Harpenden Choral Society
   Registered charity 275986
President: Hon. Alderman Chris Oxley

OPERATUNITY WORKSHOP
A personal review by choir member Caroline Roberts
Photos by MIchael Powles

On Saturday 26th January 2013 Harpenden Choral Society welcomed choir and guests to an opera workshop in preparation for our March concert:
‘A Night at the Opera’.

Choir President, the Hon. Alderman Chris Oxley welcomes participants to the ‘Operatunity Workshop’.

Saturday was certainly an ‘Operatunity’ to savour! Not only did we learn some useful tips on projecting our voices, diction etc but we were also enthusiastically led into the world of opera singing by the experienced Howard Charles,

Howard Charles giving the choir an insight into the world of opera

two wonderfully enthusiastic and gifted soloists Olivia Ray and James Cleverton, accompanist in the morning Andrew Sackett, not to mention our very own conductor John Andrews and accompanist Vivien Powles.

James Cleverton as Escamillo, the Toreador, is waylaid by one of his adoring fans as he enters a square in Seville accompanied by the much despised guard, the Alguazil, although they seem to have had rather too much sangria for lunch here, much to the delight of the local townspeople!

I found it fascinating to hear how opera soloists go about stamping their own interpretation and individuality on to the parts they play, which are of course so well known to many of their audiences. I felt that their obvious delight in singing was truly inspiring for most of us present.

John Andrews, Olivia Ray, James Cleverton and Howard Charles discuss opera in an open question and answer session at the end of the day.

The Committee, too, did us proud, with great organisation all round and, in particular, by making sure there were lots of  lovely cakes  to go with the coffee and tea breaks!

All in all, an informative, fun and great way to spend a Saturday.