Crescendo, Creamos Ópera
Opera singing

The Crescendo, Creamos Ópera Programme, run by the Amigos del Teatro Real Foundation, received a grant to finance the training of young opera singers of all nationalities.

Interview of Joan Matabosch - Artistic Director of the Crescendo, Creamos Ópera Programme
Tell us about the Crescendo program and these young opera singers ?
Crescendo, Creamos Ópera, is a program that Fundación Amigos del Teatro Real (www.amigosdelreal.es) launched in 2021, with the collaboration of Fonds de Dotation Porosus, among other sponsors. It aims to offer training and professional opportunities for up-and-coming young artists (singers and répétiteurs) within the field of opera, enabling these artists to have a professional relationship with Teatro Real, at the beginning of their careers, in a number of activities organised around the main opera programme (Real Junior, Carroza del Teatro Real, Enfoques, covers…).

In the light of your experience, what is your view on the current situation of opera singing ?
Generally speaking, young singers are technically more skilled than they were before, as there are better training schools. But this comes at a cost. This context somewhat thwarts the development of their individuality and unique characteristics, as they are very protected and not exposed to the elements, as it were. Ideally, we should accompany them, but not castrate them! We must let them be themselves.
Nowadays, theatres can easily fall into the trap of hiring new blood on a daily basis. For instance, to sing a Mozart role in Salzburg, singers would previously work their way up and conquer repertoire theatres around Germany before getting to sing a leading role in Salzburg. Now, young singers could go from winning Operaliato singing a Don Ottavio. This can be very dangerous because they can get burnt out very quickly.

How do you see the Crescendo program in 5 to 10 years from now ?
Crescendo is still very young. But in this 3^rd edition it has begun to come into its own, and to fulfill its potential of promoting young talent, with top-quality artistic training delivered by leading singers from the Teatro Real’s season. Hopefully, in the future, Crescendo will be part of an international network of young people’s programs. 

Interview conducted in 2023
Photos crédit : Teatro Real Madrid