EXCITEMENT is building for tomorrow night’s opening of La Bohème at The Armidale School’s Hoskins Centre.
Directed by George Torbay and conducted by Bruce Menzies, the local company of Opera New England features singers in training with Conservatoriums of Music from Sydney Brisbane and Melbourne.
The singers have been in Armidale for a week of intensive rehearsal.
Rowena Cowley, a senior lecturer in voice and the director of performance research at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, has arrived in Armidale to assist the company with mentoring the singers with a number of her students in the production.
“This model of opera is unique to anywhere in the world, the opportunity for these young singers to perform in a full scale production with such a level of professionalism is truly amazing” Dr Cowley said.
“La Bohème is such a great love story and to see and hear the singers in rehearsal playing the characters of their own age is so moving.
“I must admit the finale had me dabbing my eyes. It is so tragic but beautiful.”
The Armidale production of La Bohème is set in Paris in 1900 with the technical side of the production featuring all the elements of winter.
Seats are still available for all performances, but patrons are urged to be quick.
Tickets online at operanewengland.com or from Carrs Newsagency in the mall.
