Actually, I don't disagree with anything anyone has said, especially about the precision and rigorous training needed to sing classical music. And I'm aware of the fact that even many Broadway performers who don't sound operatic when thy sing, have had classical training.
My point is that while nobody on this thread may have implied that theater is a lesser art form, I have indeed encountered those who feel that way. And it burns my biscuits.
It's snobbery pure and simple.
Incidentally, while few would disagree that classical singing is more difficult to do properly than jazz, you're unlikely to find as many who are willing to say that classical instrument performance is more difficult than Jazz.
No less an authority than Wynton Marsalis who has won Grammys in both disciplines, called such an assertion, bunk.
The great Billy Taylor who is both a top-flight musician and music historian, calls Jazz American classical music and he makes a very convincing case that jazz and classical music are very similar in their complexity.
Forgive the rant, but Americans need to get over the notion that all culture comes from Europe. Even most Europeans no longer believe that. And there are also probably more jazz fans in Europe than the U.S.
Updated On: 7/19/05 at 03:09 PM
.gif?width=300)
