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
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fit Check? Look Behind You
In gyms, someone is always filming. We are all in the frame without meaning to be. Is privacy at odds with fitness goals? Is consent even possible with all those mirrors?
Is There A Bot In Your Closet?
AI is designing clothes, creating ads, and tracking who's buying what. Relax. We're seeing what it can't do too. Take a look
Sudhir Yaduvanshi
Playback singer, @Sudhir Yaduvanshi Music
Step, step step... and twirl!
Sangeet routines, wedding waltzes, party moves and those hip-hop pops you thought you couldn't do. Here are 10 accounts to keep you on your toes
A timeless story in three parts
Take a closer look at Anjolie Ela Menon's triptych, Yatra. Like life, it demands that the viewer embark on a journey
Hitting that suite spot
Most hotels go all-out with extravagant frills. But to truly shine, all they need to do is pay attention to the everyday details
It's what we've weighted for
Around the world, drugs that suppress appetite are all the rage for weightloss. We've taken to them faster than any diet. Could the war on fat finally be over?
Remote learning
The small-town success story is changing. Distance matters less. The fire burns brighter. Indians are realising that regional quirks are actually an advantage. See how an artist, an actor, a designer, a musician and a hockey champ celebrate their roots
The big Apple of my eye
Bring back the frothy, shiny NYC romcoms where anything was possible. In a world going mad, that dream is all we have
Avantika Dassani
Actor, @AvantikaDassani
