Babette Rust and Max Dusek enjoyed an experience of a lifetime, performing on the stage of the world famous Barbican Theatre with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of the Czech conductor Jiri Belahlavek. The orchestra was performing Janacek’s lively comic opera, ‘The Bartered Bride’ in its original Czech language, using renowned singers from Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, the opera requires two young children as part of the cast, and the BBC contacted CSBH asking for help in finding two young performers who could cope with the demands of such a production.
Babette and Max, both students in CSBH, were selected, and after learning their lines, they joined the singers and orchestra for rehearsals at the BBC studios in Maida Vale, and then on the Barbican main stage itself for the dress rehearsals.
The final performance took place in front of a packed theatre, and was simultaneously broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, so there was no room for slip ups or missed cues! Both children did themselves proud, and the whole production went very smoothly from the opening bars, right through to Babette and Max joining the stars and conductor on stage at the end for the applause and bows during the final curtain calls.
“I was nervous right up to the last minute,” said Babette afterwards, “but when it was my turn to go stage, it was like I was really there in the story, and I ran across, calling out my lines as loud as I could – just like we were told. It was great. I’d love to do it again. Everyone was so kind to us, and meeting the conductor and talking to him afterwards was good to – he was really proud of us.”
The live performance was also recorded, and is due to be released as a CD in early 2012. Babette and Max will be happy to sign copies on request!
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