The Rodin Opera Scenes Program, established January of 2014, aims:

To provide performance opportunities for University of Pennsylvania singers, music directors, pianists, and stage directors with varying levels of experience to explore the operatic genre.

To provide a positive, collaborative, low-stress environment for this exploration.

To match all singers with repertoire that suits their vocal capabilities (correct range, tessitura, technical capacity, etc.) as determined at their audition.

To provide all participants with a friendly forum in which to experiment musically and dramatically, testing their visions, and trying new techniques.

To provide support for all participants at every stage of the process, and to provide resources with which they can deal with all issues that may arise throughout the rehearsal process.

To provide a performance opportunity in which University of Pennsylvania singers can sing operatic repertoire in its original language. (Performances in translation are also a possibility if it is desired by the directors as an aesthetic choice.)

To provide participants with more complete theatrical experience, all Rodin Opera Scenes performances are staged in accordance with the artistic vision of the production staff, the confines of the performance space, and the budget of the production.

In an effort to make the performances accessible to the University of Pennsylvania and broader Philadelphia community, charging ticket prices is highly discouraged, but the collection of donations at the door is encouraged, as such donations, voluntarily given, allow us to continue our programming year after year.

Features of the program that help us reach these goals:

The entire music and stage direction team sits in on all auditions and carefully considers each singer. After all of the auditions, the team discusses each singer and each piece of suggested repertoire, keeping in mind such elements as: tessitura, range, technical proficiency, blend with other singers, foreign language experience, style, performance experience, and dramatic potential.

We willingly collaborate with voice teachers and other vocal health professionals with whom scenes participants interact outside the program, ensuring that the top priority at all times is the vocal health of the student singers.

We have a long rehearsal process, allowing singers the time to learn the music, consider its musical and dramatic nuances, and incorporate it into their voices comfortably. The long rehearsal process also allows our directors and music directors to experiment with teaching techniques and different musical and dramatic visions of the piece and to build good relationships with and between the singers. Because the process is not limited to a short couple of weeks, we are able to keep the weekly time commitment significantly lower than most theatrical or musical groups on campus.

We offer individual rehearsals on an as-needed basis, allowing singers who require more assistance gaining confidence with their music and/or stage action extra rehearsal time.