Bethel A.M.E. church, 512 Sixth St. SE, where his sister, Westella Thompkins is a member. After church, a gathering of about 18 family members will be held at Westella's home. Estes says he is especially excited to see his mother and brother, who reside in Des Moines. In addition to his symphony[?] duties, church appearance [and?] family gathering, Estes will [?] with school children Monday [?] part of the symphony's "Music[?] Makes You Somebody" program. Estes will talk to them about [his?] training and career, then answer questions. He'll be at W[?] Elementary from 9 to 9:20 [[and at]][?] Harding Junior High from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; and Jefferson [High?] School 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. M[?] day. Saturday Estes spoke at [a?] luncheon, hosted by the [Cedar?] Rapids/Marion Arts Coum[?] which concluded the Symposium[?] on Arts Education at Kennedy[?] High School. Tickets for Monday's performance at the Paramount are available[?] from the Symphony Office, [?] Second St. SE, or by calling [?] 8203. Prices are $7.50 and $10[?} MasterCard and Visa are accepted. [[Photo caption]] Opera star Simon Estes