"You can’t make progress until you let yourself sound like you.” - Nathan Gunn
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
- Living the Classical Life: Episode 20
Grammy-winning singer Nathan Gunn has made a reputation around the world as one of the most exciting and in-demand baritones of the day and has appeared with the world's major opera houses and orchestras. He opens up about the world and magic of stage, the psychology and survival of the performer, the musician's breaking free financially, and breaking down barriers in every sense.
More at LivingTheClassicalLife.com
“What grows slowly grows well.” How very true, and not just for singers.
I once met Nathan and his equally talented wife backstage at the 92 St Y. Fantastic performance. And I asked him to autograph a program for a dying friend; I gave the program to my friend, and she was thrilled, but died a short time later. It was a very kind gesture by Gunn.
I had the pleasure to meet him in person after a small gig at Carnegie Hall, even nicer in person. He's so quotable:
"Perform where you make the best art. Wherever you do your best work, that's where you belong, and that's where you should be. Your goal should not be, in the end, to sing at the MET"
"Recordings are just a shadow of the art. They aren't what we do"
"Good music is having no barriers between the audience and what we're trying to communicate to them."
"Music is producing a thought clear enough for the people who are listening to you to understand"
"The mystery about singing is when you do it right you don't hear what other people hear"
"Conducting is easy because your back is against the audience. Singing is hard because you're facing the audience and you are the instrument. Your entire body resonates and some [performers] just don't like that"
"Success is how you define it - wherever you make the biggest impact on humanity, that's when you're successful - success is ironic because you're setting up the people behind you so they can have something sustainable - I'm holding this for you until you can hold it and then I'll go away"
"You cannot really make progress until you're okay with yourself. You can't make progress until you allow yourself to sound like you"
Thank you for posting these. He really is quite quotable.
Gunn is such a down to earth guy. Effective advocate for our time.
He has a very pleasing speaking voice.
& he churns out so many interesting ideas. "Perform where you make the best art." There's a lot there to reflect upon.
I love his description of " good music" as seemingly coming up out of the earth. I've said forever that some songs seem as they they were just somewhere under a rock, waiting for it to be turned over so they could be found.
Outstanding interview.
Thanks for watching, Leighton Smith!
Sustained talking? Just like the Music Man!!! I LOVE it!! And, I love everything about Nathan Gunn.
Ice creeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!!!
Man I enjoy this interview series so much!
And thank you again, seeing Nathan Gunn on youtube singing Camelot,,,"if ever I would leave you " ,,,helped me find my voice.
Plus all the other roles since then that show such diversity.
A magnificent voice alway's.
Another splendid interview!
Wonderful, insightful and very inspiring.
Loved it.
I appreciate how you associate music with humanity and life as well as talking about the technical side and things that only musicians can relate to. I really like this holistic view that you have which is missed and rare these days. On the other hand, the pop culture is going the exact opposite direction. It would be interesting to know your guests' take on this and how classical music differs from almost all other genres but especially pop.
@@LivingtheClassicalLife It's a long story... Generally, it's going opposite direction with its message. Pop music is not leading its audience to a healthy way of thinking or living - popstars whom are role models for many (children to adults) are not living a healthy life either. Many of them die young due to drug overdose or similar causes. Ofcourse there are few exceptions. Classical musicians/composers on the other hand seem to be very different. Mostly, they're not chasing money at any cost. Beethoven for example could be financially safe but he chose a different path which is a message itself. Ofcourse there are exceptions in classical music world as well. I tried to keep it brief... :)
@@LivingtheClassicalLife That's also a good question Peter. Also, it would be interesting to know their answers to the questions like: In what ways is classical music different from the other genres (except for the technical elements)? Does classical music have a different message? or is classical music "deeper" than other genres? or more interestingly, what's the difference between the lifestyle of a classical musician vs. a say popstar?
Because we all know that it's a more challenging and complicated journey to become a classical musician and it's really an endless road. There are so many different aspects to it that we don't really find in genres like pop. That's probably why some people prefer term "serious music" to classical music. So I believe that the artists that you invite would have interesting answers and thoughts on this.
@@LivingtheClassicalLife Thank you!
Speaking serious truth and vulnerability
Another interesting interview in this series; thank you! Mr. Gunn has a great speaking voice for voice-overs or narrating documentaries if he ever gets tired of performing. I find the remarks about clapping interesting; I know it is not "correct" to applaud between movements of a concerto or symphony, but w/ a jazz ensemble, after each member does his solo thing in a piece there is clapping in appreciation. Seems to me that a great place for this in the classical repertoire would be following the harpsichord solo in the first movement of the Bach Brandenburg 5.
I discovered your talent on UA-cam, Carousel, Mandy Potemkin?, this video too. Very impressed with your range of talents!
Beautiful man and the voice is Paradise.
First heard him singing If “Ever I would Love You” CAMELOT on youtube.
Resonated.
Thanks for watching, Joseph Happ!
Thank you for watching!
I’ve been a longtime fan of your channel!
Question, the picture quality is wonderful. What equipment do you guys use?
Thanks for being a fan, and for your question, Jake Stamatis! We use RED Cameras (www.red.com/) almost exclusively.
Do a performance on UA-cam! Young people of all races are discovering new music to them. Chris Stapleton has gathered a huge new audience, live version of Tennessee Whiskey, opera and classical pieces blow their minds.
39:20 wow
The audio for Zsolt is a bit on the soft side here.
@@LivingtheClassicalLife 😂 made me chuckle. You guys do a great job despite the low budget.