Opera experience - Essex Music Service project with Gabrieli Roar
On 15th and 16th October Essex Music Service was proud to support a project with Gabrieli Roar to give students a first-hand experience of opera singing alongside professional singers and musicians. The students were gathered from St John Payne School, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, King Edward VI Grammar School and the Essex Youth Choir.
Over an intensive two-day workshop, students studied the music of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell led by Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort. Paul McCreesh is one of the UK’s greatest champions of musical opportunities for young people, leading hugely successful performances of colossal choral works across the country’s greatest and most impressive venues, enabling thousands of students to develop a life-long love of choral singing.
The students, who had learnt the music previously with their school music teachers, took on the chorus roles of courtiers, sailors and witches, while members of the Gabrieli Consort took the lead roles. The performance was accompanied by the Gabrieli players, the quality of the music was outstanding and the final performance emotional. It was fantastic to see students so involved performing with professionals and learning about Baroque opera.