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Articles and Interviews 2005 |
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Berliner Zeitung (April 23, 2005)
How Handsome May a Tenor Be?
On the occasion of his Berlin debut as Pagliaccio, BZ spoke with José Cura, whose looks sometimes even outshine his voice.
(next to the small picture: He is about to kill her: José Cura as Pagliaccio with Nuccia Focile as Nedda.)
Latin-lover alarm at the German Opera! José Cura, 42, one of the most handsome and one of the best tenors in the world, is going to give his Berlin opera debut today as Leoncavallo’s Pagliaccio. However, the guy, who after the dress rehearsal shows up for the BZ interview with wildly tousled hair, shirt and glasses, doesn’t look like an opera divo. And the Argentine indeed isn’t one. Rather, he is fire and spirit, i.e. an enthusiast. A world star with a passion.
Señor Cura, in “Pagliacci” everything revolves around life, art, and how art intrudes on life. Do you know about that kind of thing?
Naturally. What I am doing here is my job. A job that I love very much. But the trick is to know how to establish boundaries, draw the line. Because once you come off stage, you’re a nobody.
What do you do in order to leave the divo behind on the stage?
I’ve been married for 20 years and have three kids. They certainly see to it, that I keep my feet on the ground, that I don’t lose touch with reality. And if I did, they would kick me in the pants and say: come off it!
Pagliaccio is usually (portrayed as) an aging, jealous clown.
We see him as a brutally violent boss. As a type who abuses his power. And says: “I’ll make a star out of you, if you’ll sleep with me.” That kind of thing happens everywhere.
Have you had such offers?
A whole bunch. I declined them very politely--with the argument that I am a happily married man and a father.
(next to the small picture: He is about to kill her: José Cura as Pagliaccio with Nuccia Focile as Nedda)
Have your good looks helped you in the pursuit of your career goals?
If anything, rather the opposite. In the beginning, I was always the erotic tenor, the Sunny Boy, the Latin lover. That was nice, but also a paltry thing. I have been on stage for 30 years and have always been a serious musician. But if you’re rather good-looking, you must be an idiot.
Will you get better with the passing years, like a good wine?
Ask my wife (laughs).
What kind of a wine would you be?
If I were a wine, then a Spanish Rioja. Or an Italian Barolo.
Is getting older difficult?
Up to now, not yet. I am slowly turning grey, my hair is thinning; there’s less of it, but on the other hand more stomach. But my wife says she thinks I look more interesting. Then add the glasses to that. Now people suddenly say: “Hey, he is a pretty good musician.”
You studied conducting, composing, piano and voice. How come you chose singing as your career?
That was the fastest way to feed my family. I got married at 22, became a father at 25 and took the baby along to the fitness studio, where I had a part time job while I was a student. As a tenor, you earn more; that’s it. But my vocation is actually conducting. And I slowly want to get back to that.
You are about to sing in Berlin for the first time. The opera houses here are insolvent. Are you singing for less?
Opera houses all over the world are down and out. I have negotiated a compromise with the management of the Deutsche Oper: I’ll sing my debut for a little less; and instead, I come back repeatedly!
M. Kaden/ translation: Monica B.
Last Updated: Friday, November 16, 2007
© Copyright: Kira
