Find
your true voice through classical singing lessons in a relaxed friendly
atmosphere, improve your power and technique whether you are a beginner
or a professional. The
technique comes from Italy and dates back over 160 years. I am
continuing the tradition by teaching the same method that my Father
taught me.
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Tenor Eduardo Asquez
was born on 7 June 1919 in La Linea de Concepci the province of CĄdiz,
Spain. His father, settled in Gibraltar, was of English origins
(Asquith); his mother was Spanish. As the family moved to Morocco, the
mother discovered her son's vocal abilities and had him study singing.
He enrolled at the Conservatory of Casablanca under Maestro Pigem, and
eventually completed his studies in France (Paris) and Italy.
Asquez came to Britain in 1950 and became here the leading tenor in the
Carl Rosa Opera Company, Britain's oldest opera company, which was on
the road 30 weeks a year, performing seven operas a week. He was
particularly noted as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the Duke in Rigoletto
(a role he performed over 200 times) and Faust in the opera of the same
name.
Apart from his career as a singer, he was also reputed for his vocal
classes and trained a significant amount of singers, including Valerie
Masterson, Patrick Powers, Marie Collier, Pauline Tinsley, Anthony
Micheals-Moore, Neill Archer and Vivien Tierny. When the Carl Rosa Opera
Company, heavily dependent on aid from the Arts Council, suffered a
financial crisis as subventions were withdrawn, Asquez was forced to
leave and sang for a while in musicals and on the radio. The situation
was not satisfactory and Asquez decided to rely more on his teaching. He
became known not only for helping young singers on their way, but was
in fact also considered an expert in recovering voices in distress.
An anecdote has it that even Maria Callas sought out Asquez when she
experienced vocal problems. She had three classes with the tenor, who
adviced her to stop singing for at least six months, allowing Asquez to
reline her voice and re-build it. Unfortunately her management did not
take this very well and insisted on her returning to the stage. The rest
is history.
Eduardo Asquez passed away 20th September 1998 at the age of 79. |