| 1. | Mozart Opera for Solo Singers & Orchestra 15 - 25 July |
Places available for:
- singers in all vocal groups, in particular tenors
- a clarinet
- a violin
- a viola
Last minute reduction possible. Call +31 619 224 758 for information
| For whom The music Week programme and daily schedule |
Where With whom Register now |
For whom
Singers
singers in action
You study singing, graduated as a singer or acquired an equivalent level as an amateur. You are used to sing solo. Of course you can study your part by yourself to feel supported by musical scores. You feel challenged to perform with orchestra. To give us an idea of your voice please send a recording of your voice to La Pellegrina (CD, MP3 or YouTube clip), so that we can make a good choice of arias and ensembles for you to sing. In this course we will work with a maximum of 12 singers.
Instrumentalists
You are an experienced chamber music player. You are willing to prepare your part at home. Pianists are able to play solo parts. The number of participants in this course is determined by the orchestral works: there is room for double woodwinds, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, strings, continuo. In the chamber music part there is room for 6 pianists, who play in the chamber music ensembles, accompany singers in their arias and might even play basso continuo or timpani in the orchestra.
Tonny Visser: 'I like the luxury of having passionate musicians around all the time. There is no need to tire yourself trying to plan dates. You just start playing or singing. For me, La Pellegrina has become the perfect basis for a rich musical life!'
The music
The two main aspects of this course are Mozart opera for singers and orchestra, and music for smaller ensembles c.q. chamber music. It is possible to take part in only one of these aspects and to be free in the remaining time.
Chamber music
Instumentalists in action
The mornings are devoted to small ensembles. Every participant will join two different ensembles alternating per day. Half of the time the ensembles receive intensive coaching by the tutors. The ensembles present themselves in a concert.
Instrumentalists take part in chamber music in all possible combinations of string and winds, with or without piano. All formations from quartet upward are possible. Participants will be informed of their ensemble formations well in advance in order to prepare their parts at home. The course is open to individual participants as well as existing ensembles. There will be time for occasional combinations and musical get-togethers.
Singers choose between working in small vocal ensembles or combinations with instruments. Imagine a vocal quartet singing madrigals or part songs; interesting combinations of singers and instrumentalists could be Mozart's Nocturnes for voices, two clarinets and bassoon. A soprano could do Schubert's Hirt auf dem Felsen or Spohr's Lieder for voice, clarinet, and piano. A baritone could do Barber's Dover Beach with a string quartet. A few more suggestions: Mozart and Haydn Lieder for several voices and piano, Telemann's Harmonischer Gottesdienst, Schubert's Hochzeitsbraten or other Schubert for several voices and piano, etc., etc.
Mozart Opera for singers and orchestra
Mozart
Every afternoon singers and instrumentalists work together. Mozart's operas Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro form the central theme of this course. Recitatives, arias and ensembles are selected, based on the received applications of the singers chosen to take part. In this way we create a colourful pastiche of opera movements, which will be connected by a narrator for the concert.
In addition to arias and ensembles the orchestra will test its strenght on the energetic but also menacing Overture Don Giovanni. Also in the work the winds will have plenty of chances to excell. The orchestral sections will be prepared in sectional rehearsal, led by the tutors.
Wout van den Heuvel and Joke van Raalte: 'Knowing what exactly you are going to play in the course enables you to really let the music play when in Bechyně. It adds to the fun.'
Anke Wolffes: 'The orchestra rehearsals were lovely. Dirkjan has managed once again to be ambitious, motivating, and relaxed at the same time.'
Week programme and daily Schedule
Week programme
- Thursday 15 July about 18.00 arrival in Bechyně
- First rehearsal in evening
- Tuesday 'free day'
- Wednesday evening: concert with chamber music by tutors in the refectory
- Friday evening: participants' chamber music concert
- Saturday evening: 24 July final concert in the monastery church
- Sunday morning: departure after breakfast
having a rest after hard work
Daily schedule
- 8.00 breakfast
- 9.30-12.30 Singers and instrumentalists rehearse chamber music in small ensembles
- 13.00 lunch
- 14.30 choir and orchestra rehearse separately
- 15.45 tea break
- 16.15 tutti rehearsal in monastery church
- 17.30 drinks & dinner
- Evening off, enough time for playing more chamber music
Petra Jager: 'Lots of people continue to play until long after dinner. I love to wander through the halls of the monastery in the evenings and hear their music behind all those doors.'
rehearsal in the monastery cloister
Where
Bechyně railway station
Bechyně is an historical town about 100 kms south from Prague. During the summer courses the rehearsals will be in this town in the former Franciscan monastery of the 13th century, now in use as a music school.
From Amsterdam, the distance is about 1.000 kms. It is easy to travel to Prague by plane, train or bus. A special bus service from Prague to Bechyně will be arranged on days of arrival and departure, provided there are enough passengers.
With whom
The tutors of this course are passionate specialists in their musical fields: Martina Bernášková, Dirkjan Horringa, Josef Kekula, František Malý and Mitchell Sandler.
Register now
In order to register, please fill out this form and pay a deposit of EUR 150 (which is of course refundable in case you could not be placed).