Opera for Peace: the story of a new cultural movement
“We shall not cease from exploration, and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World, is a passion project born of the conviction that the current system needs re-invention: new ideas, values and priorities are necessary if opera (and culture more generally) is to flourish into the future. This conviction grew out of many years of professional experience working with artists in rehearsal and dressing rooms, in backstage corridors, in offices, and on stages of some the biggest traditional cultural institutions in the world.
Julia Lagahuzère - General Director, Opera for Peace
Subsequent exchanges ensued with hundreds of young and established artists, administrative colleagues, stage directors, vocal coaches, teachers, and conductors about their experiences and ideas. Out of these discussions several points became clear. We understood that artists want to better relate to the world in which they live and to be influential citizens. We identified that an organized, truly global network needed to be established in order to provide equal educational and performance opportunities to the talented young singers from every part of the world, especially for those from developing countries. We accepted that artists wanted to be better protected and that a charter of social progress values needed to be outlined for our industry to reflect current global trends: youth, inclusion, diversity, equality, social justice, excellence, sustainability and affordable education. This is also essential to attract interest, new sponsors, and audiences. In light of current world events, it is even more urgent to find less traditional partnerships and to give our artists the best chance to be financially supported in new ways
We slowly, and then increasingly rapidly built up our partners over the months and years, convincing, inspiring, sharing, debating, innovating: often with partners that already have specific diversity programs – for example the Royal Opera House London, or the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; but interestingly also with theatres that were new to these concepts. Our service organizations, Opera America, Opera Europa and Opera Latinoamércia, have been open, interested and supportive. Anglophone structures have been addressing social issues and concerns for many years, Europe is quickly catching up, and the rest of the world is being introduced with varying degrees of success to these topics. Even the smallest steps forward are a worthy accomplishment.
Today we have over 60 worldwide partners on all continents, including opera houses, orchestras, festivals, and institutional organizations, and are constantly building up support with new collaborations. Not everyone is convinced, but we accept this as an inevitable consequence of new ventures that challenge the status quo, however respectfully. We are determined always to look forward, including taking into account present and post-COVID19 world changes by adapting to an inevitable new reality. We have already begun focusing more on online content, lessons and features and will explore innovative online audition possibilities. We are importantly also flexible enough to work with all sizes and types of event structures and can adapt to potential audience restrictions by finding creative solutions.
“Through our extensive and diverse partnerships we have become the largest international network of young artists in the world.”
Jakub Orlinski (Ambassador)
We work in 4 major areas:
Cultural and training exchanges: We provide opportunities for young singers already in training programs to experience other programs from our network for a defined period of time. The choice of theatre is decided by reference to the complementary training that can be offered. This is the first international project of this kind which is tailored to the specific vocal needs of the artist, and provided at no cost to the artist thanks to the generous support of our partners, as well as Opera for Peace’s sponsors.
An International calendar of events: Young artists want above all the opportunity to perform and we offer these exclusive possibilities in top opera houses, concert halls, and cultural events across the globe.
Ambassador Talks, Masterclasses & Residencies: Our Ambassadors engage in discussions with young artists around subjects that are close to their hearts, and which have an important impact on the field: mental health, time-management, sexism, harassment, mentorship, musical preparation, business management, etc. Masterclasses and residencies are led by our Advisors, Ambassadors, Opera for Peace team members, and invited guests.
Special diplomatic artistic projects: These are presented in the form of productions and co-productions within our Partner network around important subjects, to increase understanding and awareness between people from different backgrounds and cultures.
We are registered as a nonprofit association in Rome, Italy, accepting donations from individuals and companies to continue our work. Additionally we are in the process of registering as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the State of New York, USA.
We officially launched the project on 25th October 2019 at the occasion of the first World Opera Day at the Opera Europa Autumn Conference in the presence of UNESCO.
Through our extensive and diverse partnerships we have become the largest international network of young artists in the world. We act as an unofficial umbrella organization connecting our partners. We offer access to the best artists worldwide on four levels:
Through our extensive and diverse partnerships we have become the largest international network of young artists in the world.
We act as an unofficial umbrella organization connecting our partners. We offer access to the best artists worldwide on four levels:
Our Young Artists are the most promising singers coming from our partner « Young Artist Programs », and from a casting and discovery process via our networks in emerging and economically developing countries where opera is not part of their traditional culture.
Our Emerging Artists are a talented and diverse group of exceptional singers who have just left these Young Artist Programs, and who we believe are on the verge of a major career. We provide extra support, performance opportunities, and tailored guidance for these artists in every aspect of their development.
Our 22 Ambassadors are a selection of the finest international artists in opera who collectively support Opera for Peace’s values and mission. They provide us with increased visibility, promoting our efforts via their personal and professional networks, in addition to working with us to find ideas to develop and enhance our projects. They also perform at events and speak at conferences, as well as attend intimate occasions with sponsors and the public.
Our Advisors are experienced, well-known figures in opera and popular culture, who frequently provide guidance and educational opportunities to young artists.
Our Partners are leading opera houses, regional opera houses, festivals, orchestras, institutions, and cultural centers.
From a belief to an idea, a plan, a strategy, and finally a project: Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World became a new cultural movement, the success of which is confirmed by the overwhelming enthusiasm demonstrated for our mission, especially by young artists and young people in general, notably those under the age of 25. We have also recently received increasing support from established artists who want to feel part of this movement at a time when solidarity is of utmost importance.
I will say a little about my own personal involvement and the learning, and joy, I have personally derived from working with the project.
In February 2020 the Opera for Peace team were invited to the Winter International Arts Festival in Sochi to present a concert with 5 exceptional young artists (Nombulelo Yende, soprano, South Africa; Victoria Karkacheva, mezzo-soprano, Russia; Alec Carlson, tenor, United States of America; Dennis Chlemensky, baritone, Germany; German Alcantara, baritone, Argentina), and conducted by one of our Ambassadors, Dmitry Korchak. In the days leading up to the event alongside rehearsals, we also taught the students of the Sochi Academy coming from all parts of Russia and the CIS countries, and I had the pleasure of teaching musical interpretation to the students as well as hosting two large seminars.
Winter International Arts Festival - Sochi Concert
I engaged the students, involving them directly, asking questions, provoking reactions and “straight talking”. We also spoke a lot about social media and what is needed to succeed in this career. I spoke to the women about their rights, and also to the young men about the effects that their behavior could have. Without doubt the satisfaction of seeing the reactions and increasing understanding in these young people, from 15-25 years old, was one of the highlights of my 20 year career. We have kindly been invited back next year and I hope to build on the foundations laid.
Golda Schultz (Ambassador) at Cape Town Opera
Another remarkable chapter in the short time since our launch was my trip to Cape Town, South Africa in January 2020. This was largely facilitated by Kamal Khan, Artistic and Musical Advisor on the project, who spent nearly 15 years teaching students there. I also have a strong personal family connection to South Africa as it is the home of my family, and notably of my great uncle, Ronald Segal, political activist, founder of Africa South and the Penguin African Library. His unwavering support for the anti-apartheid struggle reached a dramatic crisis during the State of Emergency in 1960 when he crossed the South African border into exile with the African National Congress leader, Oliver Tambo. When finally unbanned by the South African government, he returned to visit his homeland many times, including to a hero's welcome in 1992 when he shared the stage with Mandela, Tambo and Slovo. Speaking to colleagues and our partners at Cape Town Opera and the University of Cape Town was vital to understanding the current situation there. Unfortunately, there is a real shortage of singing teachers due to death and retirement, and without permanent training artists will not be able to learn how to sing in the right technical way. In addition, the absence of state funding makes artistic planning difficult, and international tours will be hit, like all live cultural events, by the COVID19 restrictions. However, hearing these wonderful young artists in audition and on stage and seeing their dedication and artistry provided incredible inspiration and hope. Many artists leave South Africa to find work in other countries, which whilst a necessary experience to learn European operatic languages and develop their horizons, leaves that part of the cultural landscape empty in their home towns. We therefore commit to offering support to bring teachers to Africa and to offer masterclasses locally, so that as many singers as possible can benefit from outside expertise to enrich the region, alongside our usual efforts to offer international performance opportunities and experiences.
The adjective “Leading” (from “Leading Young Voices of the World” in our name) was chosen to symbolize the level of artistry of the artists that we support, and the excellence we celebrate, cultivate and support. The meaning has evolved, however, to encompass the verb, ‘to lead’, from the beginning of our journey guiding these young diverse singers to become the best artists possible for all our benefit. This is the real honour of our mission.
Julia Lagahuzère
General Director – Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World
