13 November 2009

Peter Rose speaks about his up-coming roles.

View Peter Rose's profile

In December you’re singing Ochs (Rosenkavalier) at Covent Garden. How did he become such a signature role for you?
Actually, I’m the accidental Ochs. Years ago Michael Langdon, another famous Ochs, said he could see me doing Ochs and Osmin. I remember thinking, ‘they’re not for me. I haven’t got that sort of voice’, whereas those have become the two roles I do most frequently. Ochs terrified me - it’s immense, very wordy, and tricky musically as well.

You enjoy it now, though?
Yes. There’s always something else you can bring to it, whether it’s more Viennese dialect or just having a slightly different perspective on the character. So often he can be a cardboard cutout, whereas I want to make him even more three-dimensional.

This season you’re singing your first Falstaff, in Seattle. Do you find the two roles complement each other?
Well, it's funny because I was actually singing Ochs in Seattle in 2006 when the general director said to me, “If I asked you what you would like to sing, what would it be?” My answer was Falstaff because there’s a Falstaffian element in Ochs and I was thinking of Italian repertoire. I’m glad I said that, because it’s going to be quite challenging going in a slightly different musical and vocal direction from the Germanic repertoire I spend most of my time doing.

What other exciting future projects?
My La Scala debut in 2011, as Ochs.

Roles you’d still like to sing?
Bluebeard (Bluebeard’s Castle) and Barack (Die Frau Ohne Schatten).

If a role were created for you?
Comedy would obviously be appealing, but I try not to say no to serious stuff because it’s rewarding in a completely different way.

Best musical advice received?
It was years ago, when I didn’t think I was very good because I was comparing myself with established singers like Ghiaurov. My singing teacher said, “it’s always better to be Peter Rose no.1 than Nicolai Ghiaurov no.2”

Worst onstage experience?
In my late twenties, having a laughter attack over the soprano’s costume. It was almost impossible to sing. Maybe I shouldn’t advertise that. It was a one-off…

© Charlotte Gardner