Opera scholars’ twilight concert
OPERA Scholars Australia ‘Voices in the twilight’ concert at Beechworth’s George Kerferd Hotel on Thursday was a treat for music lovers.
The talent and professionalism of the 23 participating scholars under the baton of Pat Miller delighted the capacity audience.
Soprano Emma Wallace with the chorus gave a brilliant rendition of Mascagni’s Easter hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana – a piece she again performed at Opera in the Alps on Beechworth golf course on Saturday evening.
Works by Donizetti, Mozart, Handel , Bizet and Verdi also featured in the ‘Twilight’ program, together with songs from the musical Rent and Les Miserables.
Coloratura soprano Anna Voshege, the OSA’s 2013 scholar of the year, sang ‘The presentation of the rose’ from Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavelier.
“I feel so emotional at being back here in Beechworth and I am so grateful to Margo and Graeme Wall and the OSA for giving me the opportunity to study and pursue a career in singing,” Ms Voshege said.
The highly-skilled performer grew up in Melbourne and loved singing from a very young age.
She spent four years with OSA and has since made a dazzling musical career in Europe.
“After OSA I jetted off to Vienna to study for a masters in vocal performance at the Vienna Conservatorium,” she said.
“In the past two years I have been given some wonderful opportunities with the Vienna State Opera.
“I was a part of a world premiere of ‘Cinderella’, an opera composed by prodigy, 11-year-old British girl Alma Deutscher.
“I was one of the ugly stepsisters which was very special and so much fun.”
Ms Voshege said she had played Eurydice from ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ by Offenbach more recently Zerbinetta in the witty musical comedy ‘Ariadine auf Naxos’ by Richard Strauss.
“I perform at many concerts and sing in some of the most beautiful locations in Vienna, and throughout Europe,” she said.
“There is such a rich history, culture and love of music, and there is an opera house in every city so that it is a wonderful place to have a career, and it is not a matter of if you get a job, but when.
“In Australia there are just not enough jobs to go around and unfortunately some beautiful, amazing singers can just fall by the wayside .”