The Royal Opera House has been running a series of workshops in schools across Thurrock as part of the preparations for Ludd and Isis, the High House People’s Opera. Year 9 and Year 10 students at The Ockendon School raised the roof during their workshop when they were joined by opera singers from the Royal Opera House for a special singing session.
Composer, Richard Taylor conducted the Ockendon School workshop and worked with the students on different aspects of the libretto for Ludd and Isis, which had been written following work done in earlier workshops held with primary and secondary schools, colleges and members of the community. The aim of the workshops was to inform the composition of the vocal and orchestral score for the opera.
During the two hour Ockendon School workshop, the students learnt breathing techniques to be able to sing like an opera singer and practiced vocal exercises to extend the voice and be able to use it properly without damage.
They also used part of the libretto (script/words) for the Community Opera and put music to it making it into a song. It was the Essex nymphs song and they sang in their best Essex accents!
