The Royal Welsh College, in collaboration with the family of the late and celebrated Welsh baritone, Sir Geraint Evans, is launching a fundraising campaign in his name to support opera scholarships and productions at the College.
Emyr Wyn Jones in rehearsal as Falstaff
2017 marks 25 years since Sir Geraint’s death and, as the College prepares to stage its own ambitious version of Falstaff, conducted by Carlo Rizzi, it provides the perfect opportunity to launch a lasting opera fund in his name.
Director Martin Constantine rehearsing in the Sir Geraint Evans Recital Room at RWCMD
“Any production of Falstaff is an ambitious undertaking and a high point for every opera company in the world as it requires perfection on so many different levels,” comments Maestro Rizzi.
“Every element requires the greatest care, whether it be La Scala or RWCMD that is performing it.
“These last weeks we have taken on, together, the challenges that this glorious score presents to every performer and it has been inspiring to do so.
I think that there is something particularly wonderful in thinking that the musical testament of an octogenarian genius, Verdi, is revisited here today, working with the exuberant forces of RWCMD and with all the vitality and the excitement that talented, young people can bring to a performance”
This production, which involves three of the College’s International Chairs, Carlo Rizzi conducting, Martin Constantine directing and John Fisher coaching, opens on Sunday 26th June at Sherman Theatre.
Cast members Helen Stanley, Emyr Wyn Jones, Chanae Curtis, Andrew Henley and Andrii Ganchuk with director Martin Constantine
While still in rehearsal, the College cast of Falstaff have already met Sir Geraint’s two sons Alun and Huw who will also be in the audience for the opening performance.
Chanae Curtis in rehearsal as Alice Ford
Alun and Huw presented Welsh baritone Emyr Wyn Jones, who is singing the title role, with the loan of the ring that Sir Geraint always wore when performing Falstaff (see feature photo). Emyr will wear it in all three performances as a talisman.
“It was wonderful to meet this young cast and to see the enthusiasm and passion with which they approach their craft,” said Huw and Alun.
“Our father would have been very proud that we are continuing his work promoting and inspiring young talent in the area of opera, his greatest love. We are delighted that Emyr will wear his ring in the Falstaff performances – a passing of the baton, or the ring, as it were.”
Sir Geraint Evans (1922-1992), was one of the most successful Welsh singers of his generation, performing leading roles in the major opera houses of the world, including Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera New York and Glyndebourne.
Sir Geraint Evans in his most famous role, as Falstaff, at New York’s Metropolitan Opera
He was internationally renowned and particularly acclaimed in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff, performing it regularly throughout his career and producing it at one time for Welsh National Opera.
He was also President of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, holding the position when he died suddenly in 1992.
Anyone wanting to support the fund or to be part of the 2017 activities can register their interest with the College’s Development Department who are also keen to hear first-hand stories about Sir Geraint Evans from those who saw and heard him in performance.
The fund is already open for regular and single gifts as well as legacies and will be powerful in enabling an already highly respected and recognised area of the College’s training to develop even more in strength and reputation.
Development@rwcmd.ac.uk or 02920 391 1413
Editors notes
Since it started in 2010, the two year MA Opera Performance course at RWCMD has established a strong reputation within the industry for producing skilled, versatile singers, fully prepared to enter the profession. It’s been described by Kathryn Harries, Director of the National Opera Studio as ”the one the opera industry is talking about.”
The course provides a bridge into the industry for emerging young singers and repetiteurs, offering intensive training by recognised specialists in music, language, acting, movement and stagecraft.
Distinguished international artists contribute as mentors and teachers and directors and working partnerships have been developed with a number of professional opera companies including Mid Wales Opera, Music Theatre Wales and Welsh National Opera, where a number of our singers were cast in principal roles in their 2015 productions of The Magic Flute and Peter Pan.
Graduates have progressed quickly to perform principal roles with leading companies, including The Royal Opera, ENO, WNO, Opera North, Scottish Opera and Gyndebourne, as well as securing places at the prestigious National Opera Studio. For example, Justina Gringyte, who, in 2015, sang the title role in ENO’s production of Carmen and was named Best Young Singer at the 2015 International Opera Awards.
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