Finding My Voice: Playing the fool, and other triumphs!

by Jonathan Veira, Jonathan Veira

For the last 25 years Jonathan Veira has been a star of the world of opera, handling a wide range of character parts as a comic baritone. A virtuoso musician and delightful raconteur, with skills on keyboard and guitar, he also tours with an extremely popular one man show. He is a regular guest at Spring Harvest, where his shows are always crammed to capacity. In 2012 he will be performing throughout SH. Jonathan Veira appears regularly at Glyndebourne and other top operatic venues, and has made many successful recordings with Elevation and other labels: he has been conducted by Bernard Haitink. He has a wonderful repertoire of stories, and is a keen observer of the foibles of the operatic world. He is also a deeply committed Christian.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Helen]

Such fun! Really enjoyed this collection of tales from Jonathan Veira's life.

[Rob Barron]

Jonathan Veira is a rarity, one who can sing like a rich dream, have opera audiences in rapt applause and us 'ordinary folk' hooked on his every word and song during his fantastic 'Audience with....' concerts.

His life is colourful and enjoyable yet has had highs like mountains and lows like the darkest denizens of the deep. In this great autobiography he shares all points of life with equal and ready openness and enthusiasm. His life as an opera singer, his miraculous (his doctor's own words!) recovery from a viral coma, his exploits all over the world and his shenanigans as a schoolboy who most certainly didn't have any inclinations towards become a bass-baritone. A bass electric guitar would have done!

This is a gem of a book that will keep you enthralled throughout and desperate to read part 2. So come on JV, get writing :0)

[K.C. Murdarasi]

If you've seen a Jonathan Veira show, the book is very similar. It's a rambling but entertaining journey through his career. It's not all in a sensible order; it's more conversational in style, with one anecdote leading to another. He's had an interesting life, and he makes his funny stories about opera accessible even for non-opera buffs. (I think I've seen one opera in my life.)

[Ruth]

JV has an amazing testimony and a great sense of humour. Really enjoyed this book.