Marenzi, who was taught by the legendary baritone Tito Gobbi and has sung with the best, also believes Asia is turning out fine talent that needs nurturing.
"After a while I decided I like Taiwan and they offered me a good position, so I stayed here."
Asked why he was considered a great singer, Marenzi said: "I was born with a great talent!" and went into a long discourse about the need for breath, a great larynx and a "mask," at the front of the face, which shapes the sound.
"Pavorotti, that is why he is a great singer, his mask."
Peter Bowden has sung with the Welsh National Opera Company and is currently a student of Marenzi. He is giving his debut Taiwan performance tomorrow and said a great singer often made a great teacher and "the maestro" had identified him as a tenor, whereas he had been cast as a baritone before. "He hears things and sings things other people don't."
Listen for yourself at Cosmos Opera and Friends. James Wang will be the conductor and there will be an accompanying 70-person chorus. Tickets are priced from NT$400 to NT$1,000, and are available from Era Ticket: http://www.ticket.com.tw. Call (02) 2786 1299 ext. 611. The National Concert Hall is at 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路號). The show starts at 7:30pm.
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