Read the latest articles from our Young Artists, industry experts and academics.
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In November 2019, six recent alumni of the National Opera Studio, Carly Owen (soprano), Heather Lowe (mezzo-soprano), Feargal Mostyn-Williams (countertenor), Andrew Henley (tenor), Emyr Wyn Jones (bass-baritone) and Emily Hooker (répétiteur) headed out to Moscow for a series of concerts as part of the 2019 UK-Russia Year of Music, coordinated and supported by the British Council. Read more
by Jessica Zammit 05 June 2019 In the final installation of this year's Meet the Composer series, we had a chat with George Benjamin, a scene from whose opera Written on Skin features in Voices of Now, the NOS's celebration of contemporary opera, opening this Friday at RADA Studio Theatre. Read more
by Judith Weir CBE 04 June 2019 Our latest production Voices of Now contains an extract from Judith Weir's opera Blond Eckbert. We are delighted that she found time to tell us about the opera in her own words. Read more
by Jessica Zammit 29 May 2019 Our latest production Voices of Now opens next week, and we were delighted to be able to have a chat with composer Emma Ruth-Richards about her opera Traffick, an extract from which features in the show. Read more
by Jessica Zammit 23 May 2019 As part of our meet the composer series, we grabbed 10 minutes with Stuart MacRae. Extracts from Stuart's new opera Anthropocene will be featured in the National Opera Studio contemporary scenes production Voices of Now on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th June 2019. Read more
By Lorena Paz Nieto, 2017/18 alumna 20 March 2019 It's not everyday you get to work with one of your idols. As part of the National Opera Studio's collaboration with the Royal Opera House's Insights programme, each year, the Young Artists have the opportunity to work with some of the industry's leading professionals. Read more
By Roberto Barbaro, tenor 2018/19 25 February 2019 Roberto Barbaro gives his insight into bringing our recent 40th Anniversary Concert and Scottish Opera residency to life. Read more
By Charlie Drummond, soprano 2018/19 21 December 2018 Soprano Charlie Drummond tells us about her experience, working with Opera North on creating and bringing to the stage Last Days. Read more
by Emyr Wyn Jones, bass-baritone 2017/18 alumnus Emyr Wyn Jones gives his account of especially moving performance, given to the residents of Chaseley Trust, a care home for those with severe physical disabilities, including those with spinal injuries, acquired brain injuries, stroke, loss of limbs and progressive conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Read more
by Oge Nwosu Librettist Oge Nwosu shares her take on the creative process behind "The People’s Council Sends a Message to the Viceroy", one of the twelve brand new audition arias which form our forthcoming production 12:40. Read more
By Andrew Henley, tenor 2017/18 5 March 2018 After a whirlwind start to 2018 featuring an American opera scenes project with world-famous director Keith Warner and a French and German song project with the wonderful Iain Burnside, we were ready to get started on our main project of the Spring term – an all-Russian programme of scenes for our Scottish Opera residency. Read more
By Sinéad O'Kelly, mezzo-soprano 2017/18 19 December 2017 It was truly a once in a lifetime experience to represent the NOS at the masterclass and sing for someone so admired and of such artistry. Read more
By Polly Leech, mezzo-soprano 2017/18 18 December 2017 Our first term as NOS Young Artists saw us embark on a Handelian adventure with one of our partner companies, Opera North. One of the incredible parts of being a Young Artist is that we get to take part in three week-long residencies with the associate opera companies throughout the year, each with a focus on particular repertoire. Read more
By Nicholas Boyd-Vaughan, Engagement and Communications Manager 2 May 2017 Completing our meet the composer series, we grabbed 10 minutes with Errollyn Wallen, whose new work Sabina has its premiere performance on 4, 5, 6 May as part of Dubai-Rostov-New York, our 2017 contemporary scenes production. Read more
By Nicholas Boyd-Vaughan, Engagement and Communications Manager 11 April 2017 The first act of Joanna Marsh's brand new work My Beautiful Camel has its premiere performance on 4, 5, 6 May as part of Dubai-Rostov-New York, our 2017 contemporary scenes production. We managed to grab a cup of tea and talk about the show. Read more
By Nicholas Boyd-Vaughan, Engagement and Communications Manager 30 March 2017 With the rehearsals for our 2017 contemporary scenes production getting underway this week, we took 10 minutes to catch up with Elena Langer, composer of Four Sisters and The Storm Cloud (Tucha), both of which will be performed in their entirety. Read more
By Magid El-Bushra, Press and Communications Administrator, Royal Opera House 28 March 2017 For Sir Thomas, it’s all about adding colour, daring to be expressive, to give more, and to utilise the masterclass as a space to experiment. Read more
By Edmund Whitehead, Répétiteur 2016/17 13 March 2017 At the end of an exciting week-long residency, which for many of us Young Artists at NOS was our first encounter with Scottish Opera, I am left proud of my colleagues and heartened by the warm welcome we received. Read more
by Joseph Doody, tenor 2016/17 21 December 2016 Our first residency, at Opera North, was eye-opening, exciting, and lots of fun. After rehearsals at the National Opera Studio, we spent six days in Leeds ending in a presentation of Words & Mozart. Read more
By Killian Farrell, répétiteur 2016/17 15 October 2016 Thursday 13 October 2016, was the occasion of one of the first events of the National Opera Studio’s current season, held in the beautiful home of Bob and Elizabeth Boas. Read more