Operatunity
Encyclopedia
Operatunity was a talent search— and Michael Waldman's film that documented it— in which the English National Opera
conducted a nationwide search to find someone in the United Kingdom
without professional opera experience, who could be coached to sing in a staged opera
— Verdi
's Rigoletto
in the event— on the stage of London
's Coliseum Theatre
in the company of world-class performers, part of the ENO's regular season.
The audition process followed a casting call for submitted videotape
s, that resulted in some 2500 entries from a colorful group of which a hundred were auditioned in person, on a bus tour that encompassed regional auditions, which led to a series of London workshops for the final six participants, including an investment banker, a builder—who stood on a scaffolding at a construction site to belt out a Neapolitan
song— an ex-police officer
, wrestler and model, a supermarket
cashier, and a blind mother of three. The finalists received intense vocal coaching and dramatic technique, as well as physical training and the fundamentals of stagecraft
. Two finalists were selected, Jane Gilchrist and Denise Leigh, who shared the demanding role of Gilda onstage, in March 2003. The documentary follows their nerve-racking final days before the performance and the exhilaration of their operatic debut, combining real-life drama with the high theatrical drama and emotional intensity of grand opera.
In a sense, Operatunity was an expansion of ENO's program for young opera singers, The Knack, directed by Mary King, a panel member for Operatunity. A criterion for the selection, in addition to raw vocal talent, was the ability of a singer rapidly to put into practice guidance from the coaches. The other members of the panel consisted of Anthony Legge, head of music at the English National opera, Karen Gillingham, an actress singer trained at The Knack, Paul Daniel
, conductor at ENO, and Philip Traugott, a classical music album producer.
The winners followed up with concert tours and at the end of the year joined to sing the children's duet from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel
, broadcast on BBC Four
, Christmas Day 2003.
Operatunity won a RAI Prix Italia in 2003. Parallels with Pop Idol
are unavoidable, but Operatunity avoided the American raw competitive edge and abrasive criticism. In 2006, ABC TV
and Opera Australia
combined to produce Operatunity Oz
, which offered Australians the comparable “operatunity”.
In 2000 in New Zealand a group of singers formed a company called Operatunity and performs a series of concerts of various themes. What started as a venture with 4 venues now tours the whole of New Zealand and performs in 23 cities on a regular 6 weekly circuit. The concerts are performed during the daytime and draw large crowds from far and wide. The Partners are Susan Boland, Geoffrey Hughes and John Cameron all of whom are performing in the concerts on a regular basis as well engaging guest artists and young artists. It has now built into a major employer of singers in New Zealand.
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
conducted a nationwide search to find someone in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
without professional opera experience, who could be coached to sing in a staged opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
— Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
in the event— on the stage of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Coliseum Theatre
Coliseum Theatre
The London Coliseum is an opera house and major performing venue on St. Martin's Lane, central London. It is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres and opened in 1904, designed by theatrical architect Frank Matcham , for impresario Oswald Stoll...
in the company of world-class performers, part of the ENO's regular season.
The audition process followed a casting call for submitted videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
s, that resulted in some 2500 entries from a colorful group of which a hundred were auditioned in person, on a bus tour that encompassed regional auditions, which led to a series of London workshops for the final six participants, including an investment banker, a builder—who stood on a scaffolding at a construction site to belt out a Neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
song— an ex-police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
, wrestler and model, a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
cashier, and a blind mother of three. The finalists received intense vocal coaching and dramatic technique, as well as physical training and the fundamentals of stagecraft
Stagecraft
Stagecraft is a generic term referring to the technical aspects of theatrical, film, and video production. It includes, but is not limited to, constructing and rigging scenery, hanging and focusing of lighting, design and procurement of costumes, makeup, procurement of props, stage management, and...
. Two finalists were selected, Jane Gilchrist and Denise Leigh, who shared the demanding role of Gilda onstage, in March 2003. The documentary follows their nerve-racking final days before the performance and the exhilaration of their operatic debut, combining real-life drama with the high theatrical drama and emotional intensity of grand opera.
In a sense, Operatunity was an expansion of ENO's program for young opera singers, The Knack, directed by Mary King, a panel member for Operatunity. A criterion for the selection, in addition to raw vocal talent, was the ability of a singer rapidly to put into practice guidance from the coaches. The other members of the panel consisted of Anthony Legge, head of music at the English National opera, Karen Gillingham, an actress singer trained at The Knack, Paul Daniel
Paul Daniel
Paul Daniel CBE is an English conductor. He is particularly noted for performances and recordings of opera and of British music....
, conductor at ENO, and Philip Traugott, a classical music album producer.
The winners followed up with concert tours and at the end of the year joined to sing the children's duet from Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel
"Hansel and Gretel" is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Hansel and Gretel are a young brother and sister threatened by a cannibalistic hag living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. The two children...
, broadcast on BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
, Christmas Day 2003.
Operatunity won a RAI Prix Italia in 2003. Parallels with Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
are unavoidable, but Operatunity avoided the American raw competitive edge and abrasive criticism. In 2006, ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
and Opera Australia
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
combined to produce Operatunity Oz
Operatunity Oz
Operatunity Oz was a 2006 talent search, and accompanying four-part television documentary by Simon Target, in which Opera Australia conducted a nationwide search to find someone in Australia without professional opera experience, who could be coached to sing in a staged opera — Verdi's...
, which offered Australians the comparable “operatunity”.
In 2000 in New Zealand a group of singers formed a company called Operatunity and performs a series of concerts of various themes. What started as a venture with 4 venues now tours the whole of New Zealand and performs in 23 cities on a regular 6 weekly circuit. The concerts are performed during the daytime and draw large crowds from far and wide. The Partners are Susan Boland, Geoffrey Hughes and John Cameron all of whom are performing in the concerts on a regular basis as well engaging guest artists and young artists. It has now built into a major employer of singers in New Zealand.