OperaVision

With its extensive international travel, sets and costumes created for individual productions, many of which are then disposed of, opera does not have a reputation for being particularly green. However, companies and individuals are now making great strides towards sustainability in the face of the climate crisis and are continuing to find ways to make spaces and performances more environmentally sustainable.

In this episode we find out how activists and individuals are challenging the status quo - working towards sustainability in the face of the climate crisis.  Nina speaks to Sebastien Gueze, the French Tenor and activist responsible for publishing the BIOPERA essay, who now also works as a sustainability consultant for the French government, and Italian Stage Director Ilaria Lanzino who has directed a pilot CO2 neutral production at Oper Leipzig.

Watch now on Opera Vision

Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts

Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy

Masterclass with Sarah Connolly

Eco entertainment

Masque of Might from Opera North

Music extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Massenet ‘Alors c'est bien ici’ from Werther with tenor Mario Chang and the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Sivan Eldar ‘Wood behaviour’ from Like Flesh (words: Cordelia Lynn) with soprano Juliette Allen and baritone William Dazeley from Opéra de Lille. Watch flashback here

Handel ‘Verdi prati’ from Alcina with countertenor Patrick Terry at Opera North. Watch flashback here

Find out more about Ilaria Lanzino here

Find out more about Sebastien Guèze here

Access Sebastien’s BIOPÉRA Essay (in French) here

Find out about Opera North’s Green Season here

For many artists there are barriers that go much deeper than the gender binary, but how can we ensure people of every gender have real access and are genuinely welcomed in the opera world?  Trailblazing American baritone Lucia Lucas reveals the highs and lows of inhabiting a role close to her heart; Lili Elbe at the Theater St. Gallen, about the eponymous painter who was the first person to have gender confirmation surgery in the 1930s.  Meanwhile, Spanish director, designer and visual artist Marta Pazos explores the world of intersexuality through her production of Alexina B at the Gran Teatre del Liceu In Barcelona; she shares how she brought the story of Herculine Barbin vividly to life.

Additional voiceovers by Celia Grau 

Translation supervised by Joan Soley 

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Lili Elbe by composer Tobias Picker & librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman

Oper Frankfurt documentary From Studio to Stage

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana

Masterclass with Sarah Connolly

More here about Alexina B  

Music extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

All other extracts from Lili Elbe Theater St. Gallen featuring baritone Lucia Lucas, soprano Sylvia D’Eramo and bass Msimelelo Mbali

‘Is opera the most misogynistic art form?’ asked Charlotte Higgins in The Guardian back in 2016, noting that the genre itself seems to devour women. In Classical Music Magazine in 2020, Becca Marriott argued that ‘Sexism is preventing women from forging a career in opera’. Over the course of the next episodes, we are looking at how voices in opera are calling for change to make it better for the next generation of operatic talent. In this episode, we investigate misogyny in opera both on the stage and behind the scenes, and investigate the lived experience of artists who are striving to make the opera world a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and safe.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Oper Frankfurt From Studio to Stage

Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World with Nombulelo Yende

Dana Lynne Varga www.danavarga.com

The Empowered Musician https://theempoweredmusician.com/

Mass Opera https://massopera.org/

Rosie Middleton https://rosiemiddleton.com/

Derri Joseph Lewis https://derrijosephlewis.com/

Music extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Bizet ‘L'amour est un oiseau rebelle’ (Habanera) from Carmen with mezzo-soprano Evgenia Asanova at the Staatsoper Hannover. Watch extract here

Massenet ‘Je marche sur tous les chemins’ from Manon with soprano Elsa Dreisig at the Hamburg State Opera. Watch extract here

Donizetti 'Regnava nel silenzio' from Lucia di Lammermoor with soprano Lisette Oropesa at the Teatro Real Madrid. Watch full extract here 

Opera has long been accused of elitism, racism and misogyny, and over the course of the next few episodes we are looking at how voices in opera are calling for change to make it better for all our young artists. We begin by looking at the representation of Asian culture on the operatic stage, and investigate the lived experience of artists who are striving to make the opera world a place where everyone feels welcome.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Oper Frankfurt From Studio to Stage

Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World with Nombulelo Yende

The Asian Opera Alliance https://asianoperaalliance.com/

Final Bow for Yellow Face https://www.yellowface.org/

Music extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Puccini Là, sui monti dell'Est from Turandot at the Finnish National Opera

Puccini Liù! Liù! Sorgi! Sorgi! From Turandot at the Grand Théâtre de Genève

Puccini Vogliatemi bene from Madama Butterfly, soprano Marina Rebeka at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

Puccini Un bel dì, vedremo from Madama Butterfly, soprano Juliana Grigoryan at the 11th Moniuszko Vocal Competition

OperaVision heads to the Palau de les Arts and their Centre de Perfeccionament in Valencia, where two of our young artists talk about the challenge of balancing outside opportunities with in-house commitments, the realisation that insecurities as an artist happen at every level, and the difference between being treated like a young artist and a young professional.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Cendrillon (Viardot) from the Young Artists at the Palau de Les Arts, Centre de Perfeccionament (until October 1^st 2023)

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World with Nombulelo Yende

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary

Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde

Music Extracts

Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Viardot, instrumental extract from Cendrillon, Pianist: Ignacio Aparisi

Viardot, trio Je serai charmante, toujours élégante, from Cendriillon with Iria Goti, Mariana Sofía and Rosa Dávila, Pianist: Ignacio Aparisi

H. Duparc, L’invitation au voyage with Laura Orueta, Pianist: Omar Sánchez

This month, OperaVision takes you from the Studio at Oper Frankfurt to backstage at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. Nombulelo Yende shares her hopes and fears about performing in front of experts and an international audience, while Clara Hyoyoung Kim is honest about the challenges of clashing schedules and saying ‘no’ when it is necessary. Meanwhile the visiting expert Matthias Rexroth sets the bar extremely high for young singers.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World https://operavision.eu/de/performance/bbc-cardiff-singer-world-2023-final

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde:

https://operavision.eu/de/performance/ailyn-perez-brian-jagde-masterclass

Cendrillon (Viardot) from the Young Artists at the Palau de Les Arts Centre de Perfeccionament https://operavision.eu/performance/cendrillon-0

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Bellini: Ah! Non credea mirarti! from La Sonnambula, Clara Hyoyoung Kim (Soprano) Felice Venanzoni (Piano)

Moniuszko: Ha! Dzieciątko nam umiera...O mój maleńki from Halka, Nombulelo Yende (Soprano) live from the 11th Moniuszko Vocal Competition at Polish National Opera

One of the leading tenors of his generation, Brian Jagde joins us after his Opera for Peace Masterclass in Paris.  He opens up about vocal technique and mental health. Through his work with tenors Raúl Gutiérrez and Matteo Ivan Rašić, we hear sound advice on vocal interpretation. We learn more about his work ethic, his transition from baritone to tenor and what this has meant for his career.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Opera for Peace Masterclass in Paris with Ailyn Perez and Brian Jagde https://operavision.eu/performance/ailyn-perez-brian-jagde-masterclass (from June 2^nd)

Cendrillon (Viardot) from the Young Artists at the Palau de Les Arts Centre de Perfeccionament https://operavision.eu/performance/cendrillon-0

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Puccini: Recondita Armonia from Tosca, Raul Gutiérrez (Tenor)

Donizetti:Tombe degli avi miei…Fra poco a me ricovero from Lucia di Lammermoor, Matteo Ivan Rašić (Tenor)

This month, OperaVision is back with the Rossini Opera Festival’s Accademia Rossiniana ‘Alberto Zedda’ where we hear about alumnus Stefan Astakov’s opera journey and how he has learnt to let go of technique when performing in front of a judging panel.

Coach and tenor Luca Canonici shares what he thinks young singers should avoid at all costs. We hear words of wisdom for singers about giving one’s soul to the public, and how it’s important to be kind to yourself and not to get trapped in an ‘emotional cage’.

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Overture Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) 

Barono di Trombonok’s aria Sì, di matti una gran gabbia from Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini) - Stefan Astakov (baritone)

Orchestral opening from Il Viaggio a Reims from the Rossini Opera Festival

Figaro's aria Largo al factotum from Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) - Stefan Astakov accompanied by Rubén Sánchez-Vieco 

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Cendrillon (Viardot) from the Young Artists at the Palau de Les Arts Centre de Perfeccionament https://operavision.eu/performance/cendrillon-0

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

This month we return to the Palau de les Arts and their Centre de Perfeccionament, where the young Soprano Iria Goti finds her feet in a brand new production of Cendrillon. We discover how she reacts when self-criticism and nerves take hold during a performance. Meanwhile, alumna of the programme soprano Angel Blue gives us an insight into her relationship with comparison and competition, and shares how performances can be affected by something much more serious than the stress of day-to-day life events.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Cendrillon (Viardot) from the Young Artists at the Palau de Les Arts Centre de Perfeccionament https://operavision.eu/performance/cendrillon-0

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Mozart Ah perdona al primo affetto from La Clemenza di Tito with Iria Goti (Soprano) and Laura Orueta (Mezzo-Soprano)

Puccini Sì, mi chiamano Mimì from La Bohème Angel Blue (Soprano) and Pianist Ben Malensek in rehearsals at Opera Canada.

What goes through the mind of the award-winning young soprano Nombulelo Yende as she steps onto the stage at Oper Frankfurt for a major role debut with just a few rehearsals? Nina Brazier chats to her before rehearsals begin, and in her dressing room during a performance. Meanwhile, internationally acclaimed alumna of the Oper Frankfurt Studio, Mezzo Soprano Paula Murrihy shares her journey as one of the first participants of the programme, and reveals the pivotal moment in her operatic career.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Frankfurt Opera Studio Documentary https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree (from 03.03.23)

Frankfurt Opera Studio Soirée https://operavision.eu/performance/frankfurt-opera-studio-soiree (from 09.03.23)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Puccini Sì, mi chiamano Mimì from La Bohème Soprano Nombulelo Yende at the final of the Neue Stimmen competition in 2019.

Tchaikovsky The letter scene from Eugene Onegin, Soprano Nombulelo Yende accompanied by Pianist Yuna Saito.

On track to becoming a doctor in Mexico and finding opera as something ‘for old people’, Leonardo Sanchez made an unexpected career pivot and discovered that singing opera really could be a viable career choice. So how have the first steps in opera been for this emerging tenor? How has he squared reality and against his own high expectations? We hear from a number of people who are keeping a watchful eye on his development, namely Lawrence Brownlee, the American tenor and star of bel canto, and Julia Lagahuzère director of Opera for Peace, who is preparing her next academy for young singers in Paris; she explains how she asks the difficult questions in the opera business.

View the OperaVision website here

Find out more about the next Opera for Peace Academy in Paris here

Watch now on Opera Vision

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (only until 13.02.23)

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Gounod Ah lêve-toi soleil! from Romeo et Juliette Tenor Leonardo Sanchez, Pianist Kamal Khan

Puccini’s O soave fanciulla from La Bohème Tenor Leonardo Sanchez, Soprano Ana Garotić, Pianist Kamal Khan

From one young singer who left her academy without permission to sing at her audition in Valencia, to another being interrupted in his dressing room by the artistic director of Teatro Real, we hear the unusual journeys of three young artists at the Centre de Perfeccionament, Palau de les Arts in Valencia.  We have conversations on how to perform your best under pressure, ways of getting through feeling deeply overwhelmed and hear about the importance of using the tools at your fingertips and making the most of every single opportunity.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on Opera Vision

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (until 13.02.23)

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

Music Extracts

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture.

Mozart Deh, vieni non tardar from Le Nozze di Figaro, Soprano Iria Souto Fernandez, Pianist Cèlia Margalef Boquera.

Jacques Offenbach Ô mon cher amant from La Périchole, Mezzo-soprano Laura Orueta, Pianist Ignacio Aparisi.

Oscar Straus Le programme, Messieurs, Dames from Les trois valses. Baritones Alejandro Sánchez, Marcelo Solís Pianist Ignacio Aparisi.

Francisco Asenjo Barbieri Aquí estoy ya vestida from El barberillo de Lavapiés  Mezzo-sopranos: Mariana García, Laura Orueta, Pianist Ignacio Aparisi.

Four Young Artists from Oper Frankfurt’s Opera Studio share their stories – from their first auditions in front of the Intendant Bernd Loebe, and on to negotiating their way through the early months of the programme and taking on major roles in mainstage productions. Along the way they explore how to filter the very best advice from experts, discover the necessity of dealing with the inner critic, and learn to listen to and trust their own unique voice. We also hear insights from the other side of the table, with Thomas Stollberger who runs Opera Studio sharing his thoughts on finding the right balance to support and nurture the next generation of young artists.

Watch now on OperaVision:

Nombulelo Yende’s winning performance at the Moniuszko Vocal Competition (until 11.12.22)

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (until 13.02.23)

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Music extracts:

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Snegurochka (Rimski-Korsakov) aria S podruzhkami po yakodu khodit, Hyyoung Kim accompanied by Yuna Kudo

Morgen (Lied, Strauss Op. 27 No. 4) Helene Feldbauer accompanied by Felice Venanzoni

Billy Budd (Brittten) Look! Through the port comes the moonshine astray Jarrett Porter accompanied by Juliette Journaux

Rusalka (Antonin Dvorak) Mesicku na nebi hlubokem, Nombulelo Yende accompanied by Yuna Kudo

We head to the Rossini Opera Festival to join the Accademia Rossiniana “Alberto Zedda” Young Artist Programme, where we follow the journeys of four singers as they dedicate themselves to the portrayal of Rossini’s works, and fully-stage a production of Il Viaggio a Reims. We hear about their early goals, the challenges they face, and the lessons they are taking with them into their future careers. The singers are joined by the renowned Director, Pianist and Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi, who shares her insight and expertise on how to best nurture the next generation of operatic talent.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on OperaVision:

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (until 13.02.23)

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

Nombulelo Yende’s winning performance at the Moniuszko Vocal Competition (until 11.12.22)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Music Extracts:

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Rossini Il mio male capir voi non potete from Il Viaggio a Reims, aria Contessa, Aitana Sanz

Rossini Ai prodi guerrieri from Il Viaggio a Reims, aria Marchesa Melibea, Paola Leguizamon

Rossini Omaggio all’augusto duce from Il Viaggio a Reims, aria Don Alvarro, Stefan Astakhov

Rossini Sì,di matti una gran gabbia from Il Viaggio a Reims, aria Barono di Trombonok, Janusz Nosek

We head to Rome for the inaugural academy of Opera for Peace, the emerging artist programme which aims to level the playing field for emerging opera singers from all countries, backgrounds and circumstances. We meet four of their emerging singers and learn how they are applying what they learned, approaching auditions, and dealing with comparison with competing artists. We hear insights from experts Thomas Hampson, Jenna Wolf and Kamal Khan on the challenges of the programme and how they are supporting and nurturing the next generation of operatic talent.

View the OperaVision website here

Watch now on OperaVision:

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

Nombulelo Yende’s winning performance at the Moniuszko Vocal Competition (until 11.12.22)

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (until 13.02.23)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

Music extracts:

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Ukranian folk song, arranged by L. Yashchenko, Soprano: Violeta Samon

(In Masterclass) Manon (Massenet) aria Manon: Adieu, notre petite table, Violeta Samon

(In Masterclass) Tannhaüser (Wagner) aria Oh du mein holder Abendstern, Samson Setu

Werther (Massenet) aria Charlotte Je vous écrit de ma petite chambre, Rachel Barg

Tosca (Puccini) Te Deum with Samson Setu and full Opera for Peace Academy Chorus

Così fan Tutte (Mozart) trio Soave sia il vento, Amanda Osorio, Fatima Alhashmi, Geng Lee

All piano accompaniment Kamal Khan

From one young soprano making audition videos in a shelter in Kyiv while the war swept through Ukraine, to another using an international singing competition to showcase her talent, we meet emerging artists from four leading young artist programmes across Europe.  In this episode, we dip into each programme, from Opera for Peace in Rome, to the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, on to Palau de les Arts in Valencia and Oper Frankfurt.  As well as hearing from the artists about how their expectations matched reality, we feature insights from experts such as Lawrence Brownlee, and learn how the programmes are nurturing and developing the next generation of talent.

View the OperaVision website here

 

Watch now on OperaVision:

Lawrence Brownlee & Thomas Hampson’s Masterclasses with Opera for Peace (until 26.02.23)

Nombulelo Yende’s winning performance at the Moniuszko Vocal Competition (until 11.12.22)

Il Viaggio a Reims with the Accademia Rossiniana at the Rossini Opera Festival (until 13.02.23)

An evening of Operetta & Zarzeuela from the Centre de Perfeccionament del Palau de les Arts (until 16.03.23)

 

Music extracts:

Introduction & closing: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture

Manon (Massenet) aria Manon: Adieu, notre petite table, Violeta Samon

Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini) Overture with permission from the Rossini Opera Festival

Norma (Bellini) aria Norma: Casta diva, Nombulelo Yende live, Moniuszko Vocal Competition

L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi) duet Nero & Poppea: Pur ti miro, Ketevan Chuntishvili & Angelord Blaise, accompanied by Kamal Khan

Charting the journeys of singers on four competitive young artist programmes across Europe. From masterclasses and performances, to rehearsal rooms and dressing rooms, we hear the motivations, desires and the challenges they face - along with insight from experts on how they are nurturing the next generation of opera talent.