Author: Jeremy Stayton who attended Summer session of 2001

After 2 lessons and 2 masterclass sessions I knew that this guy did not know how to teach bel canto. After both of my lessons, I noted in my journal that my throat was "burning". I immediately disagreed with much of his "technique" (breathing, abscence of mask, scooping from below the pitch, abscence of ALL tension [yet he sang with an immense amount of tension], etc.).

I was housed in an apartment rented by an Italian man and his sister. They lived in the apartment but rented out 1 room in which another student and I lived. The Italian man and the student I roomed with were both heavy smokers including marijuana, which Carlos' two sons also smoked in the apartment.

He promised a connection with the British Institute of Florence, whereby we would take guided museum tours, take 3 Italian classes a week, and take an Opera History class also. I soon realized that there was no connection to the British Institute, even though I withdrew from the program after 3 days and a very hostile attack from Della Mora, the remaining students never did receive guided museum tours, the 3 Italian classes a week turned out to be a total of 5 classes in 4 weeks taught by a 20 year old Italian girl, and of course the Opera History class was taught by his girlfriend/lover/colleague, Marisa Balistreri, whose degree is in Psychology (?) with a Theatre minor (?) I believe, absolutely NO formal vocal training at all and definitely not qualified to teach an Opera History class. This is just the beginning.

I don't have the time now to go into further detail, but whether you be a friend or a foe, none of this is information that was secret or hidden from any of the other students involved. I went on for the rest of the month to deal with doctors, lawyers, consulates, police, and the Chamber of Commerce. Any news that you have heard or read of his deceitful advertising is thanks to the rest of the month that I spent making sure that this man would have a very hard time ripping off any more singers. The U.S. Consulate and the Chamber of Commerce both said that many had complained about him but that none had ever filed any legal action against him. Several had tried to from the States but because he is an Argentinian man, working in Italy, and banking in Canada, there is no jurisdiction for the U.S. courts.