Edgard E. Aoun: The Lebanese Tenor

Opera is said to have generated in Florence, Italy in the 16th century with the earliest examples of Peri and Monteverdi. It's a drama set to music to be sung with instruments accompanied by singers usually in costumes. Opera was for the royal families and for the elite of societies, especially in Lebanon. It wasn't until June 12, 1999, when the late Luciano Pavarotti made his first debut in the only Arab country, Lebanon, that opera hit its high note locally and became a sensation for all alike. Since then, Lebanese opera singers starting blooming out of nowhere! Edgard Eid Aoun is an immense example. Born in 1967 in Rmeil, Ashrafieh, Edgard is a source of national pride; he has brought the success of Lebanon to major European countries as well as America.

Aoun left Lebanon Lebanon at a very young age to pursue his dream in opera; apart from his oriental music lessons with the great Zaki Nassif and Fouad Awad from 1986 till 1988, he participated in masterclasses with Docente Victoria de Los Angeles in Sienna, Italy at the Chigiana Academia. He continued taking private lessons with Allain Vanzo and Jean-Marie Siougos in France, while still perusing his vocal techniques with Badiha Sabra Haddad in Lebanon.

To perfect his tune, he studied privately with Valentin Peytchinov at the Julliard School in New York, and he ended his studies with Robert Londis in Washington D.C in 2002.

Having performed in several countries, with his name and style engraved in the minds and hearts of many people, Edgard has certainly proved to the world that a man with a dream can achieve anything with a lot of hard work and ever more determination. Beyond his success as an opera singer, remains his deep passion for what he does; he certainly does love music more than anything else; "I don't work for music, It's not my job. I sing because I love opera. The career doesn't mean anything to me; when money comes into it, it becomes cheap. I just love opera. I have chosen it because it is educational and cultural."

This love affair began at an early age. "What is important is that in your life there should be hope. I was 5 years old when I used to sing in front of 2000 people at the Mar-Elias church in Antelias. Because of my strong belief in God, I used to sing Taala Baynana and Outrouki Makanaki, and trust me, confronting the church public is very difficult because church-goers judge you in silence. My existence in the church gives me peace. I am always happy when I am singing."

Apart from having the voice, Aoun believes that the next most important thing in singing opera is simply charisma. " I prefer Placido Domingo's voice to Pavarotti's, but the difference between the two is the charisma Pavarotti had; when he opened his mouth, the whole world knelt in front of him. When I had a concert in the United States with 25 other people, I didn't have a very strong technique, but I was the most powerful in presence and that's why I attracted the audience."

Edgard has already recorded two C.D's; the first one was in 2000 called Apres un Reve, and the second one in 2005 Pourquoi me Reveiller.

His C.D's include a selection of famous arias such Una Furtiva Lagrima by Gaetano Donizetti, La Donna e Mobile by Giuseppe Verdi, E Lucevan Le Stelle and Recondita Armonia by Giacomo Puccini, as well as O Lola by Pietro Mascagni.

He plans to complete a third C.D with his own production. "It's a very popular techno C with old Spanish songs sung in opera. It's time to show really good new music to the Lebanese public. I want video clips with opera; I want to show the world that classical music is beautiful; I want to educate the young people about opera."

According to Aoun, the Lebanese, both young and old, enjoy classical music and opera in particular. "The Lebanese audience appreciates opera music more than you think; even the young generation is taking to it, but it's the media and the publishers that are making it un-commercial; the media is only interested in cheap songs."

Aoun believes that the key to success is two-fold; maintaining balance in your life and knowing yourself. And finally, a precious piece of advice from the Lebanese tenor to all young hopeful Lebanese opera singers, "keep on studying no matter what. You have to struggle, no goof thing comes easy and opera is good music. Go abroad and take masterclasses, it's very important. Opera is very sacred and I don't accept hearing opera sung in the wrong way and neither should you."

***Interview done in 2007