Aude Priya Wacziarg was 17 years old when she passed by a music school in France, and was drawn to the opera singing she overheard. She immediately signed up for lessons.
When her father, the late Francis Wacziarg, a Frenchman who came to India in 1970, and was a banker and businessman who also co-founded the Neemrana hotels, suggested organising an opera performance in India, Priya played the female lead in the Fakir of Benares, directed by Muzaffar Ali, in 2002.
The show then travelled to Mumbai in 2003. And it was there that The Neemrana Foundation, a non-profit organisation for music, was born.
The foundation stone
"Opera is an art form which is quite spectacular with respect to music and costume. A bit like Bollywood. We wanted to try and grow the genre in India," explains Priya.
Back then, Mumbai had a production house for opera, but the musicians came from elsewhere. "So, we thought, why not train musicians here instead?" says Priya.
Today, the Neemrana Foundation has an academy with 16 solo singers, an ensemble, a kids' choir, and a choir for teens. The singers are coached by Jasmin Martorell, 61, who first flew to India in October 2001, having already been a teacher to Priya, to coach singers for the Fakir of Benares, in which he also participated.
Opera in India
Esta historia es de la edición September 03, 2022 de Brunch.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 03, 2022 de Brunch.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Is It Scrolling Or Screening?
Being on the phone while the TV plays is the new normal. Just don't do it when there's company. A case for what it means to be present
This week, we're...
Preferring the spinoff.
The newest tricks in the book
Time is money. Here are the best hacks for saving precious seconds and taking even your everyday feed to the next level
Snuffing out the flames
Has online dating peaked? People are ditching the apps, going old-school, and aiming for IRL connections. Here's how the swipe failed a whole generation
Off the eaten path
In hotels, cafes and home kitchens cooks are getting creative with food waste. Tomato skins show up in a cake, fat flavours broths, peels have fresh appeal. Of course, we're cheering this change
Glamming up your getaway
Every island in the Maldives is stunning. So how do resorts offer a luxury upgrade? At Cheval Blanc it's by elevating every experience-food, service, spa and beyond
Benefits with friends
Of course it's harder to make friends as we grow older. Responsibilities, increase, time is short. Luckily, we have our tribes
A portrait to reflect upon
Playing with lighting and layering, a young Amrita Sher-Gil depicted herself as bold, mischievous, and enigmatic - all at once
Keep your trope shut
A divided world, a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a prophecy, a burden too heavy for a young adult. 10 YA dystopian cliches to vanquish in battle.
Sanjeeda Shaikh
Actor, @IAmSanjeeda
