NOS Young Artists, pianists and director Emma Jenkins at Regent Hall Wednesday May 8 2019
The National Opera Studio presented a most enjoyable evening at the Regent Hall in Oxford Street yesterday evening. It was an opportunity to showcase the product of the young artists' residency at the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff - with a themed programme devised and directed by Emma Jenkins.
It is fascinating to watch the progress of the National Opera Studio artists during the course of their year long stint at the NOS - from the introductory recital programme that I saw back in September at Bob Boas's Mansfield street house through the various other events subsequently, and last night as they draw to the close of their time there. Each has, it seems to me, come on in leaps and bounds so it is gratifying to see how well this advanced development and training programme is working.
We were treated to Donizetti (Lucia and Anna Bolena), Handel with a splendid Crude furie from JungKwon Jang, Ping Pang and Pong from Turandot with Jake Muffett, Ben Smith, and Adam Temple-Smith showing off their varied skills in singing acting and dancing, an extended sequence from Figaro Act 2 including a charming Voi che sapete from Margo Arsane, and the delicious final duet from Poppea with JungKon Jang a ravishing Nero to Charlie Drummond's beautifully balanced Poppea.
The slightly shorter second half allowed the two baritones Nicholas Mogg and Jake Muffett to show off the huge development in their work in the last eight months - so gratifying. And I was particularly delighted that the evening ended with a snippet from Shostakovich's Moskva, Cheryomushki, a piece that we did in Chicago to great applause in my last year there 2012.
I am looking forward their contemporary opera program, "Voices of Now", in June at the RADA Studio Theatre. Do try to get there to hear these exceptional emerging artists.
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