Coasting to Success

by Steve Cohen

opera

Philadelphia has a multitude of opera companies but, until now, nothing like this. The Atlantic Coast Opera Festival is in its first summer as an opera training camp and festival, the only such establishment in the Middle Atlantic states.

"I based the ACOF on the Glyndebourne Festival in England, where I trained in 1988," says founder and Philadelphia native Robert McFarland. "Glyndebourne gave me lead roles and launched my international career as a baritone."

"In the past year I put 8,000 miles on my little car, all by myself, driving all over the United States to find singers," he says. "I auditioned 857 to find the 30 who are part of this summer's program." He also picked an orchestra of 34 instrumentalists from music conservatories including the Curtis Institute. ACOF started in late June with master classes, private coaching and a young artists' program (featuring works like Carmen, pictured). Public performances begin next Tuesday.

Fledermaus and the double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci will star an Argentinean tenor, a Mexican baritone, AVA graduate Sun Chong and an American tenor whose work has largely been in Germany and Hungary.

"Other places have young artists' programs that allow the students to understudy lead roles, but there needs to be a place where young artists can sing the leads, to add them to their resumés," says McFarland. "I talked about this with Beverly Sills, and we agreed that young singers today don't have as many opportunities as I had. Our goal is to change that."

Atlantic Coast Opera Festival, Die Fledermaus in English, Tue., July 12, 7 p.m., Lang Hall, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, and July 15-17, Eastern Regional High School Performing Arts Center, 1401 Laurel Oak Rd., Voorhees, N.J.; Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, July 20, Lang Hall, and July 22-24, Eastern Regional High School Performing Arts Center; $25-$35, 215-218-9977, www.AtlanticCoastOpera.com.