Wonder what it's like singing opera? Not easy, right? Now imagine singing in Russian! Ghenady Meirson, a Russian emigre and operatic vocal coach, is an expert in training singers to master the very challenging Russian language and performance style.
The language of music is tonality. In vocal music, tonality and words are combined with the voice to produce a result. The words can be in any language, and in the world of opera those words are vital. Italian, French and Spanish, aside, Russian presents special problems. And it is to that end that Ghenady Meirson founded the Russian Opera Workshop in 2011.
Opera singers from near and far have gathered in Philadelphia for the last two summers for either the June or July Workshop - a month-long immersion program in conversational Russian and learning the art of performing Russian opera via coaching and master classes.
http://youtu.be/GoJ16wPMwCQ
On this week's Crossover we're on location with Mr. Meirson and his colleagues who conduct the Workshop training. Guests include Russian Opera Workshop founder and Program Director Mr. Meirson, who is also an AVA and Curtis faculty member, renowned baritone and AVA faculty member William Stone, 2012 Met Opera Auditions Finalist baritone Nicholas Masters, and Philadelphia Singers and Curtis Opera Musical Director David Hayes.
A concert production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades, featuring Russian Opera Workshop students, will be performed on July 24, 25, and 26, 7:30 pm, at AVA's Warden Theater near Rittenhouse Square. Free admission.More Information Here