November 2011 - Session 2

It was clear from the word go, as this was the second session of the new Feeder Scheme, that the initial nerves had all but disappeared. In true South West Music School form, many of the students were soon to be thrown far out of their comfort zones and into the world of Baroque Opera.

The session was led by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, an unconventional orchestra who specialise in Baroque and Renaissance material, with the added oddities of period specific and lesser known instrumentation, who perform without a conductor.

Spurred on and inspired by the obvious passion for their work, SWMS’ young musicians of all styles and disciplines were soon on their way to composing and performing an opera in just a few hours.

The final product included pieces based upon the rhythms in a witch’s cackle, segments from Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” and musical interpretations of several spells and incantations. As always it was wonderful to see guitarists, trumpeters, harpists and everything in between creating and performing together towards what turned out to be a fabulous performance in front of their parents. A fantastic end to another very successful Feeder day.