Be part of a fully staged historically informed staging of Rameau’s one-act acte de ballet Pygmalion, working from first rehearsal to public performance in six days under the guidance of a team of leading baroque specialists.
ABILITY: CONFIDENT, SKILFUL
Resident: £891 Non-Resident: £707 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 26/501
Members priority booking opens at 9am on Tuesday 17 June.
General booking opens at 9am on Friday 11 July.
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here.
Please note: Arrival is from 4pm on Monday 6 April with the public performance taking place onsite on Saturday 11 April 2026 at 7.30pm (tickets for the public available closer to the time). Departure for residential course members is after breakfast on Sunday 12 April 2026.
What is the course about?
Benslow Music's beloved Baroque Opera Project returns for 2026 with Rameau's Pygmalion (1748). Over just six days, a period-instrument orchestra and cast of auditioned solo singers will prepare and present a fully staged historically informed performance of the opera for the public.
We welcome a team of early music and theatre specialists as tutors, with Catarina Costa e Silva as director-choreographer and baroque music specialist Fernando Miguel Jalôto back as musical director. The wider musical team includes Judy Tarling and Gail Hennessy. All will share their guidance and knowledge on what is an immersive and enriching week exploring and staging Rameau’s opera.
Note: the course begins on Monday – arrival from 4pm – with the public performance taking place onsite on Saturday 11 April 2026 at 7.30pm (tickets for the public available closer to the time). Departure for residential course members is after breakfast on Sunday 12 April 2026.
Solo roles
There are four solo vocal roles in Pygmalion. These are auditioned parts and we will shortly be launching an open call. If you are interested and/or would like further information at this stage, please email info@benslowmusic.org.
Orchestra/Instrumentalists
The orchestra will play at A=415 and we are currently recruiting the following:
• flutes (traversos)
• oboes
• bassoons
• strings – period instrument players, or string players using modern instruments with gut strings and baroque bows, are welcome
• harpsichordist to work as assistant to musical director Miguel Jalôto
Chorus
This year the SATB chorus is running as an independent course led by Nicholas Shaw, with opportunities to not only learn the chorus and be part of the production for Pygmalion but work on other repertoire and develop wider knowledge of baroque choruses and performance practice. See Baroque Choruses for details.
Dancers
Dance is a key component of Pygmalion and there will be parts for two dancers, who will work closely with Caterina Costa e Silva, a specialist in historical dance. At this stage we invite expressions of interest via info@benslowmusic.org.
What will we cover?
The course is focused on the preparation and public performance of a fully staged and historically informed presentation of Rameau’s Pygmalion. Whether in the orchestra or on stage, you are working towards the performance on the Saturday evening, with rehearsals and sessions tailored around ensuring you can bring the work to life with historical understanding and sensitivity.
There will be musical and staging sessions throughout the week. Key issues related the performance of 18th-century repertoire and questions of style, tone, intonation, and ensemble will form part of the many areas covered.
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to…
• Present a public performance of a fully staged historically informed opera
• Play or sing this repertoire with stylistic understanding and sensitivity
• Have a greater understanding of historically informed techniques and performance practices
• Bring knowledge of key issues to your interpretation and approach
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Confident and Skilful.
Orchestral players should be confident baroque players able to read and play as part of an orchestra.
The role of harpsichordist/assistant to the musical director, is for a continuo player with advanced existing stylistic knowledge and understanding of baroque repertoire and performance.
The solo vocal roles are auditioned.
The companion chorus course is open to SATB singers who are comfortable reading a score. See Baroque Choruses for further details.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
The Baroque Opera Project is an immersive course that takes you from first run-through to public performance in six days.
Working around Benslow meals and breaks, expert tutors lead on the schedule, with the details of sessions provided during the week and dependent on what is needed to prepare the opera for performance.
Instrumentalists should expect a mix of orchestral rehearsals, sectionals, rehearsals with the singers and dancers, and run throughs. Singers will have costume fittings and staging in addition to vocal coaching and rehearsals with the orchestra/on stage.
Will music be provided in advance of the course?
Yes. Music will be provided in advance. Please bring hard copies or a tablet (with the music downloaded) with you.