THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
The top voice of Colombia just 21 years old
By Fernando Araujo Velez
El Espectador, June 13, 2005
She never had any news on the near or distant relative who had been fascinated with the music, beyond his mother, Consuelo Valbuena, an uncle and half entranced by the boleros and rancheras. With he learned his first song, "sang popular topics in meetings, nothing special." Of his mother inherited the passion for singing and that kind of madness to believe that music can live. "She always supported me in my decisions, trusting even in my apparent madness, as having left school at 10 º to devote myself entirely to singing. "
Their memories, their habits, their illusions, the way he talks, the movement of your hands, all for it revolves around music, everything is determined by the song. "My first image, three years, or perhaps, is that of a little girl who goes by his house, while the world, singing and chanting." By then used to bother because he spoke very hard, almost shouting. His father was the only one who defended the attacks and the imminent appointment but always deferred to the ENT. "He repeated quietly let me, if I spoke one day high was because would be an opera singer. "
Don Alberto died when her daughter had just turned five years. With the weight of pain above and the absence, Luque Carolina grew and singing, perhaps with the hidden desire to fulfill his father. Over time, too, got used to the pointing their fingers because it was very serious, a little girl who seemed to know very well what he wanted and not arming tantrums by a broken wrist or a smudge on her dress. "The shots you are showing other ways, I do not know if better or worse but definitely different. Perhaps most significant for some, and others, boring. "
never told the his great-grandfather's brother was one of the first Colombian to bring opera companies in the country. General Joaquin F. Velez spent many years in Rome as ambassador Rafael Núñez to the Holy See. His mission was to intercede with the Pope for the Church to annul the first marriage to Dolores Gallego president. Núñez needed leeway to marry Soledad Román, Velez was their man in Italy. There he learned the secrets of poetry. He fell in love. Before returning set himself the task of promoting the bel canto in Colombia. He did so to the extent that wars and treaties they left. They say that when he lost the elections in 1904 with Rafael Reyes, the first fraud proven electoral history in Colombia, he said, with one of his rare smiles, which from then on would be devoted only to hear the singing.
If Luque Carolina history have been written by Giuseppe Verdi, Gaetano Donizzeti or perhaps the time would come together, and the general and the coloratura soprano had been found one night, "because it is at night when you should sing. The voice comes clearer, fuller, more body. " Verdi would have talked about, "because it is essential if you sing a Verdi opera singer wants to be, beyond which is an immortal." Probably the girl had brought a smile to the general telling myths and legends have always been about the care of the voice. "The first truth is that one should sleep at least 10 hours a day. Then waking up, started singing at two hours. Do it with high heels for the voice out more widely, and never with wet hair, because the cold kills you. "
myths that pass for what you have to take honey or sugar water, or no night life, or not talking concert days. "I talk, talk all the time, possibly because I'm young and abuse, as my teacher." Six years ago, Carolina Luque started taking classes with Manuel Contreras, the first tenor of Colombia. Had inquired about up in the yellow pages looking for the best, until one night Martha Senn recommended it. Then his voice began to emerge. Scales, repetitions, more scales, breathing exercises, scores. "It was a very slow, as it should be." He had earlier studied at the National Conservatory in the Andes and several private teachers. "All studies and trials, it is not." Since
heard, Contreras said she was a coloratura soprano, but that would need to work hard to prove. He explained that there is a coloratura in a million, and are the only ones that can reach higher tones. Years later, an audiologist for musicians confirmed: "Your vocal cords are the finest I've ever seen." An honor, a challenge and, in essence, the confirmation of that old hunch that many years ago had Don Alberto.
