Marissa Ballistreri's response to an email I sent Carlos Francis-Arduh in which I requested he provide me an email testimonial from another student prior to my attendance. The below email references classes being held in a studio above a Music Store (the classes were all held in her and Carlos' living room) and the planned opera, as well as alternatives (the opera was canceled). She also mentions that she is his assistant, not a student.

From : BalMarisa@aol.com
Subject : Re: Summer Program in Florence
Date : Thu, 25 Apr 2002 08:11:29 -0400

Dear Rebecca,

You do not sound like an "awful survey" at all. Rather, I think it wise of you to ask so many questions. Don't worry, I did the same thing! I am happy to reply to you. I came here as a student and after two years of being trained in this particular method, I have now become Maestro Della Mora's teaching assistant. The reason I chose this school is quite simply that all other venues I followed in North America failed me and I felt that Italy (having Italian blood) would be the best place for me to go. The teachers in North America train everybody in a certain way that works very well for schools and competitions, but I discovered in my mid-twenties (the hard way) that the technique taught by most teachers in North America does not work in the real world of opera, which is very brutal. Most teachers train the voice to be small by manipulating it to be a certain way - in the head, in the "mask", in the nose, whatever. I used to sing like that, but Maestro retrained me, and now I am having my first professional successes. I am singing with the voice I always felt I had, with size and power, but with control and flexibility as well. What more can I say? Finding one's "true voice" and controlling it is about as good as it gets. Maestro Della Mora teaches the same technique that Franco Corelli taught him and it is simpler and more effective than any other technique I tried. It trains the voice to be natural, with an emphasis on the importance of breathing.

That said, it is important to understand that this is not an American school in Italy, and you will find things very different from there. In my opinion, it's better for an opera singer. But of course you are entitled to form your own opinion. Classes are held in studios above Florence's largest music store two short blocks from the Duomo. The rooms are beautiful, at least 600 years old, covered with paintings. They are impressive and a joy to sing in.

Gianni Schicchi will be with orchestra, condusted by Maestro Delio Cassetta, who is director of the Orchestra of the city of Belluno in Northern Italy, as well as other orchestras and programs. I have worked with Maestro Cassetta and he is meticulous but very nice. The presentation will be in conjunction with his orchestra, not another school. There is ample opportunity for students to perform. If for some reason, there are not enough applicants for Gianni Scicchi, Maestro will perhaps select another opera or present a concert with orchestra both in Belluno (a beautiful place in the Dolomites) and here in Florence.

A typical day hard to describe. You have plenty of free time, but must consider that there will be lessons three times a week, plus rehearsals, mater classes, coachings, Italian, etc. A day is usually time with the other students at the studio, private lessons, free time to explore and go to the beach or to Venice, or wherever you'd like on week-ends. (Maestro will help to put you in the right direction!)

I hope that answers your questions. I am curious to know what references about my voice you have seen on the internet. I am not aware of that many. There was one that I asked to be removed from the internet because it was written by someone I knew back home in Wisconsin who had a personal vendetta against the then director of the UW Opera and wrote a scathing review about me for an opera I did at 21 with no prior operatic training at all. (Semele) If you saw it, please disregard it. I guess the guy who wrote it ingnored my request. It's not fair to have something like that on the internet, but, there's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, thank you for your interest in hearing my voice. I hope I shall have the opportunity to hear yours as well! Please write to me if you have any further questions. It is my pleasure to help, as I know that traveling abroad is never an easy decision. Sorry for the length of the e-mail. I hope I didn't bore you to death. With best wishes,

Marisa Balistreri