Piotr Beczala: My wife gave it all up for me
mainBayreuth’s new Lohengrin likes to share the credit. From a couples interview:
At age 50, Piotr Beczala is one of the biggest opera stars, performs on the world’s biggest stages as a lyric tenor, and counts Anna Netrebko among his circle of friends. He modestly attributes his success to his wife Katarzyna, a fellow Pole who gave up her own opera singing career for him. An interview with the two on the power of love, the strengths of taking it slow, and why Mrs. Beczala dreams of goats….
Katarzyna Bak-Beczala: It’s important to mention that I was also a singer. I gave up my career for Piotr. It was easy for me, because I am still working in art through him. I sing with him, I breathe with him and – of course – I criticize him, too. Singers can’t hear themselves. Piotr also knows that I only say something if I’m sure that he can do better.
Piotr Beczala: She always goes for the jugular and ends up saying too much. Then I just go.
Katarzyna Bak-Beczala: He always thinks that, and he always says that. But I have to say, we’ve been married for 26 years now and I’m still learning how to speak to him. It’s the hardest thing, because I know that every artist is, shall we say, very sensitive. I need to wait for the right moment and find the right words to reach him. I don’t want to hurt him, of course.
Piotr Beczala: Thank God I’m a half-decent singer… (laughing)
More here.
I believe Placido Domingo’s wife gave up her career also to raise a family.
It must be a tremendous sacrifice to put in all that work in training and then give it up
Not to mention if one day hubby chooses to take flight for fresher and younger.
Ahem JK
Happens a lot!! No guarantees in life; just do what you think is right.
Piotr Beczala: […]The problem is, I can’t hear myself. Singers’ greatest tragedy is that they never get to enjoy the sound of their own voices.
Katarzyna Bak-Beczala: I don’t know any singers who like hearing themselves anyway. Many people hear recordings and say: “That isn’t me!”
I remember reading an interview with Leontyne Price where she said that sometimes she will hear a recording of herself when she was really in top form, and she thinks it’s just about the most beautiful sound she could ever hear. (No argument from me on that score 🙂 )
Did she really? If she did then the statement was stupid, indulgent and self regarding to say the least. Indulgent and self regarding is how her singing came across, often having little to nothing to do with what underlined the music entrusted her.
We can always count on you <3