Testimonials
DIVAS & SCHOLARS / VIENNA OPERA FESTIVAL TOUR
TESTIMONIALS
Rebecca Hardy: “It’s been a wonderful four days Lucy. Thank you so much for organising and bringing together such a fun, eclectic group of people”.
Catherine Bowers: “It was great fun, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
Rae Dee: “It has been a great trip… thank you to Lucy for making it happen.”
Jacqueline Tammenons “MANY thanks to Lucy. It was a great pleasure to meet you and to be part of your Vienna tour. Well done!... I had a wonderful time and am most impressed by the quiet way you made things happen.”
Julie Jackson: “Thank you so much for arranging such a wonderful trip, it was good and fun from beginning to end.”
Nicky Billot: “Thanks Lucy for the incredible opera/cultural tour, hopefully the first of many. Great fun meeting so many fabulous people.”
Susan Fleet: “This trip has been a cultural delight… great company and wonderful music. A joy to hear so many aspiring opera singers at the start of their careers. Thanks Lucy.”
Karen Chambers: “Thank you so much Lucy for such a super waltz through Vienna. Absolutely thrilled to be invited and able to join you. The delight of the trip was meeting all the interesting, warm and friendly people.”
Nettie and Brian Lanaghan: “ We had a wonderful time and huge thanks from us both for a really interesting and enjoyable few days. All the music was wonderful, the tours excellent and we have met some very special people.”
Janet Budd: “Thank you again Lucy for organising and arranging such a fascinating and varied visit to Vienna. My first visit, and I feel I want to revisit.”
Sue Jones: “What a treat it was! Thank you so much, a really interesting group of people. Lovely to be walking around and eating and chatting together. And the music, art, architecture and wine tasting on top of that. What a good trip you put together. Thanks Lucy!”
Elizabeth McIntyre: “I have such vivid memories of the days in Vienna, they are keeping me up in the clouds. Such a memorable trip, thank you so much for all the organisation and especially the attention to detail. Such a triumph and so enjoyable to meet such a diverse and fun group of people. The music, art and trips were enhanced by the company, the chance to escape jeans and wellies and and sample the Viennese food. A wonderful four days, many thanks Lucy.”
Tina Macfarlane: “Thanks to Lucy for organising not just the opera but also the excellent tours.”
Adriana Blakeney: “ It was a wonderful trip and thank you for all you did to arrange such lovely evenings of opera, dinners… Not forgetting the wine tasting and museum visit. Great to meet you finally too and all the lovely people who made such an interesting group.”
Maarten van Eden: “Margot and I had a great time, but that you will have noticed. I enjoyed getting to know you and the whole gang and look forward to the next tour.”
Sue Birbeck: “Thank you for gathering such a lively eclectic group of people. I so enjoyed them and seeing Vienna for the first time. Your guides were excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed all the culture and the weather was spectacular. Luckily Cosi fan tutte was utterly delightful and it was wonderful to see young and fabulous singers up so close… I did really enjoy the experience of wonderful young singers so there was plenty to enjoy. The group was wonderful and you planned a lovely tour.”
"With Divas & Scholars Lucy has created a platform for opera singers to showcase the instrument she most admires - the operatic voice. Her impressive opera highlights events are of the highest calibre, enjoyable and informative."
Florian Leonhard, violin maker and dealer
I've been to several D&S events at the Club at The Ivy. They are a treat for both opera aficionados and aspirers. Besides the selection of arias, the talks and rehearsal demonstrations given by the artists, directors and musicians whom Lucy selects are a joy and informative. She is an excellent curator.
Martin Loat, Ivy Club member
As a speaker and as an audience member, I'm a big fan of Divas & Scholars. Such memorable evenings - convivial and informative. A great way to meet fellow opera enthusiasts.
Christopher Luscombe
Many alumni and students of the conservatoire have valued the performance opportunities offered in London by Divas & Scholars over the last few years.
Stefan Janski
Former Head of Opera, Royal Northern College of Music
Thank you for organising a brilliant day on Donizetti yesterday. Both speakers in the morning session were excellent with focussed presentations that ensured one learnt a good deal not just about Donizetti but about bel canto operas in general. Then the masterclass after lunch was wonderful with well chosen arias and great presentation. I enjoyed it all and was fascinated to understand WHY I like Donizetti better than Rossini. – I will certainly focus on this when listening to Donizetti in future. I look forward to hearing more from Nelly Miricioiu on Tuesday evening.
Mr Nairn Glen
Our young singers hugely enoy and appreciate taking part in Divas and Scholars masterclasses – all performance opportunities help them and it is important for them to perform outside College whilst they are still students. They learn a lot!
Lynne Dawson
Opera Singer, Head of Vocal Studies, Royal Northern College of Music
Lucy Woodruff has worked tirelessly to bring together artists from the opera world with those who, like myself, have been hungry for knowledge about this wonderful art form. The pinnacle of this learning process has been the Divas & Scholars Opera Studies Series. The recitals performed for us by some of the young pianists and singers of the National Opera Studio have been just magical. I have had the privilege of talking with them over dinner and learning more. This has been, and will no doubt continue to be, a brilliant experience!
Malcolm Paterson
I have been attending Divas & Scholars study days since their earliest inception and witnessed their popularity grow from strength to strength. The skill and knowledge of the speakers is world-class and with up and coming talent bringing the art form alive, these sessions are not to be missed.
Rachel Piggott
Former Marketing Manager, Glyndebourne Festival
After many years of being part of opera audiences, the Divas & Scholars course has been much more than promised. Besides the social aspect of meeting other opera fanatics, the course has provided a new dimension to my operatic experience. It has been a privilege to be able to talk to people “in the trade” and learn about their lives, and especially to hear singing by the talented opera stars of the future.
I am sure that at the end my feeling will be similar to when a Ring Cycle I have seen ends – I wish it would start again.
Ivor Brecker
Dentist
Lucy, I had a wonderful time yesterday, and am full of appreciation for your vision and energy in putting all this together.
Eric Winkler Physicist, Technology Manufacturer
Divas & Scholars offers a very interesting educational programme. The intimate format of the talk, performance and dinner is fun and it’s an entertaining and informative way to get inside the world of opera. I enjoyed meeting a lovely group of opera fans and aficionados when I came as a guest to talk about singing Handel. Lucy creates a warm and friendly atmosphere and it is a wonderful and rare opportunity for opera lovers to meet opera insiders. Most importantly, the young artists from the Opera Studio benefit from the chance to perform alongside established performers and scholars. Everyone comes away with something special.
Danielle de Niese
