We are pleased to welcome Iain back to work with us. Again, in addition to Mozart, he would welcome some Lieder by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, or Wolf. As always, we hope you would like to study some recitative. Also we will be glad to try setting up duets and trios – please suggest what you might like to do (maybe a recitative scene), or indicate which Mozart roles you feel are suitable to your voice.

Each singer may book either one or two sessions of approximately 25 minutes. Some places will be reserved for less-experienced singers. Please would you let us know your repertoire at least a fortnight in advance.

The class will be held on Sunday 20 July, 1100-1800 at 49 Great Ormond Street

Please respond promptly as these sessions usually get booked up quickly. However, by the final fortnight (at the latest), we need to have filled the session; at that point we have the option to shorten or cancel it if necessary. Late-comers may still apply, and if necessary go on a standby list.

The rates for singing participants will be either £40 for one or £75 for two sessions. (In the case of ensembles each 25’ session would be approximately £44 shared between participants.) Listeners may attend for £8 per day. A non-returnable deposit (£10 for singers/£4 for listeners) will be required to secure your place (otherwise we cannot guarantee to keep it) – it will be returnable if we do not have a place available. The balance cheque becomes due 14 days before the masterclass, when you become responsible for paying your fee even if you have to withdraw, unless you/(we) can find a substitute to take your place. Cheques should be made out to Floral Opera.

To apply, please contact Lina Johnsson, who is kindly co-ordinating these sessions for us, sending her the attached application form. Her email is lina@sweetmusic.info. She will request the deposit cheque (preferably accompanied by printed application) and give you an address to send it to.

With best wishes,

Gil Elgar & Gillian Ward
Floral Opera Administrators
IAIN LEDIINGHAM was on the music staff at Glyndebourne for many years, and has worked extensively as an accompanist for singers and instrumentalists. He is also an experienced choral and orchestral conductor, and as continuo player or choir trainer has worked with leading conductors. He has been teaching at the Royal Academy of Music for 15 years, and was Director of Opera there from 2000 until the end of 2003. He is especially knowledgeable about the art of singing Mozart, which is a particular interest of his.

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FLORAL OPERA is a non-profit-making educational group, which provides serious study courses for those who want to learn more about opera performance, with opportunities for studying stage-skills and opera singing in original languages to as high a standard as possible, under the direction of tutors with professional opera experience.

Floral Opera’s origins go back to the Practical Opera Weekends devised by Richard Gregson, which he and Nina Walker subsequently developed as part of the Royal Opera House’s educational programme. The courses are designed to provide training for singers of all levels of ability, whether they are intending to enter the music profession, or those with little experience who are seeking an educational course to study the practical aspects of opera. There are auditions for principals in the opera courses but none for chorus. Any auditions for Masterclasses will be arranged at the tutors’ discretion.

Future plans: Vocal masterclasses in the summer: Carlos Fernandez Aransay (15 June tbc), and possibly others. Stagecraft: John Ramster (28 June)
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