Aretha Franklin, whose pop eye has wandered over to opera from time to time, says she wants to find and develop a budding opera star.
Franklin tells NPR that she will sign the singer, or singers, to her record label and give other career assistance.
The soul singer doesn't specify exactly what she's listening or looking for in emerging talent between the ages of 18 and 40, but tells NPR:
Some of the older classical singers like Jessye Norman, Leontyne [Price] and Barbara Hendricks are retiring, they're not singing anymore, and I'd like to see some younger singers come along and take their place.”
A resume, head shot and a demo recording are all applicants need send.
The address: Aretha's Records, c/o Thav, Gross, Steinway & Bennett, 30150 Telegraph Road, Bingham Farms, MI 48012.
Photo by Ryan Arrowsmith (http://flickr.com/photos/ryanarrowsmith/470200423/) [CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
