Generosity In Singing

That there is a self-indulgent component to all great singing is undeniable. But in authentic art, self-indulgence is freely transformed into a genuine concern and care for the audience—that is, a great singer, however passionate he may be about his art, is always in intimate contact with his listeners, and gives to them generously. When I was teaching and touring with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, I was often struck by the strong emotions that he aroused in both his female and male fans. They seemed to be deeply touched not only by the simple beauty and tenderness of his singing, but also by his generous attitude toward them. When Andrea sings, one gets the sense that he is expressing very private feelings, and that he is offering them freely as a personal gift to you. This is artistic generosity in action and is a vital component of all great art.

Some critics might argue that a singer’s artistic goal has been reached if a listener simply enjoys the experience; that it really doesn’t matter whether or not the singer cares about the listener at all. I would argue that if a listener truly enjoys a performance, then the singer must necessarily care about the audience, and that this is a universal principle of all poignant singing. Another point to keep in mind is that an exceptional singer is not simply an entertainer, however entertaining he may be. An entertainer performs only for his audience in order to meet their conscious need for excitement, romance, sentimentality, nostalgia, and so on.

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