AV俱乐部

The students call it a boot camp but there are no burpees, lunges or push-ups involved. There are overtures and arias聽however.

It鈥檚 鈥渙pera boot camp鈥� -- a rigorous four-week program in which 26 strangers of various and abilities and skill levels get together to rehearse and produce two fully staged operas.

鈥淭here are acting master classes, classes on how to audition, group warm-ups and private coaching sessions,鈥� explains Dal music student Taylor Long, one of this year鈥檚 participants in the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop (HSOW). 鈥淎nd then there鈥檚 rehearsing and performing the opera with people you鈥檝e never met before.鈥�

SEE PHOTOS: Opera in the spotlight. (Nick Pearce Photos)

Mezzo-soprano Nina Scott-Stoddart and Tara Scott, an accompanist and vocal coach, started HSOW in 2005 in order to bring opera training in this format to the Maritimes. Attracting performers from throughout Canada and the U.S., HSOW takes place at the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre from July 19 and August 15.

If you go Alcina runs August 12 at 7:30 p.m. and August 14 at 2 p.m. Susannah runs August 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m. All shows are at the Sir James Dunn Theatre in the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre, 6101 University Avenue. Tickets are $20 or $12 for students and seniors. They're available from the Dal Arts Centre box office at 902 494-3820 or 1-800-874-1669.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had a few days off here and there but even then we鈥檝e all gone to the beach together,鈥� says Mr. Long, 19, a Halifax native. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun to tour around and show off our hometown.鈥�

This summer, there are two operas in the repertoire -- Handel鈥檚 Alcina, which is sung in Italian, and Susannah, written in 1955 by American composer Carlisle Floyd. They both debuted last weekend and run again for a second weekend.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an intensive process and so fast paced,鈥� says Andrew Pelrine, 21, who just graduated from AV俱乐部 in May with a combined honors degree (music and theatre). After the opera workshop ends, the Halifax singer and actor is planning to pound the pavement in Toronto. 鈥淏ut it gives you a real glimpse of how the professional world works.鈥�

Mr. Long, a baritone, and Mr. Pelrine, a tenor, are among the youngest participants for this year鈥檚 HSOW. Even so, they play church elders in Susannah, about a young woman from rural Tennessee who is wrongly branded a harlot. Written during the McCarthy era, the opera explores themes such as passing judgement and the abuse of power.

鈥淚鈥檓 learning so much from the people I鈥檓 on stage with,鈥� says Mr. Long, who fell in love with performing as a high school student in Halifax West's production of Kiss Me Kate. He鈥檚 now entering his second year at AV俱乐部, studying voice with Lucy Davis Hayes.

鈥淥pera has such emotional intensity because the music is so powerful. As a performer, I feel it offers me the chance to grow because there鈥檚 so much to learn.鈥�

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