On Tuesday 3rd February our students enjoyed an incredible cultural experience as they attended the full-dress rehearsal of Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, ahead of its official opening night at the iconic London Coliseum.
Travelling into the heart of London by train, arriving for the 2.30pm performance, students were full of questions and surprised to learn it would run for three hours and ten minutes. Many had never attended an operatic performance before, yet they showed impressive resilience and focus following much of the story across Act 1 and Act 2. The opera was performed in English, with surtitles displayed so everyone could read the words and follow the plot.
Upon arrival in the in the Balcony area, students were visibly excited, taking photos and commenting on how beautiful and impressive the Coliseum looked inside. They were given a plot synopsis of Così fan tutte, which helped them understand the story and characters.
After the show, our group were escorted backstage via the back staircase, passing through the dressing room corridor and wig room before reaching the stage area. Here the students had the unique opportunity to meet the lead Soprano Lucy Crowe who played Fiordiligi and to stand on stage looking out into the vast auditorium.
The students were fascinated to learn that the cast perform without microphones. One of the students asked if he could sing out from the stage and Lucy kindly agreed. We were treated to a powerful high note, heard across the theatre, demonstrating the remarkable projection required in opera.
This unforgettable visit provided a rare insight into the world of professional opera and theatre production and will remain a special memory for the students of RAP.