Transcribe
Translate
Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987
1981-10-22 ""Met star charges discrimination"" Page 2
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
"Met Star charges discrimination" which has been sung at the Met only by bassos of top stature. Actually, Estes has been recognized as an outstanding Boris since his debut in the role in Germany in 1975. He is one of the few singers outside Russia to sing Boris in the original Russian. "When I won third prize in the Tchaikovsky Competition 15 years ago, there was still discrimination. It was difficult for a black artist - and it still is no matter what people say about all doors being open to blacks now." Estes said on his recent return from Europe. While in London, he auditioned for the role of Wotan for conductor Sir Georg Soiti and director Peter Hall for their new production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle for the Bayreuth Festival in Germany in 1983. "Soiti likes me but Peter Hall turned me down even though I've already sung Wotan at Bayreuth and people who had been coming there to hear Wagner's 'Ring' for 50 years told me I was the best," Estes said "And I'm going to sing Wotan in 'Die Walkure' at the Metropolitan next season "PETER HALL is opposed to blacks in white roles. Perhaps England is the most difficult for black artists, especially men. I've sung in all the major opera houses of the world with the exception of London's Convent Garden." (In London Hall told UPI he turned Estes down for Bayreuth because "having auditioned him. I do not think he is appropriate for the interpretation of Wotan I shall require in my production of "The Ring'" Her also noted that he has staged both Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" and Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker" with black casts at London's National Theatre of which Hall is director) Estes said his personal reaction to what he construes as a rebuff "is one of disappointment, frustration and sadness." "But I let it motivate me to be a stronger person . I'm not bitter or militant. I try to relieve the situation through communication. But I feel it's an artistic tragedy that in a field as beautiful as music people are denied sharing their gifts with people around the world because they're negro." ESTES SAID he longs for the day when there will be blacks in policy making positions in American opera companies and symphony orchestras. "We need people who are sympathetic to our cause and will fight for us. We need black managers and black critics. We need all this if blacks are to be a part of the mainstream of American arts. I'm out there fighting for young black artists, especially men who don't get as many opportunities as women." Estes posted out that black artists can use light makeup in opera to make them appear white and most are willing to do it. "It was difficult for a black artist - and it still is ,... -- Simon Estes "But for 90% of my roles I'm not asked to use light makeup" he said "The music is the important thing anyway, not the drama. The conductor, not the producer should have the final say on such matters." GRANDSON of a slave, Estes was born to one of the few black families lies in Centerville. He enrolled at the University of Iowa in the hope of becoming a doctor and joined a campus choral group where he caught the ear of voice teacher Charles Kellis. When Estes was in his third year of pre-med, Kellis arranged an audition for his protege at New York's Julliard School, where he won a full vocal scholarship. In 1964 he auditioned in Germany and won a contract with the Berlin Opera. He won third prize in the annual vocal competition in Munich in 1965 and entered the Moscow competition the following year. The prize he won there gave his career in the United States "something of a lift," he recalled. "I was invited to sing at the White House by President Johnson. I had performances at the Tanglewood (Mass.) Music Festival. I sang at the Hollywood Bowl. But mainly I did rectials with some orchestral dates thrown in. What I really wanted was to sing opera but I didn't get a chance. p.2 (of 2) HAWK EYE 10/22/81
Saving...
prev
next
"Met Star charges discrimination" which has been sung at the Met only by bassos of top stature. Actually, Estes has been recognized as an outstanding Boris since his debut in the role in Germany in 1975. He is one of the few singers outside Russia to sing Boris in the original Russian. "When I won third prize in the Tchaikovsky Competition 15 years ago, there was still discrimination. It was difficult for a black artist - and it still is no matter what people say about all doors being open to blacks now." Estes said on his recent return from Europe. While in London, he auditioned for the role of Wotan for conductor Sir Georg Soiti and director Peter Hall for their new production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle for the Bayreuth Festival in Germany in 1983. "Soiti likes me but Peter Hall turned me down even though I've already sung Wotan at Bayreuth and people who had been coming there to hear Wagner's 'Ring' for 50 years told me I was the best," Estes said "And I'm going to sing Wotan in 'Die Walkure' at the Metropolitan next season "PETER HALL is opposed to blacks in white roles. Perhaps England is the most difficult for black artists, especially men. I've sung in all the major opera houses of the world with the exception of London's Convent Garden." (In London Hall told UPI he turned Estes down for Bayreuth because "having auditioned him. I do not think he is appropriate for the interpretation of Wotan I shall require in my production of "The Ring'" Her also noted that he has staged both Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" and Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker" with black casts at London's National Theatre of which Hall is director) Estes said his personal reaction to what he construes as a rebuff "is one of disappointment, frustration and sadness." "But I let it motivate me to be a stronger person . I'm not bitter or militant. I try to relieve the situation through communication. But I feel it's an artistic tragedy that in a field as beautiful as music people are denied sharing their gifts with people around the world because they're negro." ESTES SAID he longs for the day when there will be blacks in policy making positions in American opera companies and symphony orchestras. "We need people who are sympathetic to our cause and will fight for us. We need black managers and black critics. We need all this if blacks are to be a part of the mainstream of American arts. I'm out there fighting for young black artists, especially men who don't get as many opportunities as women." Estes posted out that black artists can use light makeup in opera to make them appear white and most are willing to do it. "It was difficult for a black artist - and it still is ,... -- Simon Estes "But for 90% of my roles I'm not asked to use light makeup" he said "The music is the important thing anyway, not the drama. The conductor, not the producer should have the final say on such matters." GRANDSON of a slave, Estes was born to one of the few black families lies in Centerville. He enrolled at the University of Iowa in the hope of becoming a doctor and joined a campus choral group where he caught the ear of voice teacher Charles Kellis. When Estes was in his third year of pre-med, Kellis arranged an audition for his protege at New York's Julliard School, where he won a full vocal scholarship. In 1964 he auditioned in Germany and won a contract with the Berlin Opera. He won third prize in the annual vocal competition in Munich in 1965 and entered the Moscow competition the following year. The prize he won there gave his career in the United States "something of a lift," he recalled. "I was invited to sing at the White House by President Johnson. I had performances at the Tanglewood (Mass.) Music Festival. I sang at the Hollywood Bowl. But mainly I did rectials with some orchestral dates thrown in. What I really wanted was to sing opera but I didn't get a chance. p.2 (of 2) HAWK EYE 10/22/81
Campus Culture
sidebar
