Princeton Festival Offers Backstage Tour for Opera Enthusiasts

Princeton, NJ -- Dr. Rochelle Ellis, local classical singer and educator, led a 2-part event for area residents who were interested in learning about the opera during the Princeton Festival last week.

The workshop was for those interested in opera in general, English opera in particular, and the opera “Peter Grimes” specifically.

“Peter Grimes” is being performed as part of The Princeton Festival on June 18, 23, and 26 in McCarter Theatre Center.

Attendees learned about opera and heard area singers perform arias from the English opera repertoire. They then took a backstage tour of the McCarter Matthews Theater and attending a full dress rehearsal of the opera “Peter Grimes.”

A total of 115 people attended, ranging in age from 13 to those old enough to qualify for Medicare, according to event organizers. Several of them had attended last year’s program that focused on “The Marriage of Figaro.”

One of these was Elizabeth, who described herself as a classical pianist. She commented that the workshop “helped give me a different level of appreciation of the full story and the music,” event organizers said.

Another participant who attended said “The music was very aligned with the play,” and said she “definitely plans to attend future workshops,” according to event organizers.

The attached image from the tour was posted on www.princetonfestival.org. (Photo by Pia Ruggles.)