Grandeur of opera to awe Chennaiites

Renowned music director Augustine Paul has decided to give a great musical experience to Chennaiites and has come up with an opera in the city. “Chennai hasn’t witnessed an opera in its entirety. I wanted to gift an enchanting evening of music and that’s how decided to organise an opera titled Festival of Opera,” says Augustine. Festival of Opera will be held on February 21 and 22 at the Museum Theatre, Egmore.

A form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are taken by singers, opera is slowly gaining traction in the country. “Opera has been an integral part of classical music tradition since the 16th century and has captured many people’s imaginations. It’s high time we preserved and celebrated it,” he adds.

The performance is by Chromatics, an ensemble of young, talented and qualified singers, put together by Augustine. “Every single one of them is active in the field of music, and is the most wanted singer in their respective churches, colleges, and are regular soloists in larger choirs like the Madras Musical Association. There are eight female voices, five male voices and uses two accompanists. All of them are qualified musicians with diplomas from Trinity College, London,” says Augustine. For the concerts, the ensemble will perform classical music for 100 minutes including scenes from operas from Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras by composers like Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini and Rossini.

One of the performers, Roshni Sharon, tells us, “I am singing soprano and also playing one of the characters from Magic Flute by Mozart. I will be playing Pamina, the princess. We have taken scenes from famous operas like Handel’s, Magic Flute by Mozart, Rossini’s Cinderella, Georges Bizet’s Carmen and Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi,” she says. The singers will be accompanied by two pianists, three strings, two clarinets and one flute ensemble.

Each day, they will be singing 20-25 different songs. “Initially, when Augustine sir came up with the idea of an opera we weren’t sure if we would be able to pull it off. But after practicing for a couple of weeks, all the singers have become proficient in acting as well. Apart from English, we will be singing in French, Italian and German. With Augustine sir’s guidance, we also have got the diction right,” she adds.

Amrita Fredrick, the artistic director, says, “Augustine sir has pulled out songs from some of the most popular operas. We have structured them into smaller scenes. Even though the singers were new to acting, they have done a great job in both.”