The fact that Montenegro needs opera, but also that there is interest in it, is once again demonstrated by the Operosa Montenegro Opera Festival, which will organize one of the first international summer academies in the region this year, designed as an intensive educational and artistic platform for the development of young artists, as announced at yesterday's press conference. Among other things, the result of the Operosa Academy in Cetinje will be the production Donizetti's opera "Love Potion", which will officially open this year's Operosa Montenegro Opera Festival on August 8th at the Forte Mare fortress in Herceg Novi.
"Step by step, we have been working with young talents for 13 years. This is precisely our mission and that of Operosa. Montenegro needs opera, so we have made some progress every year, and this year we are launching new things. One of them is the Summer Operosa Academy in Cetinje, which we are implementing in cooperation with the Music Academy in Cetinje," said the founder and director of the festival Catherine Hataja.
The press conference also announced the performance of a world opera star Joyce DiDonato and the performance of the opera "The Balkan Empress" on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegrin independence.
Education and production
The host of the first Operosa Summer Opera Academy (Academy), a new international program for young musical talents and artists from different countries, from July 15 to August 9, will be Cetinje, namely the Academy of Music of the University of Montenegro. Festival Spokesperson Bojana Tomasevic announced that the program is not only intended for singers, but also instrumentalists, accompanists, theater directors, as well as stage, costume and lighting designers, explained Tomašević. She pointed out that many students from all over the region, Europe and the world, from Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia, Latvia, Greece, Turkey, China, Great Britain, have already applied, and she especially emphasized that participation is free for Montenegrin artists.
"We will also organize a symposium for solo singing teachers, with which we want to provide support to teachers to further build that bridge and strengthen the community, because music is very important for every society and we know how much it affects everyone," said Tomašević.
The Academy mentors are: Martin Lloyd-Evans director from Great Britain, as well as conductor James Henshaw, with vocal teachers and mentors Snežana Nena Brzaković from Germany and Edita Garčević Koželj from Slovenia.
Operosa's new program segment, Operosa Summer Opera Academy, is one of the first international summer academies of this type in the region and is designed as an intensive educational and artistic platform for the development of young artists, through work with renowned mentors, masterclass workshops, artistic coaching, work on stage expression and preparation of opera repertoire.
Hataja pointed out that they have had excellent cooperation with the Music Academy (MA) since before, which was confirmed by the dean. Tatjana Krkeljic.
"Every initiative that improves professional development, the creation of professional musicians, is welcomed and recognized by us and we try to support it every time, in accordance with our capabilities. When we talk about two worlds that need to be reconciled somewhere and kept in the same direction, when we talk about music and higher education, as well as the scene in Montenegro, the story of opera, about solo singing has a special place there. And then we are in a place that is not good at the moment. Montenegro does not have an opera, nor does it have its own opera house. Ketrin has been with us for 13 years and points to that direction that should be recognized on the cultural scene and in the life of Montenegro in particular. On the other hand, we at MA have never had a solo singing department, and then in such a space we really cannot remain blind and mute to the initiative that Operosa brings to us, so we decided this year to have a much more intensive cooperation. Numerous workshops that will be organized under the auspices of this year's Operosa Festival will take place precisely under the auspices of MA. Step by step. This is one of steps in a series, and we will show that all these steps make sense and should perhaps turn into a marathon and that we reach the goal as quickly as possible, which is a more beautiful and better tomorrow in music", Krkeljić pointed out.
Kamerna “Balkanska carica”
During the press conference, a segment of the program for this year's edition of the Operosa Festival was presented. The premiere of the famous Montenegrin opera stands out in particular.
"In honor of the anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, we are preparing the opera "The Balkan Empress", based on the famous work of the Montenegrin prince and king Nikola I Petrovic Njegos, and for which music was composed by an Italian composer Dionysius of Sarno St. George. It is a monumental work for which we prepared the original orchestration, which was done by our colleague Stevan Karanac. "We are bringing together a team of Montenegrin artists and we are very much looking forward to the performance, on July 18th at Luštica Bay, August 14th at Forte Mare, and August 15th in the special ambiance of Mamula Island," announced Tomašević.
This romantic-patriotic drama based on a historical tragedy is dedicated to the women of Montenegro, paying tribute to their qualities and uniqueness. The opera “The Balkan Empress” in the premiere performance of this year's Operosa Festival brings a fusion of tradition and modern expression. A contemporary of the great Italian opera composers, Verdi i Puccini, Dionizije De Sarno San Giorgio brings traditional bel canto expression to the first Montenegrin national opera.
The opera will be presented in chamber form, with five soloists - protagonists, accompanied by a chamber string ensemble and a pianist. Hataja also introduced the author's team, which consists of: conductor Mihajlo Miletic, director Nina Martinovic, scenographer Angela Bozovic, costume designer Masa Mirkovic, pianist Sara Stamatović and inspector Ana Kocis.
Musical themes depicting love, inner struggles and suffering of the main protagonists will be presented by one of the most prominent sopranos in Montenegro today. Milica Lalosevic in the role of Danica, the Balkan Empress.
"Her faithful companion Marta is played by a soprano Nevena Goranova Rajkovic, while the figure of her chosen one Stanko Crnojević, Duke of Zeta, interpreted by tenor Stevan Karanac. The character of Ivan Bey is interpreted Tamas Kis, baritone, the old prophet Lazar Kinđić, bass. The composition of the Operosa chamber orchestra consists of: Jelena Jovovic i Luka Perazic, Sofija Markovic i Dusan Obrenovic, Iva Durkovic i Ksenija Lukic, Stasa Jovovic i Tea Calic, Teodora Uskokovic i Sari Shaqiri i Aleksandra Trifunovic, Tomašević added.
Hataja, answering a question from "Vijesti", also said that the plan is that after the festival performances, the opera will be performed throughout Montenegro.
"We want to show this opera everywhere, to go on tour. Our colleague Stevan Karanac, when he did the orchestration, did it in a way that it could be put on any scale. It is interesting and bold for us, but the mission of Operosa is to support young talents, but also to contribute to the development of opera in Montenegro and show everyone that opera is for everyone. Opera is not difficult to understand, you just need to open your soul," she said.
An unusual experience
Tomašević also highlighted the guest appearance of opera star Joyce DiDonato, who is coming to Montenegro for the first time for the Operosa Festival in August, as a big deal.
"We are coming to see one of the most sought-after and most famous operatic names in the world, Joyce DiDonato, who will perform a special concert "Emily - No Prisoner Be" with her trio "Time for Three". The music was composed especially for them and we are very pleased to have the opportunity for world-class musicians to come to Montenegro and Herceg Novi. It will be an extraordinary experience for everyone in the audience, because it is not an ordinary opera and not a classic opera event, but much broader and more interesting than that. DiDonato will also take the time to meet with solo singing students and share her experience with them, and all of this will take place on August 13, when their concert will also be held at the Kanli Tower," the spokeswoman announced.
This year's edition of the Operosa festival is being implemented in cooperation with the Municipality of Herceg Novi and the local and tourist organizations, as well as JUK HercegFest.
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