Viva Lewes Issue 117 June 2016

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UNDER 16
LOUISE MOSELEY
15-year-old opera singer
Tell us about your next show… It’s a Benjamin
Britten opera called The Turn of the Screw, which
I’ll be performing at La Scala in Milan. Rehearsals
start in August and the show will be on during
September and October.
Who is your character? She’s called Flora and
she’s meant to be ten years old, but she’s usually
played by a young adult. I played the same character
on the Glyndebourne tour in 2014 and it’s
been really interesting starting to get back into
it, because my voice has changed a lot, and
the character will change too.
It’s quite unusual for somebody
your age to be an opera singer…
My friends think it’s quite weird! Lots
of people still don’t really know what I
sing, and they’re usually quite surprised.
What got you interested in opera? I’ve always
loved singing, ever since I was four and I had my
first part in a pantomime – I was a little rabbit in
Aladdin. I had a music teacher when I was seven
or eight who taught in a very classical way, so I
jumped right into opera really. The first piece I
remember learning was Alleluia by Mozart.
How often do you practise? I spend about 20
minutes a day really working on my technique,
but I sing all the time anyway.
How will you keep up with schoolwork
while you’re away? I have to come back to
school for a week in September because
Year 11 is quite a crucial year, but
they’re going to send me my work. I’m
not sure how I’m going to manage it
yet! Rebecca Cunningham
SHOES ON NOW: FREEWHEELING
Cycling in Lewes with children is not always a pleasant affair. Many
of the roads are narrow, the children wobbly and the hills - yes Station
Street I’m talking about you - far too steep. However, if you combine
two modes of transport - car and bike - then cycling as a family becomes
pleasurable once again. This Saturday my middle child and I drove to
Saltdean, about half an hour away. From there we cycled along the beach
front to Rottingdean and further on to Brighton Marina.
The sun shone on our cycling adventure, glistening off the sea on one
side as we trundled along. On our other side we were flanked by huge monolithic cliffs, as if we had stumbled
back into the Jurassic era. An added advantage to this route is that the promenade is wide enough
to encompass walkers, dog owners and cyclists alike, which makes for a much more pleasant experience
for all. The lack of gradient was a plus too, and meant that my son and I were evenly matched in terms of
cycling proficiency and speed.
There were several opportunities to eat en route, always useful when a child’s energy is flagging. As you
come into Brighton Marina there is also an area for fishing and we spent half an hour or so sitting here
watching the fishermen bait their hooks and wait expectantly. Cycling on a little further, we found several
eateries and rewarded ourselves with a large pizza as we looked out at the boats docked along the Marina.
For a fun, relaxed weekend activity, this one got a huge thumbs-up from us and is something we shall
repeat over the coming months. Jack Adams
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