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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1985-05-31 ""Simon Estes: Opera's answer to the slam dunk"" Page 1

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Quad-City Times May 31, 1985 Simon Estes Opera's answer to the slam dunk Simon Estes still gives 110%, just as he did in basketball By George Vecsey NEW YORK TIMES NEW YORK- When Simon Estes steps on stage at La Scala or the Metropolitan Opera, he often gives thanks to another world-famous building, the high school gymnasium at Centerville, Iowa. It was in the furtive Saturday-morning pickup games and the frustrating varsity basketball practices that he developed some of the strengths that make him one of the world's leading bass-barit-tones. Graceful and powerful at the age of 46, Estes is in New York to perform tonight in the "Concert of Concern," sponsored by the American Red Cross, at Carnegie Hall. Leontyne Prince, Wynton Marsalis, Jose Ferrer and other major performers will also appear in support of the African relief program. Between his appearances all over the world, specializing in Wagner, Estes remains as American as corn fields, Professor Harold Hilli and a slam dunk at the University of Iowa, where he played freshman basketball. "Of course, I was fortunate to have God-given ability in my vocal cords," he says. "But I never had to work on my breath control. I always had that from playing sports all my life." Estes also gives credit to sports for teaching him to "to give 110 -RACIAL PREJUDICE Please turn to Page 7
 
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