There is no doubt that I would not be where I am today if it had not been for the invaluable assistance of Nico Castel. Nico's incredibly sharp ears and clarity of explanation are largely responsible for my success with the magnificent Baron Ochs in "Der Rosenkavalier." When one is highly complimented by native speakers of the idiomatic, dialectic accent of Viennese German, that's really saying something!

My esteemed friend and colleague, Nico Castel, is a brilliant master of many languages and an excellent tenor. He was instrumental in teaching me how to sing in French and I shall be eternally grateful to him for his priceless help in preparing me to perform the roles of Don José in "Carmen," Samson in "Samson and Delilah" and Aeneas in "Les Troyens."

Nico works with a singer beyond the rules of proper articulation. He teaches the nuance and rich coloration found in the words of the language that helps each artist discover a more expressive foundation for interpretation.