It makes one wonder how glamorous and exciting it must have been in the early 17th Century to have been witness to the surge of an art form that engulfs the audience in its vibrant and musical storytelling.
Organised by the performers, it was an attempt by the Conservatory to give them a taste of how a professional musician would put together a show. It was hosted by the Alliance Française of Madras. Opera recitals such as this have been performed regularly in Chennai for almost eight years.
CHENNAI: TAMIL NADU: 9/04/2018: Saket Mehta vocal recital by students of KM Music Conservatory at Alliance Francaise of Madas on Monday. Photo: V. Ganesan.
Adam Greig, the Academic Coordinator at the Conservatory said, “Part of the challenge is trying to get the audience to go watch an opera. They think it’s not for them until they try it. Then they relate to it because it’s visual, expressive and immersive.” The students proved that language is no barrier when it comes to opera. Hailing from different parts of the country, they performed pieces ranging from Franz Schubert’s famous ‘Ave Maria’ to Ben Moore’s ‘Content to be Behind Me’ (a piece that got the entire auditorium cackling). “It’s a funny take on the accompanist. In the opera world, the accompanist has to constantly adjust to the singer’s whims and fancies when they get carried away. This was a special mockery on that,” said Divya Iyer, one of the performers, about the satirical finale.It was a demolition of the idea that these recitals are way too long for comfort, and a bore. It was rather a night of bel canto (beautiful singing) and coloratura. Oh! And the beginning of an unfamiliar voyage into the realms of the wonderful opera.
CHENNAI: TAMIL NADU: 9/04/2018: Divya Iyer vocal recital by students of KM Music Conservatory at Alliance Francaise of Madas on Monday. Photo: V. Ganesan.
