New Hero of the High C’s

Peruvian-born tenor Juan Diego Flórez, 35, sang "La Fille du Régiment" at the Metropolitan Opera last week, and was cheered wildly after the showpiece aria "Ah! Mes Amis," with its nine high C's. He then sang an encore, hitherto banned at the Met, with a single exception: Luciano Pavarotti during a performance of "Tosca" in 1994. Flórez spoke with NEWSWEEK's David Gates.

Why have you been the one to break the ban on encores?
I don't know. But since I began singing this opera the public has asked me for an encore, first at La Scala last year, then abroad, even in Tokyo. The word spreads, and it becomes like a tradition. At La Scala I didn't know I was breaking a ban of 75 years. It's better not to know.

Are you hurt now if they don't want an encore?
No, no, no. Because sometimes you're glad you're not doing all those C's again.

Is "Ah! Mes Amis" really as difficult as everyone says?
My repertoire is the bel canto and the high tenor, and in that repertoire everything's difficult. But for me, this piece is not extremely difficult, and often I quite enjoy singing it.

As a teenager, you had a different repertoire.
Yes, in Peru I had my rock band. I played guitar, keyboards, sang—I played the drums sometimes.

What kind of guitar?
I don't remember, because it was a cheap one. I didn't have money to buy a Fender. Something without a brand, maybe.

Do you perform tonight?
No. I'm doing an interview with [costar] Natalie Dessay at the Metropolitan Opera Guild. That's my performance for tonight.

© 2008