Patti's "Carmen"

Speranza

"I had very few hardships during my vocal career, however there was one event that I consider a major failure on my part. I played the ‘cigarette girl’ in Bizet’s Carmen in 1885, and the role stumped me. It was a role that was too heavy for my voice. It was considered an error in my career by many critics. I was so ashamed that I had made this mistake. However, this was one of my only true faults in my opera career. I wouldn’t stop singing just because of one little mistake. I continued my training, and didn’t let it upset me.  I achieved many great accomplishments after that incident, because I didn’t give up. (Van Dijk)

Other than this incident, I didn’t really have many roadblocks."