Aberdeen Press and Journal
June 22, 2004
Wolves set to pounce on opera-loving prey
A Colourful combination of opera, schoolgirls, wolves and a snake
launched Aberdeen International Youth Festival yesterday. Lisa Beare,
16, Anna Maxwell, 17, and Kay Ritchie, 17, launched the festival with
a burst of song from The Magic Flute as they showed off some of the
opera costumes.
The Cults Academy pupils will join a cast from Canada, France,
Belgium, Iceland and Germany, and work with Armenia’s foremost youth
orchestra, a conductor from Calgary, director from Paris and
choreographer from London. With the help of Moira Hunter, their
school’s head of music, the teenagers are learning the roles, which
require them to sing in German, in advance of rehearsals beginning on
July 12.
Festival chief executive Stephen Stenning said the cast and musicians
would have only a few weeks to overcome language barriers and learn
their roles before The Magic Flute is staged on August 9.
Last year’s youth festival opera, Carmen, a pay-what-you-can show,
was a sell-out. Tickets are now on sale at Aberdeen Box Office for
this year’s opera and other festival events.
It was revealed that Big Brother winner Cameron Stout is to host the
festival’s World Music Gala on August 7. It is a celebration of
traditional Scottish and world music and is to be a key part of the
city’s Tartan Day celebrations.