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WNO Opera Gala: Opera School News

22 November 2021

Filed Under:

Alumni
Music
Opera

Music and Opera students have been working alongside Welsh National Opera orchestra, led by RWCMD International Chair of Conducting Maestro Carlo Rizzi for our annual Opera Gala this month.

The Opera Gala consisted of arias and scenes, showcasing the talented members of the David Seligman Opera School, including current student and Young Welsh Singer of the Year Rhydian Jenkins and featuring special appearances from some of our recent graduates including Jessica Hackett, William Pearson and Annie George.

While the final preparations were being made for the upcoming performances, we had a chance to look back at the recent successes of just some of our past and present students of the David Seligman Opera School.

WNO musicians work Side by Side with RWCMD students

RWCMD Grads Come Together for The Cunning Little Vixen

A grand total of ten graduates from RWCMD took part in Longborough Festival Opera’s production of Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen this summer.

It was wonderful to see so many RWCMD graduates together in a production, collaborating once again. The show was a huge success, with stellar reviews all round:

‘Just as the opera ends with the start of a new cycle, so the end of a Covid-weathered season brings a sense of renewal and rebirth’- The Stage review.

Original David Seligman Opera School Student, Dorothea Herbert

Dorothea was one of the first David Seligman Opera School’s students when it started in 2013 and has gone on to find great success. Recently she took on the leading role of Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio at Glyndebourne opera house.

Dorothea has plenty of activities lined up in 2022 including playing Senta in Wagner’s Der Fligende Holländer in her house debut at the State Opera in Prague.

MOSCA Young Welsh Singer of the Year, Rhydian Jenkins

From one of the first graduates to a current Opera School student: Rhydian has found success while still studying at RWCMD, winning the MOSCA Young Welsh Singer of the Year 2021, awarded by the world leading male choral group Morriston Orpheus.

Rhydian Jenkins rehearsing with Maestro Carlo Rizzi

At the Opera Gala, Rhydian performed the roles of Nemorino, Tom Rakewell, Fenton and Don Ramiro alongside WNO.

Returning to Perform, Grads William Pearson & Jessica Hackett

Recent graduates Will and Jessica both returned to College to perform at this year’s Opera Gala. Next year Will goes to Garsington Opera Alvarez Young Artist Programme, which provides world class coaching and masterclasses for up and coming young singers, many of whom go on to perform at world famous opera houses.

Jessica working with Sir Antonio Pappano when he visited the College earlier this year.

Meanwhile Jessica, who graduated with a distinction from RWCMD this summer, has been performing with the Irish National Opera. While studying at College she’d also worked with Northern Ireland Opera, performing in a range of roles including Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Calista in Offenbach’s Daphnis et Chloé.

Recent WNO Debut, Osian Bowen

Winning the MOSCA Young Welsh Singer of the Year in 2019, graduate Osian is currently with Scottish Opera, singing in Cosi Fan Tutte, as well as in its production of The Gondoliers.

He’ll make his WNO debut in 2022 covering Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni for another RWCMD graduate, Welsh tenor Trystan Griffiths.

Working with The Royal Opera House, Blaise Malaba

Blaise is an ongoing member of the Jette Parker Young Artist scheme at the Royal Opera House, having joined in 2020.

He made his ROH debut at Covent Garden during lockdown, and upcoming performances include Doctor Grenvil in La Traviata, Doctor and Banco (cover) in Macbeth and High Priest of Baal in Nabucco. Find out more about Blaise, his time at College and his experience since graduation in the blog (link below).

Blaise Malaba as Doctor Grenvil in The Royal Opera House’s production of La Traviata. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/ The Guardian.

RWCMD’s Opera Gala takes place on 17th and 22nd November.

See our website for more information about the David Seligman Opera School

Photos of rehearsals in the Dora Stoutzker Hall: Kirsten McTernan

Thanks to clarinet student and music writer Meg Davies for writing this blog:

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