Opera star José Carreras in an interview: “Music always helps me!”
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Leipzig / Munich – In the summer of 1987, STARENOR’s life changed Jose Carreras (75) dramatic: he suffered from severe leukemia. He now spoke about his life and his illness in an interview.
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Star tenor José Carreras (75) suffered from severe leukemia. Now he is using his popularity to get involved in the fight against the disease. © Jan Woitas / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
The Spaniard survived and uses his popularity to get involved in the fight against the disease, including with the German José Carreras Leukemia Foundation in Munich.
The annual “José Carreras Gala” will take place in Leipzig on Thursday, at which the 75-year-old solicits donations with celebrities such as Peter Maffay (72), Stefanie Heinzmann (32) and the Dresden Kreuzchor. TV and in the MDR media library.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, the tenor from Barcelona looks back on his life after the illness and talks about big plans in the corona lockdown, happiness and a place with very special acoustics.
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How did you experience the corona pandemic?
Jose Carreras: “Just like everyone else. Everyone suffered under the circumstances, all over the world. My generation, which was born after the Second World War, was very lucky up until then. We had no war, few big world problems. We had a fantastic one Life. Anything was possible. Now we had this stroke of fate that brought us back to reality that something can happen at any moment. “
Where did you spend the lockdown time?
Jose Carreras: “I was at home in Barcelona. I had resolved to read more than ever before: I wanted to read Homer’s Iliad again, for example, and a few other works. In the end I couldn’t do it. But I did tried to do some sport and be disciplined when eating. It was a shame that I couldn’t meet the people I wanted to see, such as my family and friends. And that I couldn’t travel anytime. “
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“We are human after all”
The annual “José Carreras Gala” takes place in Leipzig on Thursday. © Hendrik Schmidt / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
How did music help you during this time?
Jose Carreras: “Music always helps me. Even when I was in the hospital for a long time, music was a fantastic way of giving hope. During the pandemic, I listened to a lot of music, including some of my recordings. And sometimes I wondered why I was I did something one way or the other. You also have to be self-critical. “
Her illness was a profound experience. Is that what matured you?
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Jose Carreras: “When you have a very serious illness, have been in hospital for eleven months and undergo all kinds of treatments, you believe that you have to fight to conquer the disease. And you believe that what is important in life is not what you are looking for has placed so much value so far.
It is believed that there are things that are more important than anything else. And if you are lucky enough to win this fight, you resolve to be the wisest person in the world and to follow all advice. But then you make the same mistakes as before. We are human after all. But I certainly matured from it and set my priorities differently in my life afterwards. “
It was during this time that the idea of setting up the José Carreras Leukemia Foundation arose to help people with similar fates. How did that happen?
Jose Carreras: “During my treatment, people from all over the world showed me that they care for me. They sent me loving and positive messages full of hope. I also received a lot of help from science. When I felt better again, I did thought about some projects. I wanted to start an initiative to help people who suffer from the same disease. So the idea of my foundations was born, first in Barcelona, then here in Germany. “
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“My chances of surviving the disease were very slim”
“The three tenors”: Placido Domingo (80, from left to right), José Carreras (75) and Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007). © dpa – Bildfunk
You were very lucky to have survived. Is that why you felt morally obliged to do something?
Jose Carreras: “It was a must. I was on the ground and then I was incredibly lucky, like a phoenix from the ashes, to recover. My chances of surviving the disease were very slim. But I made it. After that I thought to myself: I want to help. “
You have looked death in the eye. Are you still afraid of dying?
Jose Carreras: “My only concern is for my family, for my children, my grandchildren and everyone whom I want to protect as well as possible until they can do it on their own. Otherwise, I had a wonderful life, with the exception of the time when I I was born into the right family. They had the right values and principles. I had a very beautiful youth. I was very lucky in my career too, I was able to do what I love most. This is really a Luxury when the job is also the hobby. I was also lucky enough to be one of the best. What else could I have wished for? “
Does that sound like you’re perfectly happy?
Jose Carreras: “I’m very satisfied. I have five grandchildren. And we live very close to each other at the moment. It’s great that I can see them as often as I want. Everything seems to be fine. I want mine Enjoy life even further – have time to go to concerts or sing at operas in Barcelona or elsewhere. And I like to watch sports. All the glamor that is always talked about is unimportant. What matters are the values that we follow try to live. “
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José Carreras wants to “perform professionally for a maximum of three more years”
The end of your singing career has often been in the room, but you always kept going. How much longer do you want to go on?
Jose Carreras: “The moment will come. I will gradually quit and perform professionally for a maximum of three years. One thing is to travel from one theater to another, as we have done for so many years. But it is something else, when I travel to any city in Europe and perform there at a benefit concert. I will not stay in the “career machinery” because I no longer have the strength. But the strength to stand on the stage and sing, I still have them. I’ll try anyway. “
Do you also sing privately, for example in the shower?
Jose Carreras: “I once wrote that in a book: I had my best performances in the shower. The acoustics are just fantastic there. Of course, I don’t necessarily sing Tosca in the shower, but something that I have in my ear like a song from the radio. One thing became clear to me: If you sing in the shower, you’re happy. “
José Carreras is a celebrated tenor. From Vienna to Munich and London to New York and Tokyo, he delighted opera audiences. In the 1990s he formed “The Three Tenors” with Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) and Placido Domingo (80). In 1987 he fell ill with leukemia and has been fighting the disease ever since. Carreras has two children and five grandchildren and is an avid soccer fan of FC Barcelona.
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Cover photo: Jan Woitas / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
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