Young Americans artists:
The Florence Gould Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation, both based in
America, have contributed funding gifts to Lyrique en Mer over the years
to support the development of young American Artists in a European setting.
Several alumni of the Festival have found further European career opportunities
after their debuts on Belle Ile, including Malinda Haslett and Jonathan
Boyd in La Traviata for "Operas en Plein Air" in Paris,
David Adam Moore in Candide at the Paris Châtelet and at
La Scala in Milan, and Joel Prieto who was invited to join the Young Artist Program
at the Paris Bastille after his debut at Lyrique en Mer. The "CoroLyrico"
gives advanced university and young professional singers a unique opportunity
to work with seasoned professionals during the summer season. In 2007,
12 young artists worked side by side the 10 professional singers in both
La Traviata and The Tales of Hoffmann.
Master-Classes:
In August, there are fifteen hours of masterclasses given by the Artistic
Director and other experienced professionals. Our young artists participate,
as do singers who travel to Belle Ile exclusively for this experience. These
Master Classes are free and open to the public.
They are designed to allow singers to improve various aspects of their lyric
art, including diction, vocalism and stage comportment. The audience members
are able to catch an inside glimpse into the complexities of forming an
artist for a stage career.
Festival Chorus ‘Vocal training:
The Festival Chorus, created in 1999, is prepared by Christine Greneau throughout
the year, and by regular visits from Music Director Philip Walsh and Artistic
Director Richard Cowan. Amazing growth has been witnessed in the quality
of the choir over the years, and this is no doubt due to the will of the
local singers to improve, as well as the challenge of preparing major
choral pieces such as the Mozart C minor Mass, the Vivaldi Gloria
and the Mozart Requiem. , Brahms German Requiem,
Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle.
An introduction to vocal music and to opera for
the children of Belle-Ile:
In late 2003, the festival called upon the younger generation of singer
musicians (7-13 years old) on Belle Ile to participate in performances of
La Boheme (2004) Carmen (2005) and in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana
(2005) and young singers in Tosca in 2008.