To Shenyang, a Chinese bass-baritone singer, his name represents a bridge between the opera performer’s Chinese roots and his international reputation.
“My full name, pronounced from first to last (Yang Shen), sounds like a ‘goat’s kidney’ in Chinese,” said Shenyang.
By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly Adam Diegel, star of “Tosca,” now playing at the Seattle Opera, was once told to change careers after a bad audition.
No matter how lyrics are sung or what language they are sung in, there is one sure thing: baritone David Won is a rising star in the international opera world.