Nowadays, however, the big-name singers are known through television, records and radio and, to a large extent, do not need to make American appearances to sustain their image.

In one very surreal moment, Criss describes meeting not one but two big-name singers.

Without the film, one would miss the big, colorful, high-energy, helium-humored production numbers featuring performers like Aretha Franklin, B. B. King, James Brown, Sam Moore and a host of other big-name singers, instrumentalists and various other stars in cameo roles (Lawrence Van Gelder).

But with one exception, these showed little onstage during the glittery first weekend of the company's 72d season, which was filled with big-name singers in new productions.

Since the company does not offer big-name singers or big productions to attract audiences, you would think that Dicapo would have decided that supertitles are essential.

Jon Bream of the Star Tribune reported: "For most movie soundtracks, producers negotiate with record companies, managers and lawyers for the services of big-name singers.

Many big-name singers have shown up, and the orchestra has played decently enough.

While he was eminently a musical dramatist, his operas were seen in their day as vehicles for big-name Italian singers rather than as lasting works in their own right.

Musically, there are regular appearances from big-name singers such as Haila María Mompie.

He's talking about more big-name singers.