Acknowledgements
Preface
Pierre Boulez, or "The Incorruptible"
Robert Carsen, or building the bridge between head and heart
Patrice Chéreau, or truth, opera and the director: in Wagner's footsteps
William Christie, or going for baroque
James Conlon, or surrendering your soul
Natalie Dessay, or healing the sick voice
Joyce DiDonato, or the wider connection
Plácido Domingo, or Olympics for the voice
Renée Fleming, or balancing on the high wire
Ferruccio Furlanetto, or functioning as a filter
Kasper Bech Holten, or the emotional fitness center
Simon Keenlyside, or a workingman talks about traffic control
Waltraud Meier, or the sweatshirt must fit
Heidi Grant Murphy, or sopranoed - with children
Kent Nagano, or remaining relevant
Seiji Ozawa, or the art of managing the orchestra
Samuel Ramey, or the lion at twilight
Esa-Pekka Salonen, or new opera and festival opera
Jose Van Dam, or humility, the elite and the caddies
Rolando Villazón, or the paradox of the performer
Index
