The renowned tenor Jose Carreras made a two days visit in Moscow.
He sang twice on Saturday: on the occasion of the 100th anniversary
of the Transsiberian main line and in a closed concert in the State
Kremlin Palace together with Alla Pugatshova, Larissa Dolina, Nikolai
Karatshentsov, Dmitri Kharatyan, Muslim Magomayev and other
Russian pop stars. Jose Carreras granted Vedomosti an interview
before the concert.
Why did you agree to these fairly unusual proposals?
JC - I did it for two reasons: First, I love Russia and try to use every
opportunity to visit. Many of my warmest memories are connected
with Moscow: I have friends here. Second, my compatriot Agustin
Betancourt was one of those who started the construction of the
Transsiberian railroad.
Invited by the czar Alexander I he stayed for good and headed the
Russian railway administration in St. Petersburg. As far as I know
he was even conferred an order of Alexander Nevski. Only most
distinguished persons receive it. These relations between Spain
and Russia are very important.
Over the last years you not only sing, but also devote much time to the
charity leukemia foundation. Would you also like to try your hand at
conducting, producing or teaching, like many of your colleagues?
JC - I wanted to conduct when I was young, but my singing career
prevented these plans. Later I was afraid to start an unfamiliar work.
I had neither an opportunity to conduct, nor experience. Now there
may be a chance to start, but I can't bring myself to do something I
am not sure of. You have to be a professional in any profession. I
don't feel I would be good enough at conducting a symphony
orchestra. But I will think about teaching when I have more time. The
accepted system of master classes does not suit me at all. It is like
conveyor production. The human voice requires individual approach.
I would like to have one student a man, preferably a tenor with
good natural makings. At voice lessons there must be no hurry, the
teacher must fix his attention on the student, warn him against errors
and develop his voice in the right direction.
Is classical music at stadiums a new form of art invented by three
renowned tenors you, Domingo and Pavarotti, or a compromise?
JC - Interesting and complicated question. The open air promotion of
classical music is not an invention of the three tenors, as many people
believe. Remember, for example, Arturo Toskanini's legendary concerts
at the London Madison Square Garden. This kind of concerts existed
long before us three, we just continued and developed this tradition.
If it is a compromise? Yes, to a certain extent. As a matter of fact,
concerts at stadiums are entertainment not art. But let us not forget
that many years the only purpose of music in the European society was
entertainment.
The Three Tenors concerts will take place in the future because people
like them. Next year there will be three or four of them. The work with
Luciano and Placido is a great, incomparable pleasure for me, I look
forward to every concert.
Your tour busy schedule includes seven or eight concerts a month in
different parts of the world. Does it help keep your voice in good
shape? Do you plan programs of concerts and schedule yourself?
JC Yes, I plan performances myself, although it is hard. But I don't
bite off more that I can chew, and give as many concerts as I can
manage.
The human voice is a delicate instrument, one should neither overstrain
it, nor relax. The voice is part of the body, that you should train to
keep in good form. The voice strength depends on throat and diaphragm
muscles. Daily training is necessary, concerts are part of the creative
work, as well as home practice and rehearsals with the orchestra.
Since you plan the schedule yourself, is there a chance to see you
in Moscow again?
JC Certainly. I would like to come here again, and we negotiate from
time to time. It should be a charity concert. The leukemia foundation
and I just can not shut our eyes to the many people in Russia who need
help. Unfortunately, not every project can be fulfilled, but I am
almost sure that sooner or later I will be in Moscow again
