Sunday 15 November 2015

Interview: The Little Opera Company

The members of The Little Opera Company have shared some of their thoughts with us, ahead of their performance in Candlelit Arias on 27/28th November.





Where did the idea of starting LOC come from? How did the company get started?
We started the Little Opera Company when we were still training at music conservertoires in London (the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music). We wanted to start a company that could run along side our own solo careers.  We thought it would be great fun, as a group of friends, to work together to put on shows that were energetic and entertaining to our audiences, and give audiences bite size tasters from the vast variety of opera and operatic genres that we all love!

You have all now gained a lot of experience. Do you still need to train your voices?
Yes! As the body is always changing you find the voice changes too.  Even when regularly performing it's useful to polish up on vocal technique with our various teachers. When learning a role that is brand new to us we will work on it with an Opera Coach who will guide us through the role and be the external ears we need to ensure everything is sung to the best possible standard.

Describe a typical day for an opera singer - or maybe there isn't such a thing!
As you've guessed, there is no typical day but we do spend a lot of time travelling! You can start the day with a coaching, run to an audition and then straight on to a rehearsal for a production, sometimes even finishing the day with a performance in the evening (although you would try to have a quieter day when in the middle of a run of performances).  You also need to schedule time to memorise the roles that you have coming up! 

What are your dreams and aspirations for the future?
It may sound a little cheesy but to be the best singers and artists we can be! We are so lucky to be working in a job we love and get so much enjoyment out of and we would love to continue to share this with audiences throughout our careers.

For more information and to book tickets click here:
http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/Bookings?Booking=TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_0.TcsWebTab_0.TcsPerformance_2283110.TcsSection_926694

Sunday 8 November 2015

Young Guest Reviewers: The Cavaleri Quartet

Our guest reviewer, Eliot Ely (aged 10), sent in this review of the Cavaleri Quartet.


On Thursday 29th October, I went to see the Cavaleri Quartet. It was the second recital I had been to at the Flavel, and it was extremely good. 
They started off with Haydn, after that they performed Smetana 'From My Life' which included my favourite piece of the night which was the second movement in a polka style.
After the interval they played Beethoven Quartet No.10, 'Harp', which had lots of pizzicato passages which made it feel a bit more exciting.
I am looking forward to seeing another recital at the Flavel.