Inside Opera: Becoming Zerlina - From first rehearsal to stage (The Royal Opera)

In a specially created documentary, follow soprano Elizabeth Watts as she takes on the role of Zerlina for the first time in Kasper Holten's production of Don Giovanni.
A film by Pinny Grylls.
Find out more at www.roh.org.uk/dongiovanni
Mozart's Don Giovanni -- first staged in 1787 -- offers boundless scope for directors. Kasper Holten's interpretation focuses on the power of the creative imagination. Don Giovanni is cast as an artist who seduces an endless stream of women through his ability to create wonderful illusions. His catalogue of sexual conquests is a vain attempt to escape his own mortality, and ultimately comes at a high price.
Holten's production is rich in both colourful comedy and exhilarating drama. Set designs by Es Devlin (Les Troyens) and costume designs by Anja Vang Kragh (Stella McCartney, John Galliano for Christian Dior), with video projections by Luke Halls and choreography by Signe Fabricius, portray the visually entrancing world of Don Giovanni. At the heart of the production are the beauty and invention of Mozart's dazzling score, which ranges from gorgeous arias and dramatic duets to the brilliant layering of dance melodies that bring Act I to a virtuoso close.

[@isabelohagan2090]

honestly, the best part was when her husband was helping her rehearse the duet while putting on his tux.

[@KSfan4ever]

A wonderful moment for me as well. So poignant and special: he also has a beautiful voice, and looked so happy as he was getting dressed and singing with her.

[@Jacob-ry3lu]

She has a true humble personality, a trait that will always work in her favor

[@AriRHen]

I had to replay the moment her partner sees her after her performance around 29.43. He was so genuinely happy for her and its very heartwarming. I'll admit it made me a little teary. Beautiful documentary.

[@CherryCandy211]

Please please make more documentaries like this! I'm an aspiring opera singer and it's very interesting for me to see what it's like to be an opera singer!

[@AlyonaRostovskaya]

Wow... At that moment when it was announced "30 minutes before the start of the play" I was worried as if it I have to go on stage! Amazing journey to the life of the theatre!

[@meowingwool]

They give you a 10 minute and a call to go on stage to start before the curtain goes up

[@OccyDaBoss]

she loioks like 'omg rip my sanity'

[@jx325xs]

Aw she seems so sweet and loving. I'm glad she enjoyed herself and gave such a wonderful performance. Please make more documentaries like this! I enjoy seeing these behind the scenes :)

[@fingerhorn4]

She's got character and oomph! And a lovely voice. And a sense of humour. She has everything she needs.

[@missmostess]

I saw this production of Don a Giovanni twice. It was just too beautiful to only see the once. And I can assure Liz Watts that she was absolutely good enough to be there - in fact - having seen Don Giovanni four times live - I think she is the best Zerlina I've seen (and Mariusz kwiecien most definitely the best Don G.) Bravo Liz - you were amazing xxxx.

[@bernardkellytenor]

Refreshing to see the human side of what it takes to prepare for a role, the fact that we all get nervous when tackling something beyond our scope of comfort. Sometimes opera singers can seem larger than life. I hope to see more documentaries like this.

[@peteradaniel]

I remember going to college with Liz. We did Dialogues des Carmelites in her final year and boy does she work hard! So glad to see it all pay off. Still just as hard working and talented now as she was then. Brava.

[@suzannederringer1607]

This is a beautiful documentary. She's so fine - modest and totally professional, and lovely voice. No pretension. And the Royal Opera clearly supports its singers in a collegial atmosphere.

[@thecurledfreckle]

I felt so nervous just watching but what an amazing documentary!! Thank you so much!!!! She is so inspiring!

[@paustinheaton]

Beautiful voice and wonderful documentary. Would love to see more documentaries like this.

[@Isabel-kl6gd]

Her and her husband at the end literally made me cry...oh wowwow

[@operadog2000]

I had never heard of her, but I am thankful that I had watched this video. What a gorgeous voice!!

[@vocalmuse]

A moving insight into the character of this stunning singer and her enormous dedication to her art. I've saved it and will watch it again many times. Very generous of Elizabeth to release this behind the scenes video which is highly entertaining for all opera lovers. Thank you.

[@sabrinalian1123]

I had the pleasure of seeing Elizabeth on stage last year for this production of don giovanni. It was an absolutely amazing and mesmerising performance she presented to the audience. So glad to have come across this documentary of her journey behind scenes. I'm equally moved by the love and support liz and her husband had for each other. Great job to the producers of this documentary!

[@jillzord]

Wow this is a complete lesson. So inspirational, I am blown away. You're all amazing.

[@Sudio4Presents4U]

This is a very well done piece. I love the candid view we almost never get to experience as opera fans. Thank you so much Pinny Grylis and Elizabeth Watts. Hats offs to you both and to the whole crew, fabulous!

[@TorontoIam]

"Member when KZbin started and I spent the first years looking for opera vids to no avail. Now, so very much!

[@eugenievanzyl]

MUSIC March 2011. I was paging through this magazine tonight when a picture of Elizabeth Watts caught my eye. Immediately I put the book down and went onto KZbin and wow, what a wonderful performance by this lady! She did a great job! Bravo!

[@paoloparigi4852]

Very exciting documentary. In Italy, the land of Opera, I’ve never seen anything as interesting as this in any tv channels or KZbin theatre channels.

[@FoxyStealth]

Fantastic documentary. I felt nervous at the 30 min to curtain call & when she was running that long way to the stage from her dressing room. But GORGEOUS performance! Well done everyone!

[@glitterdrakar7095]

So interesting and heartwarming. I very much miss the times we were allowed to rehearse and stand on stage.

[@mehitabel1290]

Aww. She misses Taunton ... And her garden....!! Love 'er even more...!

[@geeklette99]

20:48 was such a sweet moment between her and her husband 💙

[@enricolione18]

what an beautiful documentary! i would love to watch more like this one! what an amazing woman!

[@nichj487]

More content like this! Fantastic video, and what a performance too.

[@HandelLover1989]

Brilliant footage! I love this kind of documentaries!

[@GeeBri]

This was amazing! Thank you for making this

[@paacer]

Love these behind the scenes documentaries . Loved Liz since I saw her in the Cardiff song competition . Wonderful voice and great in the role of Zerlina .

[@erpollock]

A lovely documentary. And I know the arias of Zerlina so well, I could sing along, from when I studied voice. It's not so difficult a role, it's mostly acting - and of course, singing. She transforms remarkably, but seems to wear the same sweater throughout rehearsals. Very well done and well sung.

[@naturalydecadent]

thank u for this inspiritatif documentary,the real and realistic of a artist in the secret way

[@FoxyStealth]

"Opera is the language of emotions. It gives us the language to talk about things where words sometimes run dry." @15:50 "Singers must trust an emotion & go with it without explaining why.

[@UmmOopsy]

And ladies and gentlemen, this is how you make an opera that was written in like 1700s to seem modern enough for this generation's audience.

[@StoneFreeSofie]

Wooow swept me off my feet, very inspiring and insightful!

[@ternitamas]

this is so helpful for aspiring artists and students! Really inspiring and instructive. Greatly appreciated documentary!

[@tomaszsosnowski9279]

"It’s just a virus”. So strange to hear her words in 2021.

[@herrbrucvald6376]

I like her voice much better than some really famous Zerlinas I've heard. Her interpretation of the aria is perfection, so moving, dramatically and vocally, and the juxtaposition of that w/ the scene backstage with her real husband is just brilliant, so tender.

[@SandrineAnterrion]

Nice film thank you. Great change from pop trash behind the scenes tripe!

[@krisslena]

Beautiful documentary, do more of this please

[@tissuepaper9962]

The videography of the first half felt like an episode of The Office. In a good way.

[@znamoperu]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@latinfreestylesoulvinyl7151]

wow... such a pretty voice she has. Sounds like her voice is becoming a full Lyric Soprano

[@the-chipette]

latinfreestylesoulvinyl I imagine she's in her mid-30s now and can tackle lyric roles. :)

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

What a stunning voice 😇

[@FoxyStealth]

Wow, that's a lot of pressure.

[@samanthastover6887]

I know that this is going to be me *exactly* if I ever get to do this with my career 😂

[@k_a_y_l_e_e]

wait, they aren't paid for rehearsals??

[@Sparky82]

They get a lump sum which is almost definitely more than my monthly salary hehe .

[@seika3926]

Oh, i feel so nervous even though I'm not the one who doing it

[@SallyAli789]

How can I audition for the royal opera house as a solo opera singer? I'm an opera singer and wish to work with you

[@wolffgang101]

I don't know much about opera, do singers who sing and do operas in different languages just rehearse the lines? And I wonder how many opera singers know other languages. Edited: there was a part with a language coach

[@Sparky82]

Well when learning an opera in a language you don't understand you work with someone who knows the language and you have your lines translated also so you know what you're saying. You work with a diction coach too.

[@erpollock]

@@Sparky82 Actually, you have to know what you are singing, every word, and you must have perfect diction in the foreign language. Agree with above.

[@Mocabean82]

She has such a beautiful voice. I wonder if she ever hurts her own ears, lol.

[@pedinurse1]

Not paid for all that rehearsal time, are you kidding?????

[@Sparky82]

They get a lump sum which I'm sure makes it all worthwhile ;-)

[@nathandavis3002]

They get a lump some AFTER the performances. If the singer falls ill or otherwise cant perform on the day, they dont get anything. The airline costs, accommodations, and hours upon hours of rehearsal go uncompensated.

[@dekocyann113]

オペラ、最高、、、

[@MZ-tb8rx]

w

[@user-rv4qw3xi3c]

私は英語を母語としないで育ちました。極東で生まれ育ちました。英語は１３才で初めて習いました。学校嫌いです。極東の英語教師が話す英語は、イギリス英語に近いです。ところが、現代日本の英語はアメリカ人の話し方を理想とします。私にはアメリカ人の英語は極めて難解です。

[@tinipants2]

Id be pissed with his joke on how she improved... if i was her

[@FoxyStealth]

Vedrai Carino @15:04 & @28:21

[@marichristian1072]

What a bore! Performance is difficult and she has a beautiful voice. Now for seeing the finished product.

[@tinipants2]

Yuck her husband. Not hot at sll ..him eating the pinaple gross