First stop: Italia

Opera Road Trip is Operavision’s new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future.   Opera Road Trip’s first episode is, dutifully, dedicated to opera in Italy. We hear from Danila Grassi, a young conductor making her way in what in Italy is still a male-dominated world; from author, critic and librettist Alberto Mattioli and from the CEO of the Rome Opera house (Teatro dell’Opera di Roma) Francesco Giambrone about the current state of opera in the country of its birth, political influence and what seems to be working in the search for new audiences.   Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d’Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera. On OperaVision you can hear him speak about Korngold’s Violante: https://operavision.eu/de/partner/teatro-regio-torino or read his article about Metastasio: https://operavision.eu/feature/metastasio-28-opera-librettos-and-still-counting   All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/operav...   Music extracts:  Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 L’Orfeo (Monteverdi): La Musica, Claire Lees; Orfeo, Ed Lyon, Garsington Opera Le Convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Donizetti):  Paolo Bordogna, Wexford Festival Opera Tosca (Puccini): Te Deum, Roberto Frontali, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma   OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

In the final episode of this Next Generation series, we ask two experts working at Oper Frankfurt to share their understanding of the challenges facing young artists entering a programme. From the shock of that first time on the main stage, to finding a common language when it comes to technique, and finally allowing the personality to really shine through, Felice Venanzoni and Hedwig Fassbender offer candid advice on all aspects of nurturing operatic talent with sensitivity and respect. Watch now on OperaVision Opera for Peace documentary with Leonardo Sanchez Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Il Viaggio a Reims from Young Artists at the Rossini Opera Festival Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music Extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Aquela Moça (Luís de Freitas Branco) mezzo soprano Claudia Ribas accompanied by Felice Venanzoni La Traviata Addio bel passato with soprano Karolina Bengtsson accompanied by Yuna Saito Rape of Lucretia (Britten) Give him this orchid with mezzo soporano Claudia Ribas accompanied by Yuna Saito

This month, we’re joined by young artists Chiara Boccabella and Francesco Leone in the run up to the Accademia Rossiniana Alberto Zedda this summer.  They share thoughts on preparing for auditions (the key lies in character!), and how exactly to bring lightness and joy to singing Rossini so that it feels (almost) effortless. Watch now on OperaVision Opera for Peace documentary with Leonardo Sanchez Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music Extracts all from Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims at the Accademia Rossiniana 2023 Introduction & closing: Il Viaggio a Reims (opening) Con sì dotta il nobil gente, di fanal che serve al mondo with mezzo-soprano Seray Pinar (Cast B) Sì, di matti una gran gabbia with baritone Andrés Cascante (Cast A)

This month, we are back with our emerging artists from Palau de les Arts in Valencia, where we discover how steady and slow is the key to vocal progression, how going beyond your comfort zone is necessary when hustling for work, and which key elements to take from a programme into the professional world. Mezzo-soprano Laura Orueta takes her first professional steps and soprano Iria Goti looks ahead to her final stretch in Valencia and life beyond.    Music  Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture I Hate Music; Tavouk Guenksis; Piccola Serenata de Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) with Iria Goti, soprano, José Alberto Sancho, piano Enllà de l’origen (from Els asfòdels) by Matilde Salvador (1918-2007) Laura Orueta, mezzo soprano, José Alberto Sancho, piano   Dame, dame la noche del desnudo by Juan Durán (1960) with Marcelo Solís, baritone, José Alberto Sancho, piano   Watch now on OperaVision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg from Teatro Real, Madrid Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly

This month, we’re back at Oper Frankfurt following up with our four young artists, where juggling roles and dealing with vocal fatigue are part of life at the height of a busy season.  Our singers share stories of setting boundaries, juggling repertoire, and how sometimes saying no is essential to protecting both vocal and mental health. Featuring sopranos Nombulelo Yende and Clara Hyoyoung Kim, mezzo-soprano Helene Feldbauer, and baritone Jarrett Porter.   Watch now on Opera Vision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music extracts Norma (Bellini) aria Norma: Casta diva, Nombulelo Yende, Moniuszko Vocal Competition Winterreise (Schubert) Gute Nacht Jarrett Porter at the Oper Frankfurt Soirée. Pianist Felice Venanzoni  Ständchen (Schubert) Zögend, leise Helene Feldbauer at the Oper Frankfurt Soiree. Pianist Yuna Saito

In an industry where self-doubt can be paralysing, Opera for Peace Ambassador and soprano Ailyn Perez shares her techniques for helping emerging artists to trust their voices, how to navigate away from the feeling of continually being judged, and she acknowledges her own vulnerability when approaching a new piece – a reminder that even those at the pinnacle of their careers experience moments of uncertainty.  Meanwhile, young tenor Matteo Ivan Rašic questions whether as a singer you need to be self-centred, and reflects on the significance of success as the son of a refugee family, giving a personal perspective on the stakes involved in pursuing a career in the arts.   Watch now on Opera Vision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Donizetti ‘Quel guardo il cavaliere’ from Don Pasquale, with soprano Nanami Yoneda and pianist Kamal Khan Mozart ‘Se vuol ballare’ from Le Nozze di Figaro, with bass baritone Ihor Mostovai and pianist Carmen Santoro Charpentier ‘Depuis le jour’ from Louise, with soprano Oksana Sliubyk and pianist Kamal Khan

With its extensive international travel, sets and costumes created for individual productions, many of which are then disposed of, opera does not have a reputation for being particularly green. However, companies and individuals are now making great strides towards sustainability in the face of the climate crisis and are continuing to find ways to make spaces and performances more environmentally sustainable. In this episode we find out how activists and individuals are challenging the status quo - working towards sustainability in the face of the climate crisis.  Nina speaks to Sebastien Gueze, the French Tenor and activist responsible for publishing the BIOPERA essay, who now also works as a sustainability consultant for the French government, and Italian Stage Director Ilaria Lanzino who has directed a pilot CO2 neutral production at Oper Leipzig.   Watch now on Opera Vision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly   Eco entertainment Masque of Might from Opera North   Music extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Massenet ‘Alors c'est bien ici’ from Werther with tenor Mario Chang and the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Sivan Eldar ‘Wood behaviour’ from Like Flesh (words: Cordelia Lynn) with soprano Juliette Allen and baritone William Dazeley from Opéra de Lille. Watch flashback here Handel ‘Verdi prati’ from Alcina with countertenor Patrick Terry at Opera North. Watch flashback here Find out more about Ilaria Lanzino here Find out more about Sebastien Guèze here Access Sebastien’s BIOPÉRA Essay (in French) here Find out about Opera North’s Green Season here

For many artists there are barriers that go much deeper than the gender binary, but how can we ensure people of every gender have real access and are genuinely welcomed in the opera world?  Trailblazing American baritone Lucia Lucas reveals the highs and lows of inhabiting a role close to her heart; Lili Elbe at the Theater St. Gallen, about the eponymous painter who was the first person to have gender confirmation surgery in the 1930s.  Meanwhile, Spanish director, designer and visual artist Marta Pazos explores the world of intersexuality through her production of Alexina B at the Gran Teatre del Liceu In Barcelona; she shares how she brought the story of Herculine Barbin vividly to life.   Additional voiceovers by Celia Grau  Translation supervised by Joan Soley    View the OperaVision website here   Watch now on Opera Vision Lili Elbe by composer Tobias Picker & librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman Oper Frankfurt documentary From Studio to Stage Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana Masterclass with Sarah Connolly   More here about Alexina B   Music extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture All other extracts from Lili Elbe Theater St. Gallen featuring baritone Lucia Lucas, soprano Sylvia D’Eramo and bass Msimelelo Mbali  

‘Classical opera has a racism problem’ ran a headline in the New York Times in 2019, one of many articles in recent years to discuss the subject. Racism is high on the list of issues the opera world is looking to tackle, and in this episode we’re joined by two artists from different sides of the Atlantic, exploring how they are striving to create an opera and classical music culture that better reflects the communities they serve. View the OperaVision website here Watch now on Opera Vision Oper Frankfurt From Studio to Stage Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Verdi ‘Dance of the young Moorish slaves’ from Aida at Opera di Roma view flashback here Mozart ‘Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden’ from Die Zauberflöte at the Royal College of Music with tenor Dafydd Jones Verdi ‘D’un uom che geme sotto il tuo disdegno’ from Otello at Poznań Opera with soprano Iwona Sobotka and tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones view performance here Loki Karuna https://www.lokikaruna.com/ Pegasus Opera https://pegasusoperacompany.org/  

‘Is opera the most misogynistic art form?’ asked Charlotte Higgins in The Guardian back in 2016, noting that the genre itself seems to devour women. In Classical Music Magazine in 2020, Becca Marriott argued that ‘Sexism is preventing women from forging a career in opera’. Over the course of the next episodes, we are looking at how voices in opera are calling for change to make it better for the next generation of operatic talent. In this episode, we investigate misogyny in opera both on the stage and behind the scenes, and investigate the lived experience of artists who are striving to make the opera world a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and safe.   View the OperaVision website here Watch now on Opera Vision Oper Frankfurt From Studio to Stage Opera for Peace Masterclasses with Ailyn Perez & Brian Jagde Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini), Rossini Opera Festival Accademia Rossiniana BBC Cardiff Singer of the World with Nombulelo Yende Dana Lynne Varga www.danavarga.com The Empowered Musician https://theempoweredmusician.com/ Mass Opera https://massopera.org/ Rosie Middleton https://rosiemiddleton.com/ Derri Joseph Lewis https://derrijosephlewis.com/   Music extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Bizet ‘L'amour est un oiseau rebelle’ (Habanera) from Carmen with mezzo-soprano Evgenia Asanova at the Staatsoper Hannover. Watch extract here   Massenet ‘Je marche sur tous les chemins’ from Manon with soprano Elsa Dreisig at the Hamburg State Opera. Watch extract here   Donizetti 'Regnava nel silenzio' from Lucia di Lammermoor with soprano Lisette Oropesa at the Teatro Real Madrid. Watch full extract here