The Martha's Vineyard Times

Music : Martha's Vineyard's OperaFest 2011

By Maddy Berg
July 19, 2011

Photo courtesy of OperaFest

The OperaFest 2011 group performs at the Union Chapel this Friday, July 22.

After nearly two intensive weeks of training their voices, bodies, and minds, OperaFest's up-and-coming stars are facing their final test. "Tangled Paths of Love: Romantic Scenes from Classical Opera" will be shown Friday evening, July 22, at the historic Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs. The final performance will showcase the skills and maturity that these young singers have developed over the past few weeks.

OperaFest is an annual opera workshop that was conceived by the renowned Claudette Peterson. Her vision was that of a two-week intensive program culminating in a final costumed and staged professional performance. In its fourth year on Martha's Vineyard, OperaFest does just that.

From 8 am to 11 pm for almost two weeks, young hopefuls from as far away as Mexico and the Midwest are schooled in the art of performing, both through conventional and unconventional opera training methods. They take voice lessons, learn how to properly pronounce lyrics in Italian and German, and even do Pilates and yoga. Throughout it all, they are trained by coaches and performers from Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music, role models they gain access to from the generosity of The Oradell Arts and Business Coalition, The Vineyard Arts Project, and The Claudette Peterson Vocal Studio.

Be amazed by the skill of these young singers before the curtain closes for the final time on OperaFest's fourth Martha's Vineyard workshop. Tickets to "Tangled Paths of Love" will be available at the Union Chapel's doors on Friday, July 22. The show begins at 8 pm.