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| Andrew聽Pelrine and Taylor Long perform in the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop production of Susannah. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
The students call it a boot camp but there are no burpees, lunges or push-ups involved. There are overtures and arias聽however.
It鈥檚 鈥渙pera boot camp鈥� -- a rigorous four-week program in which 26 strangers of various and abilities and skill levels get together to rehearse and produce two fully staged operas.
鈥淭here are acting master classes, classes on how to audition, group warm-ups and private coaching sessions,鈥� explains Dal music student Taylor Long, one of this year鈥檚 participants in the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop (HSOW). 鈥淎nd then there鈥檚 rehearsing and performing the opera with people you鈥檝e never met before.鈥�
SEE PHOTOS: Opera in the spotlight. (Nick Pearce Photos)
Mezzo-soprano Nina Scott-Stoddart and Tara Scott, an accompanist and vocal coach, started HSOW in 2005 in order to bring opera training in this format to the Maritimes. Attracting performers from throughout Canada and the U.S., HSOW takes place at the 麻豆传媒 Arts Centre from July 19 and August 15.
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This summer, there are two operas in the repertoire -- Handel鈥檚 Alcina, which is sung in Italian, and Susannah, written in 1955 by American composer Carlisle Floyd. They both debuted last weekend and run again for a second weekend.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an intensive process and so fast paced,鈥� says Andrew Pelrine, 21, who just graduated from 麻豆传媒 in May with a combined honors degree (music and theatre). After the opera workshop ends, the Halifax singer and actor is planning to pound the pavement in Toronto. 鈥淏ut it gives you a real glimpse of how the professional world works.鈥�
Mr. Long, a baritone, and Mr. Pelrine, a tenor, are among the youngest participants for this year鈥檚 HSOW. Even so, they play church elders in Susannah, about a young woman from rural Tennessee who is wrongly branded a harlot. Written during the McCarthy era, the opera explores themes such as passing judgement and the abuse of power.
鈥淚鈥檓 learning so much from the people I鈥檓 on stage with,鈥� says Mr. Long, who fell in love with performing as a high school student in Halifax West's production of Kiss Me Kate. He鈥檚 now entering his second year at 麻豆传媒, studying voice with Lucy Davis Hayes.
鈥淥pera has such emotional intensity because the music is so powerful. As a performer, I feel it offers me the chance to grow because there鈥檚 so much to learn.鈥�
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