Kommilitonen was commissioned by the Royal Academy of Music, London and the Juilliard School, New York and was premiered in 2011. With a libretto by David Pountney (artistic director of Welsh National Opera) the opera intertwines three separate stories of student revolution in the 20th century in Germany, China and the USA.
The cast and chorus for this new production feature young singers from WNO Youth Opera 16-25 group which includes singers from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), other UK conservatoires and five members of Only Kids Aloud; WNO Youth Opera 10-14 group will also be involved in the Chorus. As well as the singers, much of the technical and backstage team are young people who are being mentored in areas such as stage management, lighting and props.
For the orchestra, students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music will play alongside WNO Orchestra members, and the opera features an on-stage erhu – a two-stringed bowed instrument – for some of the Chinese scenes which will be played by a RWCMD student.
The role of James Meredith will be played by Oscar Castellino, from Mumbai, who is being mentored by Marcus Farnsworth who performed the role at the premiere in 2011.
Further information from the WNO website.
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