Stage-Write blog

Stage-Write: The next generation 

Thomasin Trezise of the Glyndebourne chorus is our intrepid backstage blogger.

Thomasin as a Hen (centre) in The Cunning Little Vixen at Festival 2012

About Thomasin

Thomasin Trezise was born in Brighton and studied at the Royal College of Music. Thomasin’s singing career has been more maverick than some, including Music Theatre, piano vocalist at Mayfair’s Tiddy Dols Restaurant and vocals on Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and the Harry Potter films.

Operatic roles include Second Nymph (Rusalka) and Mrs Herring (Albert Herring) for Glyndebourne; Angelina (La Cenerentola) and Mimi (La bohème) for Garden Opera; Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) for Ludo Productions at the Brighton Festival; Valencienne (The Merry Widow) and Despina (Così fan tutte) for Opera UK and Olga (Eugene Onegin) and Dorabella (Così fan tutte) for Music Theatre London. 

She started singing at Glyndebourne in 2003.

Festival 2012 Blog

17 May 2012 - Final dress rehearsal

I think it’s high time I blogged again don’t you?!

Sorry about that but May has been exceptionally busy, even for me.  The problem is that, if I see a day-off in my schedule, and it coincides with a concert I’ve been offered, I automatically say yes to it. What I don’t do is check the days either side of it.  Days-off are there for a reason..  I’ll never learn; no rest for the talented.

It’s the Final Dress of Vixen tomorrow!  Wish me toi toi toi.  I’m looking forward to it, but I will confess to being slightly nervous.  I’m sure this is a good thing.  It shows that I care.  I can walk in the shoes now-that was a miraculous moment-and I’m assured that I don’t look like pork wrapped in twine in the pink fishnets.  So it’s all good.  The production itself is just beautiful, and I am filled with frustration at not being able to watch it.  You can’t have it all ways though can you?  If you’re coming, you’re in for a real treat.  If you’re not, come!

My next exciting project is making sure I know Marcellina in time for understudy rehearsals for Figaro.  I’m very happy to be covering Ann Murray, I’ve long been a fan of her work.  You never stop learning do you?  I’ll let you know how they go in due course. 

Meanwhile, enjoy tomorrow, if you’re coming, and give me a big cheer at the end, in a sort of honking the horn, pally sort of way.

Ta ta, or should I say, TRRRRRP!!!!

15 April 2012 - I'm back!

Well, I have now seen my Head Hen costume and I think I can say, with a certain amount of confidence, that I will be noticed.  Needless to say, I can’t give too much away (ooh that rhymed!), but it has impact.  All the chickens have very high heels, which we have been granted access to during rehearsals.  So we have been navigating around the set all week, wobbling and staggering, and trying to remember music, moves and chicken characters.  WAIT A MINUTE!  I’ve just realised that we have the set in the rehearsal room at a VERY early stage.  Looking at the tricksy nature of it, I can see why Melly Still would have insisted on this, but even so, well done Glyndebourne!

There is an awful lot going on in Vixen.  There are a lot of characters, including children, who play foxcubs.  Staging is complicated and it feels, timewise, as if we are really up against it.  Of course there is plenty of time before opening night, and of course it will be fabulous, but in the meantime, it’s heads down and busy, busy, busy for everyone.  Very exciting!

See ya.

7 April 2012 - It all starts here

Welcome back to my blog, and a very happy Easter to one and all!

And what better way to have spent the preceeding week than singing about laying eggs as hens in The Cunning Little Vixen?  Please look out for yours truly, the Crested Fowl (I prefer Head Hen).   I will be singing TRRP! very loudly at the other hens in a rather rude way.  She is a most unpleasant character, but gets her comeuppance at the hands of the Vixen.  I can’t wait to play her and have far more than five notes on my own this time!  More of that later.  As always, I can’t divulge too much about the production but with Vladimir Jurowski conducting and Melly Still directing I probably don’t need to say much more. COME!  It’s going to be AMAZING!

There is no getting away from it though, coming back to Glyndebourne is a bit like going back to school.  You get quite excited about seeing your old pals again, (or is that just me?) and you have the new pupils to suss out. The classes are much bigger, and there isn’t a discipline problem of course.  Well, not really.  Playtime is very similar, with the girls in huddles chit-chatting and the boys playing football out on the lawn.  There is no streaming though, we’re all there because we’re all brilliant, and striving to be even more brilliant.

La Boheme is back, and has had a bit of refreshing in the costume department. I’m VERY trendy in it, you won’t recognise me… Wait a minute!  It’s true though , I do favour a far more classical style these days.  It’s great to get down with the kids sometimes.

All in all, it’s been a very enjoyable first week at Glyndebourne High-and so short!

See you soon.