Master-Class and Italian-style anniversary at the Opéra Grand Avignon – News
This event looks like a transalpine cultural day, celebrating the anniversary of the reopening of the Théâtre de l’Opéra in co-production with the Consulate General of Italy in Marseille, the Italian Cultural Institute of Marseille and Petit Palais Diffusion, the all within the framework of the Italian Week in Avignon and the Midis à l’Opéra.
The young singers present here an aria by Mozart in Italian then by an Italian composer, and thereby the fruits of their work in a masterclass (open to the public from October 11 to 13) with Barbara Frittoli. As usual for Les Midis à l’Opéra, this concert is presented in the Salle des Préludes.
End of MasterClass for 4 winners / finalists of the OPERA JEUNES ESPOIRS Raymond Duffaut @operagrandavignon 2021 competition! BRAVO to the young artists and a huge THANK YOU to maestra BARBARA FRITTOLI! pic.twitter.com/hDwjrDkPQR
— OpéraGrandAvignon (@OpéraAvignon) October 14, 2022
Pianist and vocal coach Ayaka Niwano, a regular collaborator at the Opéra Grand Avignon, is very attentive to the slightest vocal inflections of the singers. She accompanies them with very precise playing, of great finesse and expressiveness, knowing how to adapt to the contrasts of each piece: vigor, romanticism or melancholy.
The young baritone Paul-Louis Barlet begins the concert with Cosi fan tutte by deploying its power and its projection in this short acoustic. The bass is fleshy, but with nice well sustained and open highs. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) values its warm tone and a very elegant vocal line. His beginnings and ends of sentences are very neat, his phrasing exquisite. He also has a good presence on stage, showing himself to be very relaxed (following the advice of Barbara Frittoli, he relaxes his neck and does not cover the treble excessively so as not to tighten the voice and to facilitate the treble), returning easily into the mindset of his characters.
Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel (winner of the Prix Club Soroptimist International France Sud-Est, and also appreciated by Voix des Outre-Mer) continues with cosi, Guglielmo giving way to Dorabella. Her round and limpid voice relies on a good placement, while the breath allows her to hold long sentences with ease. In Romeo, she shines thanks to the delicacy of the distinguished legato and its recitative, but also thanks to a very good diction of Italian. The highs are emitted with power and clarity, all accompanied by a strong facial expression that fascinates the spectators (Barbara Frittoli having advised a strong intention and openness, as well as a straight posture of the neck so as not to cut off the passage of the ‘air).
The young Vaucluse tenor Adrian Autard (Prize for the best interpretation of the French repertoire for the air Fantasy with divine lies) excellent and goes straight to the hearts of spectators in Ferrando. Her clear and light voice sculpts a very delicate phrasing and a great musicality, rising in the treble with great ease (following Frittoli’s advice, avoiding straining the muscles, in order to sing rather with her breath). His very involved physical expression also comes into play, making his interpretation very moving (same as Nemorino with piano of great finesse and a treble called for by enthusiastic applause).
Belgian soprano Marion Bauwens (also Soroptimist Prize winner) continues with a very theatrical Suzanne contrasting perfectly with her delicate and refined vocal line. Its highs, piano and strong are very thin and brilliant, its sonorous bass (again following Barbara Frittoli’s advice on openness and relaxation). She responds to Romeo as Giulietta, expressive and movingly despairing.
The artists also offer duets (cosi and Traviata) as well as the quartet “E nel tuo, nel mio bicchiero” of the same Mozartian opera: the opportunity to achieve their balanced harmonic union. Their starts are well cared for, as requested by Barbara Frittoli during their masterclasses, allowing viewers to clearly hear the entry of each voice. The show ends with a grateful audience giving long applause to the young artists, as well as a speech of thanks and encouragement in Italian from Barbara Frittoli, translated to the audience and to the young singers for their careers.
MasterClass Barbara Frittoli at the Opéra Grand Avignon ✨ What a beautiful and talented team! Marion Bauwens, soprano | Axelle Saint-Cirel, mezzo-soprano | Adrien Autard, tenor | Paul-Louis Barlet, baritone | Ayaka Niwano, piano 4 winners / finalists #cjeopera2021 pic.twitter.com/7dNLOkvIo8
— OpéraGrandAvignon (@OpéraAvignon) October 12, 2022