Former opera star helps young musicians hit the right note in the Lot

Former British opera singer David Wilson-Johnson is helping nurture the next generation of classical music talent from his home in south-west France by hosting a series of free concerts featuring young musicians from London’s Royal Academy of Music.

The musicians are taking part in a week-long residency at Ferrandou Musique, set up by Mr Wilson-Johnson at his home in the Lot.

He bought his French home, Ferrandou, 40 years ago at the height of his career as an operatic and concert baritone, and hosted a singing summer school there for 25 years.

But eight years ago, he decided to  open his doors to young musicians  from the Royal Academy of Music, where he himself studied and is now a Fellow.

“Having sung basically all over the world with some of the top orchestras, I decided: ‘Right, I’ll do something that is not involved with singing’ – chamber music, which was sort of alien to me,”  Mr Wilson-Johnson told The Connexion.

In several residencies throughout the summer, students enjoy a post-exam week in the Lot countryside, where they have the luxury of focusing on a musical programme of their choice.

“We invite the kids to come here and rehearse in the atelier (a space dedicated to music in two converted barns). I ask them to propose interesting programmes which will stretch them and will stretch an audience. They are terribly talented and pretty fearless,” he said.

The young musicians relish the opportunity to perform, often for longer than they have the chance to while studying.

“It stretches them, and most of them take to it like a duck to water,” said Mr Wilson-Johnson.

Students apply to take part in the programme, which is free of charge. Around five to seven take part at any one time.

Many of the 25 to 30 concerts that take place each year, this year in June and July, are held in churches, which add a special element to performances and have “amazing acoustics”, Mr Wilson-Johnson said.

All concerts are free, something Mr Wilson-Johnson feels strongly about.

“I much prefer to do concerts for everybody rather than have the great and good who are prepared to pay €200 for a performance which may not be anything like as good as the ones we get,” he said. “We have a chapeau; people can put in whatever they like, or not.”

Performers this year include the Regent’s Wind Quartet and the Karelia String Quartet.

Audiences tend to be a mix of French, English and other nationalities, many of whom come year after year.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than when you get an audience absolutely rapt and silent listening to four kids make wonderful music, and surprising themselves as well. They didn’t realise they could do that. They can when there’s a live audience to respond to.

“It’s great for the punters; they can come and see these kids developing, and there’s always a friendly atmosphere after the shows… the kids mingle and the audience can chat away.”

For Mr Wilson-Johnson, who understands the sometimes cut-throat world of classical music, providing help and advice to musicians at the beginning of their careers is an important way to give back.

“I’ve got one very brilliant violinist who came last year. I had a Baroque violin, which I’ve given him to play, and this week he’s playing for the first time in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. This guy had a paper round in London to pay for his digs. If I can help them come here, first of all for a bit of a holiday, and then let them concentrate
on whatever they want to do for the next six or 12 months… it’s a lovely atmosphere, which they don’t normally get in London when they’re fighting for survival.”

After a long and prestigious career in music, Mr Wilson-Johnson enjoys discovering the talents who may be among the biggest names of tomorrow.

“The Academy is really one of the most reputable, if not the most reputable, music colleges in the world, so there are an awful lot of superstars in embryo who turn up,” he said.

“Rather than lumbering along the runway, they’re flapping their wings gently, and it’s great fun to sit back and watch them soar.”

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