Review: Opera al Mare 2023
On June 29th and 30th I debuted the role of Musetta in Opera l Mare’s 2023 production of Puccini’s “La bohème.” As my first in-person young artist program, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on this experience - as it has changed me in profound ways as a person and as an artist.
Living "la vie de bohème" in beautiful Cesenatico
Living "la vie de bohème" in beautiful Cesenatico
Barn Opera is seeking to redefine the young artist program experience.
Created in 2022, Opera al Mare, partnered with Barn Opera, is a two and a half weeklong intensive training program set in Cesenatico, Italy. From their website: “Situated on the beautiful Adriatic Sea, this historic fishing village - with its Porto Canale designed by Leonardo DaVinci - is a perfect juxtaposition between the historic and the contemporary. With endless history and charm, and equally endless sand and azure water, Cesenatico is the perfect place for hard work, and equally hard play. Performance experience in a 19th century jewel-box theatre steps away from the historic part of town, and the ability to be immersed in a town that has been unspoiled by english-speaking tourism, will give you the push you need to become more fluent in the rich Italian language and culture of opera.”
The Staff
Joshua Collier is the stage and artistic director of Opera al Mare. As my director and voice instructor at Barn Opera, it has always been a joy to work with him. I met Josh after applying for Castleton University’s voice program, after making the tough decision to leave the Crane School of Music. Since our first lesson back in 2021, I have made leaps and bounds in my technical study - so much so that I feel like I’ve jumped several years! As the program’s seemingly tireless “motor,” Josh knocked it out of the park. Listening to the rest of the cast talk about how they have never worked with a “kinder” more “considerate” and “passionate” director reminded me again of how lucky I am to have him in my wheelhouse. His interpretation of “La Bohème” highlighted the importance of the growing bonds between each of the characters. As a cast, we all fell in love with the world that Josh artfully illustrated within the vision that Puccini had for this timeless story of friendship, love, and loss.
Scilla Cristiano, famed Italian coloratura soprano, known for her illustrious interpretations of Gilda (Rigoletto,) Adina (L'elisir d'amore,) Norina (Don Pasquale,) Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor,) Königin der Nacht (The Magic Flute,) Nannetta (Falstaff,) Violetta (La Traviata,) Musetta (La Bohème,) and Rosina (The Barber of Seville,) is a voice instructor at Opera al Mare. Josh was not wrong when he told me that I would fall in love with her and her teaching style. Scilla is genuinely one of the sweetest humans that I have ever encountered, and certainly one of the most talented sopranos. When I learned that she had studied with Pavarotti’s voice instructor, everything about her command of her voice and of the stage made sense. I was ecstatic to work with a soprano with a fach adjacent to my own as well. By the end of the program Scilla offered me a unique artistic and technical perspective that has proven invaluable in my development as a young singer.
Cailin Marcel Mason is Barn Opera and Opera al Mare’s maestro and music director as well as a voice instructor for the program. Cailin has held positions as Music Director of the Vorarlberger Musikfest, Music Director and Conductor Laureate of the Chamber Symphony of Atlantic City, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, Chair of Vocal Studies at the Hazleton Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Director of Music at The Putney School, and as Music Director of the Bennington County Choral Society. He has also served as a member of the faculty of the Vermont Governor's Institute on the Arts and the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary. He also founded and directed the Germantown Institute for the Vocal Arts and the Germantown Concert Chorus. A master of Puccini’s style, it was a privilege to sing under his Batton. As a baritone and pedagogue, watching him work with students is like witnessing witchcraft. He has a power for metaphor, as well as acute expertise in singer’s anatomy. Working with Cailin has consistently been a luxury experience.
Nicholas Tocci is an Opera al Mare’s technical director and joined the program’s cast as Schaunard in the 2023 production of “La bohème.” is becoming one of the most sought-after artists in New England, with appearances in every state in the region. He appeared in leading roles in multiple productions, including as Nardo in Mozart’s “La finta giardiniera,” Manuel in De Falla’s “La vida breve,” Pallante in Handel’s “Agrippina,” The Priest/Badger in Janacek’s “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and Maestro Spinelloccio/The Notary in “Gianni Schicchi” and title role of Don Pasquale. Not only a stage performer, he is involved in the creation of opera from an administrative perspective and made his directorial debut with the Barn Opera’s production of “The Barber of Seville” in Brandon, Vermont. Nicholas has one of the most beautiful baritone voices I have ever heard - he is an incredible talent. Being a part of “the barn” I have had the opportunity to hear him sing several times, and I can’t wait to hear him again soon!
Sandra Carletti is a professor of Italian studies at the prestigious Middlebury College and Opera al Mare’s resident language instructor - there was never a dull moment in her class! Prof. Carletti is dedicated to tailoring her lessons to individual students’ needs and interests, and she has an incredible sense of humor. Originally from Cesena, in the short amount of time that we were all together, she helped us feel confident in our Italian conversational skills. She explored the libretto with us and lectured on its cultural context, as well as coached us on our diction. She combined in class instruction with educational “field trips” to various local shops and eateries. She facilitated our immersion in Cesenatico and its people and culture. I have never had a more fun and informative language learning experience, and I am excited to work with her again in the future.
Location - Cesenatico, Italy
Cesenatico is a small artistic town in the heart of the Riviera Romagnola: a place where the warmth of ancient traditions embraces the freshness of continuous urban buzz. A row of old, unfurled sails along the Porto Canale separates the city in two and runs all the way to the open sea. It is surrounded by a picturesque old fishing village, which still retains its colourful houses and the warm, welcoming and smiling spirit of its inhabitants. Cesenatico was founded in 1302. It was considered part of the city of Cesena until it was incorporated at the beginning of the 18th century. Its port and canal were built in 1314, with the canal originally planned to reach Cesena, some 15 kilometers (9 mi) inland. At the request of Cesare Borgia, the canal was later surveyed by Leonardo da Vinci. In 1722 James Francis Edward Stuart (the 'Old Pretender' to the British throne) stayed in Cesenatico's Capuchin monastery. A trip to Cesenatico is not just a simple holiday, but rather the best gift you can give yourself, that of immersing yourself for a while in this Romagna town dedicated to living well.
Before my visit, Cesenatico was described to me as “the Maine of Italy” - meaning this is a favorite place for Italians to take their vacation. It is off the beaten path as far as international tourism and is truly a hidden gem. Very little English is spoken here, which helped us to feel even further immersed in the purity of the language and culture. Between program activities there was ample time to explore. Between visiting the beach, perusing the night markets, and indulging in local seafood, this location gave the program a rare, authentic, and luxurious backdrop.
Room and Board - Hotel Miramare
Opera al Mare housed program participants at Hotel Miramare in the coastal heart of Cesenatico. This four-star hotel with breathtaking views of the ocean provided us with incredible hospitality. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and their daily traditional Italian breakfast offerings are something to marvel at. The hotel’s “ristaurante Capo del Molo” serves fresh, Michelin worthy dishes of staggering variety. Included in the program’s full tuition, three large meals a day, as well as the ample supply of wine, left me feeling like Italian royalty. Their seafood is caught and brought in daily from the local fish markets, and they make use fresh dairy and produce as well. The hotel staff are kind and professional and will often go out of their way to make your stay unforgettable. By the end of our stay, we had made lasting friendships and memories with the members of their team. If I ever find myself in Cesenatico again (which I don’t think will be long off) saying at Miramare again is a no-brainer. The less than 5-minute walk from my room to the beach is something I miss dearly.
Performance Opportunities
There are no shortage of diverse performance opportunities at Opera al Mare. Listed here were the programed events of 2023.
Two fully staged performances of Puccini’s “La bohème” in Longiano
Student and Faculty aria concerts in a historic church in Cesenatico
A special “4th of July” American concert hosted by Hotel Miramare
The comprehensive rehearsal processes for these performances created a positive culture of learning and artistic growth. As artists, we have all experienced industry toxicity - but there wasn’t a single hint of that at Opera al Mare. Our maestro and director were incredibly supportive and were ready and willing to meet artists where they are, as they are. Our cast was diverse in terms of age, experience, background and identity. The faculty managed to make each of us feel understood and individually embraced for being at different points in our development. No one was made to feel like they did not belong, and by the end, we all referred to each other as family. I would consider our time together to have been a “bespoke” experience.
Conclusion
Memories that will last a lifetime.
Memories that will last a lifetime.
Here are the parting words from our artistic director Joshua Collier at the closing of Opera al Mare’s second consecutive year, as well as my video interview.
My time in Cesenatico will be an experience that I carry with me for the rest of my life. I had a lot of “firsts” while there - my international debut, my first time visiting the ocean, my first trip to a country where English wasn’t the language (scary,) and many, many more. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I look forward to applying to their 2024 program when they begin accepting submissions in September, and I encourage any young artist reading this to do the same!