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Music

Opera – A Tough Business

July 17, 2020

The stars of the opera world - Anna Netrebko, Cecilia Bartoli, Jonas Kaufmann, Rolando Villazon - all started out small against stiff competition. How did they make the great leap onto the world stage?

https://p.dw.com/p/3VUFR

How do you become an opera star? Why do some people make it and others don't? This documentary looks into these questions and presents singers at various stages of their careers, as well as directors, conductors and artistic directors. And it finds a good voice alone is no longer enough to make it as an opera singer. Today, strong nerves and good looks are at least as important, not to mention social networks. Getting a place in the ensemble of an opera house is like hitting the jackpot in the lottery. However, new entrants only gross about 2,000 euros a month - and that after six years of study. Even stagehands earn more.