 NEWS UPDATE
Dear friends of Russian Opera Workshop, Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, Russian Opera Workshop 2020 has pivoted to an online Role Study Workshop. I am pleased to offer Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin as an additional online summer workshop. Auditions are not required. Visit RussianOperaWorkshop.com for details. One-on-one Russian diction and vocal coaching of Eugene Onegin roles will be available to opera singers on a rolling basis from May to September 2020. When it is safe to travel again, singers will have the option to visit my AVA studio in Philadelphia and run-through their roles (good through May 2021). While the current Summer Program was substantially restructured, Russian Opera Workshop Artists 2020 opted to participate online and study their assigned roles in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Eugene Onegin, Rachmaninoff’s Francesca da Rimini, and Rubinstein’s The Demon. Safety-first is the only right choice this summer. Therefore, all in-person activities, public masterclasses, and performances are cancelled. On a personal note, while downsizing the program to a solo operation this summer, I will deeply miss my team, faculty, and our loyal audience. When it is safe again, Russian Opera Workshop will be back! Be well. Ghenady Meirson Founder and Music Director Russian Opera Workshop  A fallen angel, the Demon is banished from heaven and is condemned to spend eternity alone. Angel appears and warns Demon not to destroy God’s creation and try to reconcile with heaven. Rebellious Demon rejects the idea. Enamored with Tamara, Demon woos her. "Tamara, love me! ... you will be the queen of the universe, my eternal companion," he whispers into her soul. Feeling fear and powerful temptation, Tamara succumbs to his seduction. Demon's kiss kills her and in the moment of conquest, he is defeated by the Angel who saves Tamara's soul. Alone again, Demon curses the universe. (Synopsis by Russian Opera Workshop)
 King René’s daughter Iolanta is blind from early childhood. Anguished and determined to find a cure, René creates a sheltered world where Iolanta is not to know of her blindness and no one is to reveal the truth for fear of execution. The great Moorish healer advises René that Iolanta must know of her misfortune and have desire to see light, only then the cure is possible. Lost in the woods, Count Vaudemont enters a beautiful palace garden where he meets Iolanta. He falls in love, discovers that she is blind and is the first person to explain the virtues of light. Furious king condemns Vaudemont to death. The event awakens Iolanta's desire to see light, to be cured and to save her beloved. (Synopsis by Russian Opera Workshop)
AUDITIONING NOW: June 2014 Workshop - "The Maid of Orleans" by Tchaikovsky - Philadelphia Premiere9/18/2013
 Joan of Arc statue by Emmanuel Frémiet. Located near Philadelphia Museum of Art. APPLICATION DEADLINES NEW! Live Audition Dates at AVA in Philadelphia on February 5, 6 & 7, 2014 Online by YouTube Video: March 15, 2014 Apply Now! Watch The Maid of Orleans Bolshoi TV Production CASTING Sopranos Joan of Arc - (range to high C) Agnès Sorel Angel Tenors King Charles VII Raymond, Joan's betrothed Baritones Dunois, a French knight Lionel, a Burgundian knight Basses Thibaut d'Arc, Joan's father Archbishop Bertrand, a peasant Soldier  Eugene Onegin and Vladimir Lensky's duel by Repin APPLICATION DEADLINES
NEW! Live Audition Dates at AVA in Philadelphia on February 5, 6 & 7, 2014 Online by YouTube Video: March 15, 2014 Apply Now! CASTING Tatyana - Soprano Olga - Contralto or Mezzo-Soprano Larina - Mezzo-Soprano Filipyevna - Mezzo-Soprano Lensky - Tenor Onegin - Baritone Gremin - Bass Zaretsky - Bass Triquet - Tenor Here's a fascinating two-part video. Hold on to your seat. Mikael Eliasen is a fearless and colorful personally.
I invited Mikael to give a master class at the Russian Opera Workshop 2011. As usual, he is booked for a few years in advance. We'll plan for 2012. Recently, Mikael celebrated 25th anniversary as the Artistic Director of the Curtis Opera Theatre and Head of Vocal Studies Department. Curtis' "Overtones" publication honored Mikael with an eloquent article contributed by the Wall Street Journal opera critic, Heidi Waleson. In Part I, Mikael talks about the 25th anniversary concert, his collaboration with violinist Pamela Frank and Curtis Institute of Music director, violist Roberto Diaz. He talks with great pride of his former students, Leila Claire and Elliot Madore, currently in the Metropolitan Opera Lindeman Program, and current Curtis students who have joined him in the celebration. Enjoy! - Ghena In Part II, I talk with Mikael Eliasen about how we listen to music, both for pleasure and in auditions. With 500 applicants for Curtis voice department alone, it is a fascinating look at the audition process.
Enjoy! - Ghena |
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