News & Views

Baritone Roderick WIlliams shares six steps to help learning a role

Audition Oracle – Wed 9 Oct 2024 @ 12:55

Need help learning a role?

International baritone Roderick WIlliams shares "six little steps to help learning a role".

Photograph by Theo Williams

1. Explore the source

When possible, enjoy exploring the source novel/story/poem although bear in mind what changes 'opera-fication’ make on the original. What you learn in terms of back story may or may not be useful in creating your operatic character.

2. Pay attention to ALL the text

Especially when working in a foreign language (and apart from all the language coaching you may require to sing the role) it’s worth paying attention not only to what your character says, but what others say to you. It avoids your having to stare blankly whenever someone else is singing to you!

3. Discover or create your character's backstory

Bearing thoughts 1) and 2) in mind, comb the libretto for any mentions of your character outside your scenes. How do other characters relate to you? Any clues you might find in the libretto to flesh out your back-story will be useful in giving your characterisation depth. And when there are few or no clues, then let your imagination run wild!

4. Can you relate to, or understand your character?

It’s easiest to base a character on yourself. Even when playing over-dramatic monsters (and there are a few of them in opera!), whether you like the character you are playing or not, for it to ring true, you need to try to find a way in. Perhaps you can ask yourself, "what choice would I have made in this situation?".  And when that choice is different, try to understand what it is about your character that causes them to turn in their direction. And on some level, you have to try to invest in that choice.

5. Give your work a test run

Some people learn operatic roles by themselves, others do a lot of work with singing teachers, opera repetiteurs and language coaches. I find it’s really useful at some point before formal rehearsals begin to sing your role through to somebody. It could be someone with operatic experience who can give you advice from a position of knowledge, but it could be someone who gives you an instinctive response. Can they hear your text clearly? Does your emotional journey ring true?

6. Observing other interpretations

Audio and video sources are a very useful tool. It is fascinating to observe how singers, both famous and relatively unknown, have tackled a role and how hugely varied stage directors' responses can be.  When possible, exploring many different versions can help you work out how you want to express the role yourself, stealing the best ideas and rejecting aspects you don’t like. If you have a favourite recording, by all means use that in your learning process but know when it is time to leave it behind. It can be weirdly useful to find details in even the best performances when you think, I’d do that differently. Always go back to the score as your ultimate source and see if you can make what the composer and librettist have written work for you.

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Member Spotlight: Julia Portela Piñón - Mezzo-soprano

Audition Oracle – Thu 3 Oct 2024 @ 13:43

This week we welcome Spanish-Argentinian mezzo-soprano Julia Portela Piñón our latest Member Spotlight. 

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

8. Where can our community support you next?

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Member Spotlight: Bruno Almeida - Tenor

Audition Oracle – Mon 30 Sep 2024 @ 16:09

This week's spotlight welcomes Portuguese tenor Bruno Almeida

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

My first musical experiences were in traditional music (Portuguese and Latin-American). I think that specific circumstance shaped me as an emotional and versatile artist. Notwithstanding, this versatility is accompanied by a big curiosity and respect for the characteristics of all the musical genres and periods that I regularly get to perform.

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

I practice a martial art. Breathing, movement, body structure are key elements of my training; I believe that these aspects are crucial in the career of a performer. Other than that, I was trained as a researcher in history of science which gave me skills that I consider having a positive impact in many stages of the study of a musical score.

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

For all its intensity and challenges imposed - both on artistic and personal levels - the process of preparing and performing the lead role in "The Phantom of the Opera" (Lloyd Webber).

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

Performing the role of Orfeo, in the opera by Monteverdi, with Jordi Savall conducting.

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

The research and the study of musical and performance aspects of a composition. The experience of the human emotions involved in all the phases of the artistic process, that is, during the study, the work with colleagues, and also during the performance, while sharing music with the public.

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Work with more focus and intensity, trust yourself and don't stress too much.

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Passion, Musicality, Honesty.

8. Where can our community support you next?

In October I'll start collaborating with a group called "The Italian Tenors". Until the end of the year, we will be touring the Baltic countries and Australia, performing well known classics of Italian music, from pop and traditional songs to opera arias. The first concerts of the Baltic Tour are in Estonia, for tickets visit https://www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/the-italian-tenors-viva-la-vita-87472/

Also in October I'm performing Jean Valjean in a short version of "Les Misérables", included in a concert of tribute to the music of Claude-Michel Schönberg. https://coliseumicaelense.pt/eventsposts/les-miserables-in-concert-banda-fundacao-brasileira/ Other than that, I also have other projects developing for 2025, in opera and recital. 

Keep up up to date with all Bruno's news on both his website and his Audition Oracle Profile page.

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Member Spotlight: Luke Terence Scott - baritone

Audition Oracle – Wed 25 Sep 2024 @ 17:25

This week's member spotlight is the delightful Scottish/British baritone Luke Terence Scott!

 

 

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

8. Where can our followers see you next?

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Member Spotlight: Rebekka Magomedova - Pianist

Audition Oracle – Thu 19 Sep 2024 @ 9:15

This week we are thrilled to welcome our first Member Spotlight pianist -Ukranian Rebekka Magomedova!

Rebekka Magomedova: "I have a Russian background and left because of the war. My mother is Ukrainian and so am Ukrainian on my birth certificate."

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

8. Upcoming performances:

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