Les Azuriales Opera is an Anglo-French organisation that focuses on finding outstanding young artists and making a significant difference to their early operatic careers. Its activities take place in Cap Ferrat, Villefranche-sur-Mer and London.

Young Artist Programme

Les Azuriales Young Artist Programme, lasting approximately two weeks, takes place each year in August at the

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, also called Villa Île-de-France, is a French seaside villa located at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. Designed by the French architect Aaron Messiah, it was built between 1907 and 1912 by Baroness ...

on Cap Ferrat, and the in Villefranche-sur-Mer, both on the

Côte d'Azur The French Riviera (known in French as the ; oc, Còsta d'Azur ; literal translation " Azure Coast") is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. There is no official boundary, but it is usually considered to extend fro ...

near Nice in France. The programme consists of a singing competition (with prizes of €10,000), public and private masterclasses and an opera performance put together from scratch in a week. Each year more than 100 singers from around the world are auditioned and 8 to 10 are chosen to become Les Azuriales Young Artists. Les Azuriales has strong links with South Korea, South Africa, Armenia and Russia. The distinguished givers of its public master classes and private workshops have included: Lucy Arner,

Sally Burgess Sally Burgess FRCM (born 9 October 1953) is a South African-born British operatic lyric mezzo-soprano, opera director, and educator. She has been a Fellow and Professor of Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music since 2004, as well as teachi ...

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, Sarah-Jane Davies,

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, Ljuba Kazarnovskaya, Elaine Kidd,

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, Emanuele Moris, Dennis O'Neill, Pedro Ribeiro, Brindley Sherratt and Alessandro Talevi. A number of its young artists have been winners or finalists of major competitions, including the Montserrat Caballé Prize, the

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, the Stella Maris awards and

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. Seven of its alumni have joined London's Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists programme. Others have been to the National Opera Studio (UK), Vienna State Opera and other prestigious programmes. Les Azuriales Opera is unusual as a young artist programme in that it provides on going moral and financial support to its young artists.

Background

Les Azuriales Opera is administered almost entirely by volunteers (as opposed to the musical organisation, which is entirely professional). It is privately funded by private and corporate donors. The structure consists of * Les Azuriales Opera Trust – a UK registered charityCharity Commission entry
/ref> * L'Association des Amis du Festival "Les Azuriales" – the official organisation that runs Les Azuriales activities in France: it is an officially registered "Association" (Siret: 440 834 349 00019) * A Comité d'Honneur whose members provide support and advice. its members are: Richard Salter, Sir Vernon Ellis, Dame Antoinette Sibley and

Christopher Hampson Christopher Hampson (born 31 March 1973) is an English ballet choreographer and director and former ballet dancer. In August 2012, Hampson succeeded Ashley Page as artistic director of Scottish Ballet, and was appointed CEO/Artistic Director in ...

. The musical organisation is under the guidance of Bryan Evans, the music director of Diva Opera, who is also Les Azuriales' music director. Sarah-Jane Davies, head of casting at Scottish Opera, plays a key role as artistic consultant and Alessandro Talevi is Les Azuriales' resident guest director.

History

In 1996 Sarah Holford, an English commercial barrister, was introduced to Bryan Evans who had recently founded a chamber opera company in England, Diva Opera. Evans had been presenting chamber opera in country houses and similar venues for many years. With support from Diva Opera in 1997 Sarah Holford founded Les Azuriales Opera Festival principally centred on the

on Cap Ferrat: she had been visiting the area almost every year since she was a child. Diva Opera became the long term opera partner of the festival and itself continues to perform opera in many parts of Europe. Another major contributor was Dominique Lelandais, a resident of St Jean, whose drive and local knowledge were key factors in bringing the festival to life. In 2003 Les Azuriales started its Young Artist Programmes as part of its festival, some of which are now held at

. In 2015 Les Azuriales ceased to be present an opera festival and changed to its present format with its summer season concentrating solely on its Young Artist Programme. In April 2017 they held a Gala Benefit Concert at the Barbican for New Zealand opera star, Anna Leese, whose husband has crippling motor neurone disease. Sir Thomas Bevan hosted the event, that included other stars such as Sophie Bevan and

Jacques Imbrailo Jacques Imbrailo (born 1978) is a South African classical baritone, who sings in operas and oratorios. Biography and career Jacques Imbrailo grew up on a farm in the Free State province of South Africa, and first got into singing on a dare, ...

References

External links

*{{official, https://www.azurialopera.com
Diva Opera's official website
Opera festivals Music festivals in France Alpes-Maritimes Tourist attractions in Alpes-Maritimes

Young Artist Programme

Background

History

See also

References

External links