Trinidadian tenor Ronald Samm, who has been enjoying a great deal of success on the European operatic circuit is here to conduct a Masterclass for a group of gifted local singers. The Masterclass is being held at Christ Church, Cascade tomorrow at 5 pm, with Enrique Ali as accompanist. London-based Samm will open the Masterclass with an operatic aria and at the end of the evening a grand party is planned for him at Le Cafe Opera, 13 Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain from 8.30 pm.
The singers chosen to benefit from this evening of song are mainly past winners of T&T’s Music Festival, some of whom are presently studying at the Napa under the tutelage of Professor Vertrelle Mickens. These include Marlon De Bique (tenor), Hermina Charles (dramatic mezzo soprano), Germaine Wilson (coloratura soprano), Arnold Phillip (baritone), Patrice Quammie (soprano), Joel Lioba Duncan (bass baritone), Christine Cardinez (mezzo soprano) and Rev Clifford Rawlins (tenor).
The evening will be divided into opera and musical theatre and will be hosted by Anne Fridal (dramatic soprano) and Marvin Smith (lyric baritone), who have both performed with Samm in Trinidad and at Harewood Castle in Leeds, England in the late Dr Geraldine Connor’s production of Carnival Messiah. A St Mary’s College old boy, Samm has recently excelled in several noted operatic roles. In 2010, he was the first Black man to play Otello in the Verdi opera and has featured as Canio/Pagliacci for the Everyman Theatre in Cork, and Sportin’ Life/Porgy and Bess for Opera Lyon.
Samm studied voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with further studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England.
Tickets cost $100 and are available by calling 766-9300/763-8681.