Oberlin Portrait: Arthur Espiritu

As a high school student in Lousiana, artist diploma candidate Arthur Espiritu anticipated a career as a dentist or a pilot. A member of the Junior Air Force ROTC, he won a grant to study aerospace and technology at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Concurrently, his high school's choir director suggested he enter a statewide high school voice competition. After all, Arthur had always had a knack for singing.

Arthur won first prize.

One of the competition's judges was Dr. Raquel Cortina, a professor of voice at the University of New Orleans. She invited Arthur to audition for the university, and his career plans changed “within a week.”

“I don't feel like I chose music, or chose to be a singer,” Arthur says. “I feel like it chose me.”

After earning his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of New Orleans, Dr. Cortina encouraged Arthur to audition at Oberlin and other major voice programs. He sang in a master class in New Orleans with Oberlin Professor of Singing Richard Miller and decided that Oberlin was the place to be.

Arthur has enjoyed many successes at the Conservatory. He was a winner in the 2003-04 Oberlin Concerto Competition, performing Mozart's Misero! O sogno, O son desto? last November with the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Associate Professor of Conducting Steven Smith.

Arthur began studying the aria at the end of spring semester 2003. After presenting the work-in-progress to Professor Miller and Professor of Accompanying Philip Highfill, all parties decided that the piece was an excellent choice as a concerto entry. The 11-minute concert aria proved to be “one of the most challenging pieces I've ever sung,” says Arthur. “It stays up there in the higher passagio and requires a lot of breath control. If you can sing Mozart, you can sing everything. I believe that.”

Wearing his ubiquitous earphones and his equally constant smile, Arthur recently talked about some of his current and upcoming engagements.

During the first weekend in April, he competed with 50 semi-finalists for the “Singer of the Year” competition at Shreveport Opera in Shreveport, Lousiana. Most of his competition ranged from 30 to 35 years old. Arthur was one of eight finalists and won a cash award. More important, the four judges who heard his A leve-toi soleil from Romeo and Juliet and Firenze from Gianni Schicchi are all artistic administrators of various opera companies, so he is hopeful that many future gigs will be in the offing.

From April through June of 2004, Arthur will sing with the St. Louis Opera, performing the role of Remendado in Carmen and covering the role of Mao in Nixon in China .

Shortly thereafter, Arthur will travel to New Hampshire and Opera North, where he will sing Flute in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream and cover Tibalt in Romeo and Juliet .

Arthur plans to try the “audition route” next fall.

“I'm going to try my luck in auditions for opera companies,” he says. “Just like any other singer, I'm hoping to venture out into the professional world.” Arthur is also considering a doctor of musical arts, which he would begin pursuing in the fall of 2005.

“It's a very lonely life,” Arthur says of singing. “You're away from your family and friends, and you have to be very focused on what you want to do. Singing is so hard, so competitive. Sometimes you want to quit, and then you find yourself practicing the next day.”

A conversation with Arthur Espiritu:

What inspired you to be a musician?

People have always told me I'm very talented and I should pursue this career. Dr. Raquel Cortina pretty much became my second mother as far as musical training is concerned. As a little boy of 20 [laughs], we did a very slow and careful study; you have to let the voice grow and ripen. Dr. Cortina always thought I could have a bright career and future. She pushed me when I was doubtful, and I still study with her sometimes, for minor tune-ups. She knows my voice like the back of her hand.

What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?

That's a tricky one. I've had a lot of discouraging days, believe me. After a really bad audition or if I didn't win a competition or didn't get a part, what I do is really funny. I listen to La Bohème — the whole CD — have a cup of coffee, write in my journal, and then sing. And sing and sing some more. I analyze things; I look back at the things I did wrong and go back and correct them so I won't repeat the same mistakes the next time. If you're in bad voice, you just keep trying. That's how it is. The voice is not an instrument, it's a muscle. You really have to take care of it.

What is the most memorable performance you have seen and why?

I recently saw a concert of Natalie Dessay in Santa Fe. It was her first concert there. It was unbelievable — one of the most beautiful concerts I've heard. She sang an aria from Manon , and her “mad scene” from Lucia brought down the house. I was captivated. She's weird to see onstage — all these odd body movements - but the voice comes out.

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be? What would you perform?

If Alfredo Kraus were alive, I'd do anything. He's my favorite, favorite tenor. He is the perfect example of pure technique and he maintains his vocal integrity. He doesn't let the dramatic tendencies get into his voice. He was known to turn down roles that he didn't think he could do. I admire that. He was singing into his 60s and 70s. His is the perfect example of a long and successful career. That's what I'd like to have - his perfect, solid technique.

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?

Drums. I've always loved playing drums. In high school, I played in marching band and jazz bands and combos and I'd love to get back to it.

If you could not be a musician, what other profession would you choose? What profession would you definitely NOT choose?

I would be a dentist or a pilot. I'm into sports, but I'd never want to be a football coach. It's so demanding — it's a business nowadays. You have to turn around a team in a year, and if you can't do it, they get rid of you. It's high stress.

What do you listen to for inspiration? In your free time?

I listen to my heroes' album — all the great tenors. It's, really dorky — Bjorling, Tucker, Schipa, Lanza. I listen to the old great tenors that I really look up to. When I was an undergrad, my teacher made me listen to them. I was inspired.

What do you like to read?

I just read Left Behind . It's about people who disappear into thin air — an end-of-the-world kind of thing about how God took all the people He believes belong in Heaven. Other people are left behind to suffer the end of the world. In my free time, I like to read Harry Potter novels sometimes, for fun.

What are the three words that best describe you?

Driven, generous, passionate.