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UCT Soprano Shines at La Scala
30 April 2010
Soprano Sarah-Jane Brandon, who studied with Sarita Stern at UCT, has gone through to the final round of the Placido Domingo Operalia Competition, which is currently taking place at La Scala. The final round is on Sunday.
"I had my first round on Monday and literally two seconds before I was about to go on stage I realised that I was going to sing on the Main Stage of La Scala. I nearly died from the shock but it is amazing to sing in there!" says Brandon. "I sang in the semi-final last night and obviously it must have gone really well because I am singing in the final on Sunday, on the main stage of La Scala, to a packed house, some of the most glorious music in the world...Thais' Mirror Scene and Placido Domingo conducting the La Scala Orchestra. I am blessed beyond measure."
Sarah-Jane was selected as one of forty people from over 900 applications to come to Milan to compete (only 15 girls amongst the 40). Forty people sang in the quarter final and 22 were selected to sing in the semi final and out of the 22, thirteen people are through to the final.
The people on the panel are the chief casting directors from Covent Garden, La Scala and Bayreuth Festival and General and Artist Directors from Vienna Staatsopera, Chatelet in Paris, National Opera of Bordeux, The MET, Opera de Monte Carlo, Opera Quebec, Canada, Gran Teatro del Liceu Barcelona, la Scala, Teatro del Real Madrid, Teatro Santiago Chile, and the opera house in Valencia. Quite a formidable panel.
Whilst in Milan, Sarah-Jane has managed to spend some time with another SACM soprano, Pretty Yende, who is a member of the La Scala Studio studying with Mirella Freni.
- Author: Gillian Lindner