Cosi Fan Tutte masterclass @VerbierFestival

The free events at the Verbier Festival are some of the most interesting and absorbing. This morning I went along to the Cinema where Barbara Bonney was holding a masterclass, preparing six of the top opera students for a performance of "Cosi Fan Tutte".

Luckily, I had seen a production of this Mozart opera only a few weeks ago, so I did know the story.

Barbara Bonney was working on the acting - and took these talented names of the future well beyond their comfort zones. The singing was divine - and to make sense of this "comedy" was another matter.

As well as leading these gifted young musicians to a deeper understanding and awareness, Barbara Bonney helped us to a clearer insight into how tough it is to prepare to sing/act/perform etc.....

Names to watch
Fernando Araujo (Brazilian) - assured Don Alfonso
Emoke Barath (Hungarian) - soprano who tackled Fiordiligi
Toby Girling (British) - baritone who grew visibly as Guglielmo
Sonia Grane( Portuguese) - sparkling Despina
John Matthew Myers (American) - a future top tenor whose voice I could have listened to forever - learning to bring the acting of Ferrando to the same heights
Norma Nahoun (French) - a wonderful Dorabella who I am sure we will hear of again.

Thank you Verbier for this delight

- and the concert yesterday evening was brilliant too.
During the interval we even had a spectacular double rainbow - marking a very special occasion

double rainbow over Verbier