Astra theatre opera course eyes international career for its students

Ten opera hopefuls from Malta and Gozo will soon have the chance to train their voice through a specialised course to be offered locally.

The Opera Studio Teatru Astra will give the chosen students, aged between 20 and 35, the possibility to train for an international career.

"Aspiring opera singers have never been so close to an international career," the organisers said in a statement.

The one-year course, directed by Swedish-Indian vocal coach and accompanist Anouchka Mukherjee, will be held at the Gozo theatre. It will focus on teaching a number of opera roles, vocal techniques and the ability to meet the demands of operatic repertoire and as part of an ensemble, among others.

Moreover, students will be working individually with the head of studies, attend master classes with an external teacher and learn aspects of stagecraft that are incorporated into opera scenes and productions.

The 10 students will also be able to audition directly for opera roles for the theatre's productions, while maintaining close links with agents on an international scale.

It will provide individual training to students within professional opera facilities - stage, lights, set, wardrobe, audience, backstage facilities - which so far have been unavailable for students undergoing tuition with private coaches in Malta.

They will also have the opportunity to practise what they learn, through minor and secondary roles in Teatru Astra's annual opera production. They will be the first the theatre will turn to when selecting the singers to do smaller roles.

This October, the theatre will be staging La Traviata.

Students will be backed by the Swedish Finn Persson Music Group which will serve as an agent that promotes them internationally to procure them international contracts for concerts or other work abroad.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Opera Studio Sweden and Teatru Astra.

Auditions will be held this weekend and on March 6-7. For information send an e-mail to info@mediterranea.com.mt or call 2155 0985. The deadline for applications is March 3.