Vocalypse - Opera From Scratch

What is Opera From Scratch?

Opera From Scratch is a one week long workshop which will allow five composers and five singers to develope five 10 minute operas for solo voice and piano. Each composer will be expected to complete their work six weeks prior to the workshop, and each singer will be required to learn one work before attending. Composers will be paired with singers as of April 15th, 2012. Composers are asked to base their mini-opera on a Famous Nova Scotian historical figure.

During Opera from Scratch, the five mini-operas will be intensively workshopped in consultation with a senior composer/mentor and singing teacher in private daily sessons. A resident pianist will be available for private rehearsals and masterclasses will be given by a new music singing specialist, dramaturge, and a theatre director. Both composers and singers will be expected to attend each other's lessons in order to gain insight into each other's creative process. Masterclasses will be available to all participants. Well known CBC radio host and music educator Adrian Hoffman will present an opening lecture on the history and themes of opera.

Click Here to read about the mentors

Senior Canadian composer James Rolfe will serve as our mentor for the week. Mr. Rolfe is a perfect choice for this workshop, having recently won the Louis Applebaum Composers Award for his outstanding work in the field of opera, and he is well known for his first opera – Beatrice Chancy, with libretto by George Elliott Clarke. Mr. Rolfe will have individual sessions with each composer during the week as well as offering master classes for the singers.

We want Opera from Scratch to be an organic/collaborative process where the composers and singers are exposed to each others’ methods, resulting in a better understanding of the depth of thought, creativity, and effort that goes into creating even a short work, from both the composer's and singer's perspective. Singers often have reservations about performing new works, but an intimate exchange such as this will help composers approach singers in ways that relax them and help them overcome their fears.

Above all, singers need to understand exactly what the composer intends, and composers need to understand how to write for different types of voice and communicate their intent to singers. We hope that this intensive week of Opera from Scratch workshops will assist both in this regard – and perhaps sow the seeds for a whole new generation of exciting Canadian and International operas.

Opera From Scratch is generously sponsored by:

The Nova Scotia Department of Communties, Culture, and Heritage
Cultural Activities Program