He came up with a method for teaching the singers to learn chants in a short time, and quickly became famous throughout north Italy.

"The most important thing a singer can learn to say is no," she insisted.

Much depends on whether the singer can learn to handle the American vernacular with a lot more authority than she now displays.

This month, 19 singers learned firsthand just how "simple" Ms. Monk's music is.

Professional singers even learn to think of the whole head as a resonator.

But the singers never learned it, and the opera was not performed until 1962 in Germany.

Mr. Taussig has helped some legendary singers learn major roles.

Not every singer learns the full capabilities of his voice.

A singer learns the notes, where to breathe, how to phrase.

But for Ms. Stoessinger stagecraft is the least of what the singers will learn.