six scenes, one search for truth on stage
What happens when opera takes off its mask?
In OperaLab#1, our Young Artists spend two intense weeks diving into six very different opera scenes — without sets, without costumes, without the usual grandeur. What remains: voice, imagination, and pure performance.
Guided by director Elien Hanselaer and vocal coach Kate Royal, they explore how truthful opera can become. Can something that is, at its core, artificial, still feel genuinely real?
Each scene is chosen to match the voices and artistic challenges of the performers. Together, they form an evening that balances between performance and experiment — a kind of documentary-opera, in which the singers not only portray their characters, but also reveal themselves. They slip in and out of roles, searching for honesty, pushing against boundaries.
No costumes, no tricks — but yes to top-tier music, intense acting, and a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of emerging opera artists. OperaLab#1 is raw, alive, and surprisingly cohesive: a unique opportunity to witness up close how young artists are reinventing the future of opera.
Also check out other Arts events in Gent, Performances in Gent, Music events in Gent.
