London Bel Canto Festival
THE LONDON BEL CANTO FESTIVAL ACADEMY
THE LONDON BEL CANTO FESTIVAL ACADEMY
5 - 24 August 2019
5 - 24 August 2019
Master Class Series 2018 Included
Bruce Ford
Bruce Ford
The highly acclaimed tenor Bruce Ford will be returning this year as our master teacher. Mr. Ford works directly with each student on technique and interpretation. His master classes offer students refine the treasured Italian bel canto style. He is one of the finest Tenors to have graced the operatic arena, Bruce Ford first rose to fame as one of the pioneers of the hugely significant Rossini revival. Since then he went on to stamp his credentials over a wide variety of repertoire, delighting both public and critics the world over and deservedly earning his unique place in operatic history.
Aprile Millo (2018)
Aprile Millo (2018)
We were so honoured to have the magnificent soprano Aprile Millo as a visiting master this year! Mme. Millo gave private singing lessons and a public master class during the course. The beloved soprano has for over twenty-five years been a beacon of style, a voice with an authentic Verdi sound and idiomatic phrasing; the genuine article lirico-spinto soprano d’agilita’, Millo has been thrilling audiences since her Cinderella-like debut at the Metropolitan Opera in December of 1984 literally caused a sensation. The newspapers the next day heralded the birth of "A New Verdi Star," and more than 30 years later Millo is still winning praise from critics and often frenzied ovations from an adoring public.
Singing Lessons
Singing Lessons
All students will receive daily singing lessons or coaching by the major teachers Bruce Ford, Ken Querns-Langley and other vocal faculty members. You will be able to sit in on lessons and coaching of other singers with their permission. It is expected that you will participate in master classes unless you are excused for a private lesson. Repertoire should be submitted in advance with your application. You will be expected to work exclusively on this repertoire.
Performances and Master Classes
Performances and Master Classes
Master classes will be given by the most celebrated international faculty Bruce Ford, Ken Querns Langley and Maestro David Parry. For 2018 we were very honoured to have Aprile Millo as a visiting master who gave private lessons and a master class. Every student will be given the opportunity to sing in a public performance, recital and/or master class according to their level. Performances will include solo aria and ensemble singing. Both public and private master classes will be offered, and everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the Young Artist's Concert, but solos will only be offered to those that attain the highest performance level judged by the faculty.
Repertoire Coaching and Language
Repertoire Coaching and Language
Students will also receive daily coaching sessions by of the two major repertoire coaches Harriet Lawson, Roberto Bertuzzi and Janus Araghipour. There will also be song repertoire coaches throughout the festival. There will also be classes and coaching given in the diction of Italian by Roberto Bertuzzi, German by Gerhard Gall, as well as French.
Theatricality and Performance Practice
Theatricality and Performance Practice
There will be different classes on theatrical interpretation and movement. Students will be able to hone their performance skills in classes with each other. There will also be courses on historical performance practice, bel canto history, and concepts in bel canto pedagogy including registration, breath management, vocal resonation strategies, and more.
Festival Performances
Festival Performances
This could be your chance to have a professional debut recital in London!
This could be your chance to have a professional debut recital in London!
Performances
Performances
Recitals and Concerts will be available for wonderful venues in London and will be open to the public. They will be fully ticketed events and will offer the emerging artists the opportunity to demonstrate their skills for an appreciative audience. The repertoire will be chosen by the performer and is not limited to bel canto, but should be chosen according to the individual's voice from the greater song and performance repertoire. Recitals are very personal and should represent the individual performers as well as inform the audience about your chosen repertoire. You will be required to list your proposed recital repertoire for the application.
Master Classes
Master Classes
As part of the academy, there will be both public and private masterclasses. The public master classes will take place during the festival itself and will occur alongside the recitals. While it may not be advantageous for a singer to take part in a master class the day of their recital, they may be chosen to take part in one on an alternate date if they wish. Master classes will be given by Maestro David Parry, world-renowned artists Bruce Ford, Nelly Miricioiu, the founder of the festival Ken Querns Langley, other will be confirmed during the year.
Instructors
Instructors
Below is a list of instructors both principle and master class, click on the names or the links above for fuller biographies.
Below is a list of instructors both principle and master class, click on the names or the links above for fuller biographies.
Bruce Ford
Bruce Ford
Master Singing Teacher
Master Singing Teacher
American tenor Bruce Ford is acknowledged internationally as one of the finest singers of his generation. His exceptionally demanding repertoire is highlighted by many of the most challenging Mozart and bel canto roles, which have brought him consistent acclaim throughout North America and Europe. Numerous major opera houses have revived unjustly neglected works especially for him.
K E Querns Langley
K E Querns Langley
Singing Teacher
Singing Teacher
Ken is bel canto specialist tenor and a doctoral research scholar in Historical Performance Practice at the Royal College of Music London. He has 15 years teaching experience and has students in operas and conservatoires around the world. He regularly presents his academic research at conferences and based on his research he is expected to publish a bel canto singing treatise after his doctorate.
Aprile Millo
Aprile Millo
2018
Very Honoured
Visiting Master Classes
2018
Very Honoured
Visiting Master Classes
Mme. Millo has sung over 180 performances of 15 different roles at her artistic home the Metropolitan Opera. Outside of New York, Mme. Millo has triumphed in the theaters of Frankfurt, Barcelona, Parma, Rome, Bologna, Torino, the Arena di Verona, the Baths of Caracalla, Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, Orange, Moscow, Rio de Janero, Sao Paolo, Sanitago, Colon - Buenos Aires and of course La Scala, Milano and many more.
Nelly Miricioiu-Kirk
Nelly Miricioiu-Kirk
Spotlight Master Class
Nelly is one of the most versatile artists of our day. Her repertoire extends from Mozart and bel canto to Verdi, Puccini and verismo, to modern Italian opera such as Respighi and Zandonai, taking in French and Russian composers too. As Rodney Milnes wrote in Opera Magazine "this extraordinary diva can sing anything and sing it well ".
Harriet Lawson
Harriet Lawson
Vocal Coach
Vocal Coach
Maestro collaboratore di sala, Italian coach, Cembalista, Maestro al piano, Répétiteur, Vocal coach
Ente Autonomo Teatro Verdi di Trieste
Teatro Massimo di Palermo
Théâtre de l’Opéra de Bordeaux
Radio Suisse
Rossini Opera Festival
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Teatro Piccolo “Giorgio Strehler” di Milano
Festival de Radio France Montpellier.
Britten Pears School, Aldeburgh
Docente e maestro al piano/cembalo “The Actor – Singer” ai masterclass della fondazione Walton a Ischia dal 1988-1999
Docente Solti Peretti Masterclass per maestri collaboratori
Docente Academia D'Arte Lirica di Osimo 1998- present day
Maestro David Parry
Maestro David Parry
Conductor
Conductor
David Parry is acknowledged as an inspirational champion of operatic, concert and symphonic repertoire across a vast range. He has been responsible for the re-appraisal of countless lesser-known compositions in a series of multi-award-winning productions and recordings, featuring some of the world’s finest singers.
Roberto Bertuzzi
Roberto Bertuzzi
Italian Repertoire Coach
Italian Repertoire Coach
Master abilitante presso Facoltà di Scienze Umane (UNIPD) l’Università degli studi di Padova in Didattica, Didattica Speciale e Pedagogia, Pedagogia Speciale. Pedagogia Musicale, Didattica Musicale e Direzione di coro al Conservatorio “Cesare Pollini” di Padova. Inizia, già da allievo del Conservatorio l'attività concertistica in qualità di solista, camerista, organista e pianista accompagnatore di cantanti in ambito lirico, suona nei teatri di: Bologna, Modena, Castelfranco, Vittorio Veneto, Frosinone, Ferrara, Palazzo Reale Milano all’estero Austria. Suona per i decentramenti del Teatro la Fenice, sala Maffeiana del Teatro Filarmonico di Verona, per Festivals, Enti, Associazioni, Ateneo Veneto, Sale Apollinee Teatro la Fenice, Sala Giganti Padova, Circoli Artistici Festivals Organistici.
Janus Araghipour
Janus Araghipour
Repertoire Coach
Repertoire Coach
Janus' playing is both masterful and moving. He is at once sensitive and powerful while eliciting the finest sonority from each note.
Janus has an innate musicality that transcends instruments and inspires the finest singing. His attention to details with the vocal line and uncompromising perfectionism ensures that each voice reaches its potential.
Gerhard Gall
Gerhard Gall
German Language Coach
German Language Coach
As a German language coach, Gerhard he has worked with singers of the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Bayreuther Festspiele, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Cardiff/Welsh International Academy of Voice, and the National Opera Studio, London.