Beyond the Aria

Beyond the Aria provides singers with the tools to develop an inquisitive and analytical mindset about the artistic details found in the scores. Neal Goren takes singers through a careful reading of the clues provided by the librettist and composer informed by performance practice, empowering singers to make their own valid artistic choices.

Neal Goren was the founder and artistic director of Gotham Chamber Opera, which popularized and legitimized the formerly ignored genre of chamber opera. Goren's newest opera venture is Catapult Opera. Goren has conducted standard operas, non-standard operas, and premieres throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. As a recital accompanist, Goren has concertized extensively with Leontyne Price, among others. He is an associate professor at Mannes College, The New School for Music, and a frequent judge of national and international vocal competitions. His writings on opera and the arts have appeared in numerous books and periodicals.

Introduction Why you want artistic self-empowerment Why you have been denied it Notes to coach-accompanists and aspiring conductors Part I - Tools for Musical Self-empowerment Chapter 1: Know Where You're Going Chapter 2 Where to Begin: Text Analysis and Expression Marks Chapter 3: Ornamentation and Recitative Part II - Performance Practice Chapter 4: Performance Practice: Overview Chapter 5: Song Interpretation Chapter 6: Abstract Music and Vocalizes Chapter 7: Performance Practice: Conclusion Part III - Musical musings Chapter 8: Some vexing musical examples Chapter 9: The (in)validity of tradition in vocal music Chapter 10: Professional artistic collaboration strategies Chapter 11: Audition Strategies Chapter 12: Maria Callas: self-effacing purist Part IV - Six Example Analyses Chapter 13: Six Example Analyses "Mi chiamano Mimi", from La Bohème by Puccini "Se come voi piccina", from Le villi by Puccini "All'afflitto e dolce il pianto", from Roberto Devereux by Donizetti "Va, laisse couler mes larmes", from Werther by Massenet "Il lacerato spirito", from Simon Boccanegra by Verdi Du bist wie eine Blume, Lied by Schumann Part V - Interviews with great singing actors Chapter 14: Harolyn Blackwell Chapter 15: Barbara Hannigan Chapter 16: Audra McDonald Chapter 17: Diana Soviero Chapter 18: Christa Ludwig Chapter 19: Iestyn Davies Chapter 20: Jonas Kaufman Chapter 21: Davóne Tines