By Holly Fane de Salis, Fourth year, Chemistry MSci
On Saturday the 14th of March at 7:00 pm, the Roman Baths and Pump Room in Bath will welcome guests for the premiere recital of operatic global network ARYA (Association of Rising Young Artists).
As the sun sets on the 14th of March, guests attending the ARYA Premiere recital will be hosted in the the Roman Baths for a private reception before an inaugural concert begins in the Georgian Pump Room in which a diverse array of arias are set to be performed by some of of the UK's most impressive young musical talents. The night promises to be a celebration of culture: world-class music, complimentary drinks and black tie finery will be enriched by exclusive, after-hours access to the glorious Roman Baths.
ARYA is a newly established organisation dedicated to uplifting the next generation of opera singers. Championing that ‘every voice deserves to be heard’, they work to connect singers with opportunities for both performance and artistic development, aiming to showcase talent and ultimately build a global, supportive network of artists. ARYA is also passionate about bringing opera into the 21st century, believing that ‘opera should be experimental, inclusive, and accessible to all’.
Melis Ahucan Buyukhanli, the Artistic Director of ARYA, further explained that ‘I wanted to create something that shows my generation that opera isn’t distant or old-fashioned. Our aim with ARYA is to bring opera out of the stage and back into people’s lives. These stories are full of love, jealousy, humour, and heartbreak. When people experience them up close, they realise opera is far more relatable than they ever expected.’
In light of their mission to encourage younger generations to engage with opera, student tickets are available for less than half the standard ticket price.
The evening's programme includes favourites such as ‘O mio babbino caro’, the famous soprano aria from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and the ‘Flower Duet’ from Delibes' Lakmé, alongside compositions by Mozart, Haydn and Strauss. Additionally, to broaden our collective musical horizons, some lesser-known (but no less beautiful!) arias such as ‘Se tu m'ami’ by Pergolesi and Verdi's ‘Saper Vorreste’ will also be performed.
Excitingly, three of the rising young talents set to be showcased on Saturday are students at the University of Bristol: Louisa Goodfellow (soprano), Lucy Hancock (soprano/mezzo-soprano) and Cate Du Toit (soprano).
People of all generations and walks of life are encouraged to come and enjoy this celebration of music and young talent, especially if you have never engaged with opera before. With dulcet melodies resonating amidst the timeless wonder of the Roman Baths, the evening of the ARYA Premiere is certain to not be forgotten quickly.
Will Girling
Tickets for the recital are available on the ARYA website for £35 General Admission/£15 Student, and they include after-hours access to the Roman Baths as well as complimentary drinks. To preserve the intimacy of the performance, last entry will be at 8:10 pm.
Featured image: ARYAWill you be at the opera this Saturday?
