* 11월19일 (수) JTBC 뉴스룸에서 방송된 호세 카레라스와의 인터뷰 내용을 영문으로 전해드립니다.
Q. Nice to meet you Mr.Carreras! I has been four years since you last visited Korea. You have been steadily visiting Korea since your first visit in 1979.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : It's a tremendous pleasure for. I think for every artist. It's a pleasure to come to a country where people love music. It's becoming a real tradition classic music for Korean audience. I am very proud to have the possibility to come here. Every time I'm invited I'm very thrilled.]
Q. You are always introduced as one of the world’s best three tenors.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Well I don't know. This is up to the other to judge. What I can say, I was one of the three tenors together with Pavarotti and Domingo. It was a fantastic experience for three of us.]
Q. Whenever the three tenors took stage together, I bet that there had been some rivalries, right?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Not really.]
Q. Not really?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No, not at all. It was a sane competition between the three of us. But rivalry, no. We had a tremendous affection for each other, we had tremendous respect, professional respect for each other.]
Q. How do you remember your colleague Pavarotti as?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Well, Luciano. He was a one of the greatest figaros in opera from all time. But he was a great person. Very charismatic personality, very warm personality, good friend of his friends, and I'm missing him very much.]
Q. Yes we also miss him.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : I'm sure.]
Q. But actually, you are more often compared with Mr. Placido Domingo. Interestingly enough, your concert is on the same date as Domingo’s. So many people think that the rivalry has taken also at this time.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No, not at all. I can assure you that my relationship with omingo is very close one. Very warm relationship. We respect each other a lot and needless to say, admire his work tremendously.]
Q. you didn't schedule this concert on the same day. You don't have any intention.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No.]
Q. It's a coincidence?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : It's a coincidence, exactly. People that organize the concert, the promoters,managers normally we know these are the very last minute. Whose is in town?]
Q. It was kind of stupid question.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No, not at all no.]
Q. Anyway, I have one more stupid question.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : It's never a stupid question. It can be a stupid answer. But a question is never stupid.]
Q. Your concert is at Sejong Center for Performing Arts, and Domingo’s concert is at the Olympics Gymnastics Arena. Personally, I believe that the Sejong Center is a much better place for a concert. Was there any competition?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No. This time they proposed me the Sejong center and I was very happy. But I also performed in the Olympic Arena in the past. Therefore one day in one place and other days in another.]
Q. Many people say you and Mr. Domingo are not close anyway. But I know if I were you, I would not answer to this question. Anyway, some people say.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : About what?]
Q. You and Mr. Placido Domingo are not close.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Oh we are not close. we are not friends? well people can be wrong. People definitely, they do not know what is going on. I like to emphasize again that we have a wonderful relationship.]
Q. Domingo’s style is portrayed as passion, and yours as lyrical. What are your thoughts on this portrayal?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : I think Mr. Domingo has not only one something can be defined in one word. He is a complete artist. From the vocal point of view and also as an actor on stage. He is not only passionate. The way he sings is passionate but he has many other wonderful sides. If I am lyrical, I like that people say so to me but I think I'm not only lyrical. I also have some good and bad sides in my performance.]
Q. In opera, there are two types of vocalists: a vocalist with better acting, and a vocalist with better singing. Critics often say that you focus more on singing, therefore, cannot act as good as your singing on the stage. What do you think about this criticism?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Well I accept that very opinion. I think everybody is free to give judgement etc. I have nothing to say. This is an opinion of someone or a set of people. I think that they probably feel this way then that means they are right.]
Q. But trust me. I believe that you are the vocalist with best acting and best singing.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Who is?]
Q. You are. I think so.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : You are very kind. I will come much more often to your show. No really. This is very kind of you. Everybody judges differently. What I can say is that Mr. Domingo is a great singing actor.]
Q. What difference in life take place before and after Leukemia?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : I think going through such a severe, difficult moment, you becoming probably more mature, more reflective. I am basically the same person, probably I am more condescendent now than I was before.]
Q. Vocalist should have concern on the change of his voice. Your voice at the age of 69. How do you evaluate yourself?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : I think my voice is, it follows the natural way together with my age. I am now 67 and of course I cannot do what I did 30 years ago. This is obvious. But maybe I gain and lose certain things, but I gain maybe in the way I feel music and the music I am singing.]
Q. I think I deserve asking like this. I am going to be 60 next year. Let's say you were not a vocalist. Honestly, what other profession could you have done if you were not a vocalist. Please do not way it like this. If I were born again, I would be a vocalist again. That kind of answer is boring. I think I deserve asking like this.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : If I were born again, I would love to become an opera singer again.]
Q. Again?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : Even though I would love to be a doctor.]
Q. Doctor?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : If my methodology is possible. Because of my experience told me how wonderful are the people that they care of, help the others.]
Q. I understand what you are saying. Fully understand. I want to ask you like this. Are you planning to visit Korea again or is this last before your retirement?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : No. no. Unless I stopped sinigng, I would love to come back and to sing a couple of concerts more before I give up which is going to be as I said in few years.]
Q. Thank you very much. Many artists say that Korean fans are very enthusiastic and fervent response to the artists who perform.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : vAbsolutely. I said that very beginning of our conversation, I said that for any artists are privileged to come to your country to sing because this enthusiasm and knwoledge of the Korean audiences.]
Q. Why don't you say a word to those who are waiting for your concert?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : First of all, to thank them. They consider possibility to come again to listen to my concert, what else I can say? Needless to say, I am trying to give the best of myself. Best concert ever if possible.]
Q. This is my last question. Out of many great songs you have sung in your conernt, in your career, what would be the most memorable singing and when was it? Tough question?
[Jose Carreras/tenor : It's like you ask Lionel Messi which one was the best goal. I don't know. It's very difficult to answer. of course there are certain appointments. Probably if I should mention very special night for me was my debut the La Scala in Milano singing Un Ballo in Maschera most 40 years ago.]
Q. Thank you very much for answering.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : not at all.]
Q. I hope you that songs you are going to perform here in Seoul on the coming weekend can be that kind of song.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : I am singing that kind repertoire. I hope, fans and audiences expect from me. Of course all of them are songs that I love to sing.]
Q. Very looking forward to your performances. Thank you very much.
[Jose Carreras/tenor : it’s my pleasure.]