Tulsa World, OK
Language no longer a barrier for ‘La Boheme’ tenor
SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World
Yeghishe Manucharyan (right) performs during rehearsal of Tulsa
Opera’s production of "La Boheme." -Photo
By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
10/5/2008
Last Modified: 10/5/2008 3:51 AM
It took tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan a few years to learn what he was
supposed to do when he appeared in his first American production of
"La Boheme."
The Armenian-born singer, who is singing as Rodolfo in Tulsa Opera’s
production of Puccini’s beloved opera, came to the U.S. in 1999 to
study at Boston University.
"Of course, at that time, my English was zero ‘ less than zero," he
said, smiling. "The director would try to explain to me what he wanted
me to do, but all I could understand was when he wanted me to walk to
the left or the right, because he would point.
"I knew he wanted me to copy the actions of the tenor in the show’s
second cast, but for me it was impossible because I couldn’t
understand," Manucharyan said. "I knew the role, so I did what I knew
to do for the role. And it worked, although it was very different from
what the director wanted."
Several years later, Manucharyan was preparing for a role with New
York City Opera, and the same director from that Boston University
production was there.
"So I finally got to ask him, ‘What did you really want me to do back
in 1999?’ " he said, laughing.
Manucharyan’s English has greatly improved, and his career in opera
has flourished as well. He has sung leading roles for the Opera
Orchestra of New York, Toledo Opera, Minnesota Opera and San Diego
Opera.
He’s also joined the ranks of the Metropolitan Opera, serving as a
cover singer in a November production of Gluck’s "Iphigenie en
Tauride."
"That first day was incredible," he said. "You walk through the halls
and see all these famous people. And having (Placido) Domingo in the
cast was so great. Being able to watch him, to see all the little
details he brings to a performance, it made you realize why he is the
master."
Manucharyan is like a great many people when he calls "La Boheme" his
favorite opera. Puccini’s tale of young artists in Paris, their
struggles to survive the poverty in which they live and the emotional
turmoil of love, has been one of the most beloved works of lyric
theater since it was first performed in 1896.
"But it is rough for the tenor," he said. "You’re on stage for most of
the four acts, and the role sits very high in the voice."
Manucharyan always expected to have a career in music.
"I have sung all my life, but it was mostly Armenian folk or pop
music," he said. "I enjoyed it, but I thought if I was going to be a
serious musician, I would need to learn an instrument. So I began to
study French horn."
Manucharyan did well enough with this often intractable instrument to
earn principal positions with orchestras in his native country. Then,
one day his singing was overheard by some opera singers.
"And they began asking me, why wasn’t I singing opera?" he said. "So I
decided to enter this contest, where I would have to sing one opera
aria and some Armenian songs."
Manucharyan won the contest, "and so I became an opera singer," he
said.
"Armenia is a small country, and so when I performed there, I would
look down in the pit and see everyone I had been playing with, as a
member of the orchestra.
"I miss playing the French horn, because it is a beautiful
instrument," he said. "But what you have to do to play it isn’t good
for singing."
`LA BOHEME’ BY TULSA OPERA
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12
Where: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.
Tickets: $20-$95, available by calling 596-7111, or online at
tulsaworld.com/mytix