Can you tell us about your role at OHP?
I am the YA répétiteur; my job is primarily to play the piano in rehearsals, and prepare the singers for the stage.
What do you hope to learn or gain from the Opera Holland Park Young Artists scheme?
To meet and work with like-minded artists from the YA programme, and the wider Holland Park family!
What do you believe are the most important qualities of a répétiteur?
Being open-minded, supportive, and a positive influence on the creative process.
What does a typical day in rehearsal look like for you?
Most of the time, I am sitting at the piano doing my best to sound like an orchestra! But I also have to be listening closely to the singers, keeping an eye on the staging, and problem solving with the music team.
What’s something about being a répétiteur that most people don’t realise or appreciate?
There are many responsibilities that a rep can have, and we do our best to be the swiss-army-knife of the creative team. Whether it be singing in parts, off-stage conducting, or giving notes for the orchestra, we do our best to help keep everything running smoothly.
Do you find you must adapt your approach when working on a contemporary opera with a living composer, as opposed to working on more traditional repertoire?
A little, but not much! We are largely doing the same job, but with a different musical style. At the end of the day, we are telling stories through music 🙂
Itch follows a fourteen-year-old obsessed with collecting elements from the Periodic Table. Do you have a niche obsession like Itch?
I do have an obsession with local gins… current favourite is the Linlithgow Cask #6 (Linlithgow, if you see this, please send me free gin).
Interview by Holly Bancroft
