National Opera Studio with ENO Orchestra

June 11, 2024

11th June 2024

Founded in 1948, the National Opera Studio (formerly known as The National School of Opera) provides professional training at the highest level for a small number of singers and repetiteurs each year, and prepares them for the international operatic stage. They work in partnership with English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opera North, the Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera.

Their Young Artists work closely with leading directors, conductors and opera orchestras to prepare opera scenes for public performance, as well as working with other artists who are leaders in their field. The intensity of the training programme is designed to create a working environment that reflects the professional opera world.

Accompanied by English National Opera Orchestra conducted by Rory Macdonald, and directed by Emma Jenkins, we were treated last night to a programme of 13 opera scenes by Bizet, Britten, Donizetti, Gounod, Massanet, Mozart, Offenbach, Gluck, Smyth and J. Strauss.

The Young Artists gave a faultless performance, and given their pedigree, it is unsurprising.

An excerpt from the opening scene of Smyth’s Fête Galante provided the opportunity for Rosalind Dobson, playing Columbine, to showcase her sweet, bird-like soprano voice and playful acting skills. Robert Forrest (tenor) brilliantly acted the part of Harlequin infusing it with memorable personality. Georgina Mae Ellis portrayed The Queen, her beautifully rich mezzo soprano tone resonating throughout, and fellow mezzo soprano Camilla Seale’s Pierrot was performed with gusto and to perfection. Unfortunately, illness had struck the company and Felix Gygli (baritone) was unable to sing, however, he walked his role of The King, which was sung from the side-lines by National Opera Studio alumnus Jonathan Eyers. Josef Ahn also stepped in on various excerpts later in the evening.

Highlights from the evening included a comedic duet with Sofia Kirwan-Baez and Robert Forrest performing an excerpt from Offenbach’s La Grande-Duchess de Gerolstein (Duet no.2 ‘Me voici’), whose voices complemented each other perfectly. In addition, a modern twist on Duet No.4 from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte (‘There’s something about him, sister’), which featured soprano Kira Kaplan and Georgia Mae Ellis undertaking a yoga session whilst commenting on the men they are dating and looking at photos on their smartphones. I was particularly impressed that they did not drop a note during the ‘The Cobra’ position, and that they managed to neatly match one of the lyrics with ‘The Warrior’.

“The Young Artists gave a faultless performance, and given their pedigree, it is unsurprising.”

Hemling Li led Donizetti’s Trio No. 8 (‘Le jour naissat dans le bocage’) from La fille régiment with emotion, sweetness, and expression, playing the role of Marie. Camilla Seale portrayed the Marquise, and Aleksander Kaczuk-Jagielnik delivered a sublime performance with his velvety baritone voice. Their rendition earned a well-deserved, rousing round of applause.

Bass baritone Smelo Mahlangu’s facial expressions in an excerpt from Act 2 of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream were a joy to watch. His interpretation of Bottom, whilst surrounded by Peaseblossom (Sofia Kirwan-Baez), Cobweb (Kira Kaplan), Moth (Heming Li) and Mustardseed (Nikolina Hrkać, who walked her part due to illness) was fun, and beautifully performed, and his rich voice was (literally) music to my ears.

I was set to highlight the performers who impressed the most, however, each and every singer was simply outstanding and they all have an exciting career ahead of them.