Wilson Roberto <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I saw today on Portuguese Television RTPI, the Argentinian tenor Jose
>Cura conducting an orchestra while he was singing "Vesti la giubba",
>from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.  I could hardly believe it.  Is there
>any other example of this kind?

No there is not.  And, IMHO, there shouldn't be.  Conducting and singing at
the same time is a silly stunt.  It's one thing to lead the orchestra in a
Mozart piano concerto, which is more chamber like, and really, composed for
that type of performance.  To conduct a verismo aria while trying to sing
it is another thing altogether.  It's nonsense.

Kevin Sutton
Artistic Director and Conductor
The Helios Ensemble