The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama collaborated with Welsh National Opera in a significant Opera Gala on 25 November to celebrate their association in creating the David Seligman International Opera School. Conducted by Carlo Rizzi and with the wonderful Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Opera Course students including Huw Ynyr Evans, Xi Jiang, Oscar Castellino, Rachel Goode, Blaise Malaba, Rhodri Prys Jones, Wendy Silvester, Lucy Mellors and André Henriques performed scenes from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, Verdi’s La Traviata and I Vespri Siciliani, Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri and a complete performance of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in an unforgettable evening.

The International Opera School is supported by a distinguished Circle of Presidents including Sir Bryn Terfel, Rebecca Evans, Sir Brian McMaster, David Pountney and Carlo Rizzi. They are joined by the Hodge International Chair in Opera, John Fisher of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, by International Chair in Directing, Martin Constantine and Head of Vocal Studies, Angela Livingstone in leading a school that promises to provide the highest quality training available in opera. In assocaition with Welsh National Opera, the School will enable emerging artists to train alongside some of the leading figures in opera today.

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