Choir News
by Amelia
Amelia, one of the young Cathedral Choristers, writes about her experience singing in the Glyndebourne Festival this year.
Tosca performance at Glyndebourne Festival this year in which Ameila sang
Being a part of the children’s chorus in Glyndebourne’s first ever Tosca has been a very fun and memorable experience. In the audition process, which was over a weekend in February, we were split into groups - as there were about 300 children auditioning - and learnt some music from the opera and choreographed some movement to go with it. This was for the vocal and movement coaches to see how well we could act and sing while remembering choreography, but the chaperones (who accompany under 18s around the opera house) were also watching to see how we took on feedback and interacted with other singers.
Once I had officially been selected alongside 10 other children from GYO (Glyndebourne Youth Opera) to be part of the children’s chorus for Tosca, we began rehearsals including an ‘intensive week’ where we learnt the music and movement for the opera in more depth.
During the intensive week, we got to work with and learn from one of the assistant directors, Ollie Platt, vocal coach Mary King, baritone in the Glyndebourne chorus Andrew Davies and Italian coach Alessandra Testai. After the intensive week in April where we learnt the music, we were joined by ten boys from Trinity School and began to stage the opera. This was when we finally got to meet the director, Ted Huffman. This was done in a big room the size of the stage where the set can be put up for rehearsal purposes while other operas might be using the stage, and as Tosca is part of the summer season which is a very busy time at Glyndebourne, it was there that we did all of our rehearsals up until the dress rehearsal!
The dress rehearsal was open to the public and was when many performers’ families and friends came and watched. The children’s chorus are only on in the first of three acts in Tosca, [informally referred to as the Te Deum scene] so we usually went home after we had finished performing. However, for the open dress, opening and closing night, we were allowed to stay until the end for the curtain call. There are two separate runs of Tosca with different principal casts and we are currently on the break in between runs. I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of being in this opera, from the stage to the dressing rooms, and am so grateful for the opportunity to sing with world renowned opera singers! I have loved performing in Tosca and very much look forward to the second set of performances!