The annual Opera Workshop gets under way in Tel Aviv.
By HELEN KAYEISRAELI MEZZO-SOPRANO Zlata Khershber.(photo credit: MAXIM REIDER)
Now in its 31st year, the always popular International Opera Workshop takes place at the Tel Aviv Music Conservatory from July 9-22, just under two weeks of individual coaching and master classes from internationally renowned opera professionals for aspiring young opera singers from here and abroad.Ten of the events are open to the public and include two fully staged operas. They are Ravel’s mischievous L’enfant et les Sortileges (The Child and the Magicians) (July 17 and July 20), a one-acter that concerns a bratty kid whose toys as well, as live things he’s broken and abused, turn on him, and Rossini’s immortal The Barber of Seville (July 16 and July 18).Two of this year’s guests, Dan Ettinger and Chen Reiss, are workshop alumni. Ettinger, who started his professional life as a baritone, is now a world renowned conductor – he’ll conduct Tosca at Covent Garden next February – will do a special master class (July 19), and Reiss, who’s singing the tragic Liu in the Israel Philharmonic’s performance of Turandot this July, is also giving a master class.Other events include “An Evening in Beaumarchais’ Garden” that comprises arias from operas whose libretti he wrote among the rest, and the whimsically titled “Take Me to Your Lieder,” which is a master class by vocal coach/teacher Armin Zanner and pianist Bretton Brown on how to sing lieder, or art songs.The workshop starts with a free concert on July 10 and ends with a gala evening of arias, duets and ensembles at the Tel Aviv Museum on July 22 accompanied by the Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra.Coordinator for the workshop this year is Israeli soprano Sharon Rostorf-Zamir, professor of voice at Tel Aviv University’s Buchmann-Mehta Music School.Tickets range from NIS 50 – NIS 120.For more info visit www.summeroperatlv.co.il.