Opera Holland Park’s (OHP) 2021 Young Artists Masterclass is available to watch on YouTube and Facebook, the west London-based opera house has revealed.
The class features the great lyric soprano Amanda Roocroft working with three of OHP’s Young Artists (YA) in a sequence of sessions exploring music by Mozart and Strauss. Filmed by Simon Wall, and accompanied by YA répétiteur Thomas Ang, Amanda guided soprano Isabelle Peters and baritone Alex Jones on arias from The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart, 1786) and Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose, Strauss, 1911).
The film is a rare opportunity to watch OHP’s Young Artists in action, as Amanda helps them explore how to create a compelling character in song. It also offers a fascinating insight into a process that is usually conducted behind closed doors. Viewers will be able to witness how opera singers combine vocal technique, musicality, physicality and imagination into their performances, while Thomas demonstrates the subtlety and strength required of a répétiteur (an accompanist, tutor or coach for opera singers).
The masterclass is available to watch online until 31 August 2021, on OHP’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Isabelle Peters and Alex Jones can be seen on stage in the Young Artists performances of The Marriage of Figaro on 14 and 26 June, singing the roles of Barbarina and Bartolo respectively. They will also take part in OHP’s Schools Matinees on 16 and 22 June. Visit the opera house’s website for further details of these performances and the full 2021 season.
Opera Holland Park’s Young Artists Scheme was launched in 2011 to open doors into the industry for emerging directors, conductors and singers. Participants rehearse alongside the main cast in the lead up to the opera house’s summer season, in addition to enjoying a dedicated rehearsal space of their own for a four-week period. They are also given individual mentoring and language coaching, as well as the opportunity to perform with the City of London Sinfonia. They also perform on OHP’s London stage to a paying audience during the summer festival.
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Watch respected lyric soprano Amanda Roocroft as she guides Opera Holland Park Young Artists Thomas Ang, Isabelle Peters and Alex Jones (not pictured) in a masterclass on the music of Mozart and Strauss.