“Wow!” was the reaction of soprano Marcelle Clamens’ voice coach in Germany when he saw the programme she has prepared for her solo recital at City Hall theatre on June 3.

The event, ‘An Evening of Opera Arias and Classics’, will feature 13 arias from 11 operas, most of which are very well known and much loved by the public at large.

For opera aficionados in particular it promises to be a feast of their favourite genre, but even those who claim not to like opera will quickly realise that they have been listening to many of the arias for years thanks to their use in advertising and elsewhere.

It has been two years since Mrs. Clamens last gave a recital — and that long since she first had the idea of holding another one — so she is understandably excited about sharing her art on stage.

Apart from the joy of performing, however, the Bermudian voice teacher’s goal is to raise funds for bursaries so that those of her own talented and dedicated students who need financial assistance can continue their studies.

“That is very important to me, and that is why I want to encourage young people especially to come out and support their fellow Bermudians who love the art as much as I do,” she says.

In terms of her students, all but one of whom are over 16 because the required technique “does not really lend itself to the younger singer”, Mrs. Clamens says her aim is to develop them in such a way that they can aspire to a local career.

“In Bermuda, you can’t make any kind of career unless you are a cross-over. I teach them opera, which also teaches them to be a rhythm and blues or jazz singer because, to a point, it is all the same, so that is why I am hoping that people learn to appreciate not only opera but also realise that there is a distinct way of classical singing and rhythm and blues singing.”

For her City Hall programme, Mrs. Clamens has chosen arias from the operas ‘Carmen’, ‘Giulio Cesare’ (Julius Caesar), ‘Le Nozze de Figaro’ (Marriage of Figaro), ‘La Boheme’, ‘Die Zauberflote’ (The Magic Flute), ‘Turandot’, ‘La Rondine’ and ‘Madama Butterfly’, each of which she will sing in their original language.

Accompanying her on piano will be Ms Olga Zeidel.

Further enriching the programme will be special guest and fellow Bermuda School of Music faculty member David France, who will perform a violin solo, and the Bermuda School of Music Consort — Chas Arnold, Jennifer Sheridan and Lisa Hollis (violins); Laura Appert (viola), Caroline Eaton and Carol Everson (clarinets), and Nancy Smith (flute) — who will play a work by Bach, with Ryan Ellis conducting.

Mrs. Clamens who, in addition to her private students, teaches voice at the Bermuda School of Music, is a graduate of the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree with honours.

She has competed in international voice competitions and concerts, and was a major prize winner in the Bellini International Voice Competition, and Artists International Recital Management. She has performed in several Bermuda Festival productions and gave a debut performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City.

Prior to joining the BSM faculty, guest soloist Mr. France had extensive teaching experience in his native US, as well as performing with many symphony orchestras. He also appeared as a soloist in many major European cities as well as in the Caribbean. His most recent claim to fame was playing the violin on hip hop artist Golden’s recently-released CD, ‘Peddling Medicine’.

[bul]Tickets (adults $40, seniors and children $25) for ‘An Evening of Opera Arias and Classics’ are available at the Music Box and the Bermuda School of Music.