Our OperaFirst programme introduces the next generation to the wonderful world of opera through in-school workshops and live performances at our Opera Pavilion. We aim to inspire creativity, build confidence and open pathways to lifelong engagement with the arts at Garsington and beyond.
Over the past few months our team, including a director, musical director and professional singer, have been into 12 secondary schools and SEND groups across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire delivering workshops on Verdi’s La traviata. In the fun, interactive workshops, young people are introduced to the story of the opera before performing a scene for themselves. As well as getting a taster of performing, they are also shown many of the behind-the-scenes roles involved in the production with students given the opportunity to direct their own interpretation of Violetta’s death in La traviata. Some of the most imaginative settings of the scene include Violetta choking on a McDonald’s McFlurry and a tragic poolside accident in Ibiza.
“The experience that I had today was amazing, the best workshop of my life ”
Secondary school pupil
“We’ve been working with young people from all walks of life and it’s extraordinary when you see their reaction to hearing Violetta sing up close. What’s particularly fulfilling is when they engage our professional singer with questions like “how do you sing so high?” or “what age were you when you started singing?” Hearing their enthusiasm for opera is so rewarding when, for most of them, they have never encountered it before, and seeing their creative confidence grow throughout the day is what it’s all about!”
Karen Gillingham, Creative Director of Learning & Participation and workshop director for La traviata OperaFirst
All the schools who received a La traviata workshop will attend a full performance of the opera starring our Alvarez Emerging Artists in the principal roles with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the pit.
“I enjoyed hearing Jess sing to us and being able to create our own scene in the opera.”
Secondary school pupil
OperaFirst continues with with 15 workshops across primary schools over the coming weeks exploring Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse ahead of a special shortened and interactive version presented by the school workshop leaders. This lively performance includes backstage elements of the production which brings the fascinating world of opera to life on the Opera Pavilion stage.
Find out more about our OperaFirst programme using the links below.
