French Language Coach For Opera & Classical singers
Individual & group COACHING
PHOTO: Pierre Brunel
TO BOOK A SESSION ONLINE:
herve@hervegoffings.com
“One of the most exciting music and language coaches I have ever encountered in my long life. For young artists, a total inspiration but also for seasoned professionals.”
David Gowland, Artistic Director, JPAP at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
MY EXPERIENCE
I am a London-based French coach who specialises in providing French language coaching to opera singers at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Academy of Music and the BBC singers. I have also provided French coaching for the Welsh National Opera, Royal Danish Opera, Lithuanian National Opera and Opera Holland Park.
My longstanding experience as a language coach gives me a solid understanding of the challenges that non-native speakers face while singing in French. With a strong emphasis on the use of the phonetic alphabet, and drawing upon my skills as a singer and an actor, I support students and professionals to gain mastery in their pronunciation of the language, and in their theatrical interpretation of a piece.
INDIVIDUAL & GROUP COACHING
“Hervé is everything you could want in a language coach. Not only does he give students systematic tools for tackling French pronunciation but he also brings his experience as an actor and performer to bear on text and its successful delivery. The students are extremely fortunate to be working with such a gifted teacher.”
Paul Wingfield - Head of Vocal and Operatic studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
My French coaching is aimed at:
professional and semi-professional singers with a prior knowledge of French and an interest in the French repertoire. Sessions are ideal for those who have an upcoming audition, competition, concert or opera performance.
vocal and operatic students who wish to build up their French repertoire. For those who are new to the French language I teach the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to achieve correct pronunciation.
During French language coaching we will:
Focus on your pronunciation, diction and the patterns of stress and intonation in the language
Consider the language in relationship to your voice, the music and the meaning of the text (my background as a classical singer and actor is extremely useful for this)
Work on your interpretation of your piece (character coaching)
Build your confidence to sing in French
JETTE PARKER ARTISTS PROGRAMME
Jette Parker Artists company 2023 -2024
Photo: Clive Barda
As a staff member of the Jette Parker Artists Programme (JPAP), Covent Garden, I provide French coaching to the alumni building up their repertoire and working on their dramatic interpretation of a piece. I take great pleasure in supporting the singers to showcase their full potential at their final summer performance every year.
Hervé coached me on the part of Zuniga in Carmen for my Royal Opera House (ROH) debut in the role. He was very patient and enthusiastic in taking me from the very start of the process (phonetics, liaisons and pacing) through to the finished product. His ideas were most useful with regard to getting into character, with his skills as an actor coming into use as we roleplayed the dialogues back and forth. Most importantly he gave me confidence with the language and was fundamental in helping me to hold the stage, and to project this strong character to a full ROH audience, without the aid of microphones.
Jamie Woolard playing Zuniga
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Hervé on numerous occasions, and each time it brings me great joy to enter the rehearsal room and see that I will be working alongside him once more. Hervé exemplifies professionalism in every aspect of his craft. His friendly demeanor, kindness, and unwavering dedication to his work create an atmosphere that fosters creativity and growth.I have learned a tremendous amount from my experiences with Hervé, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a remarkable individual.”
Grisha Martirosyan playing Sulpice
La Fille du Régiment
Jette Parker Summer Performance, ROH, 2024
Photo: Clive Barda
Jette Parker Summer Performance, ROH, 2024.
Photo: Clive Barda
MASTERCLASSES
“As French coach on our residential Samling Artist Programme Hervé inspired a deeper understanding of the nuances and subtleties of the texts studied, and in a memorable public masterclass gave the audience insights into the French theatrical tradition.”
Karon Wright, Artistic and Executive Director of Samling Institute for Young Artists
Photo credit: Mark Pinder
My masterclasses on French repertoire are intended for singers of National Opera Studios and Young Artists Programs. They are also ideal for students of music colleges and academies. The Masterclass is an intensive French coaching experience which aims to deepen the personal interpretation of songs and arias.
My most recent masterclasses took place at Samling Institute School of Music, The Royal College of Music, Cardiff University School of Music and Mexico City.
For more info please contact me: herve@hervegoffings.com
OPERA PRODUCTIONS
I have worked on a number of opera productions as a French language coach:
CARMEN - Bizet - Royal Opera House - 2024
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN - Offenbach - Lithuanian National Opera - 2024
LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLES, Bizet - (excerpt) - Royal Opera House - 2023
WERTHER - Massenet (excerpt) - Royal Opera House - 2023
HAMLET - A. Thomas (excerpt) - Royal Opera House - 2023
CARMEN - Bizet - Royal Danish Opera - 2022
MANON - Massenet (excerpts) - Royal Opera House - A. Pappano - 2022
MARGOT LA ROUGE, Delius - Opera Holland Park - 2022
LA DESCENTE D’ORPHÉE AUX ENFERS, Charpentier - Vache Baroque - 2022
CARMEN, Bizet - Welsh National Opera - 2020
TESTIMONIALS
“Working with Hervé is a pleasure. He is very clear with the corrections of the French language and manages to get the result without interfering with the artistic process going on in the room. I can warmly recommend him.”
Elisabeth Jansson (Carmen)
Royal Danish Opera
“Hervé helped me with my preparation for the role of Ninetta in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden production of Verdi's Les Vêpres Siciliennes. Hervé is a very encouraging and friendly coach and he was extremely helpful in aiding me with the pronunciation of the French libretto. Furthermore, his own background as an actor and performer meant he had a better understanding of the complex poetic text and theatrical context. His singing background meant that he knew the best way to pronounce the French without compromising vocal sound. I would definitely recommend Hervé.”
Michelle Daly (Ninetta)
“Working with Hervé is the perfect mix of language/text and interpretation that I want in a vocal coach. He is encouraging, supportive and pushes you to think outside the box while not going too far that things feel too uncomfortable. He has an appreciation of the complex task that singers have to juggle, and that sensitivity makes him very enjoyable to work with.”
Owain Gwynfryn (student at GSMD)
“I really relished working with Hervé on Carmen at Welsh National Opera. His experience as an actor and singer meant he could really tell me how to use the accurate pronunciation to support the drama. I'd love to be coached by him any time!”
Julia Mintzer (Carmen)
Royal Welsh Opera
“Hervé has been my French language coach for over 15 years. He has helped me on many different projects including opera (Bizet, Delibes), Chanson (Poulenc, Debussy, Fauré) and Cabaret (Edith Piaf). His vast knowledge of vocal repertoire, attention to detail and commitment to my success is a constant source of reassurance and confidence.”
Rachael Russell (Classical-crossover Soprano)
“Hervé was incredibly supportive, patient and enthusiastic when we worked together. His detailed work on consonants, vowels and the tone of the French language took my French pronunciation to a higher level. He is calm and extremely patient which then made me feel safe when attempting to improve my diction. Every single rehearsal he attended he helped in numerous ways and went above and beyond what a language coach normally does. Hervé's knowledge of the character, music and language helped me reach a higher standard with my spoken and sung French and gave me the confidence to strive for the best.”
Elin Pritchard (Micaëla)
Royal Welsh Opera
“Hervé Goffings is a first-rate artist and teacher, and also a perfectionist in everything he does. As a singer I was lucky enough to have his help as a language coach for French songs and opera, which elevated my performance to a different level.”
Mario Solimene (Baritone)
“Hervé was very patient, precise and encouraging. He made me feel like I could make pronounce the French language with ease. It was great to work him and I would not hesitate to return to him for further sessions.”
Nadine Benjamin (Soprano)
“The soloists were thrilled by your non-negotiable professionalism and calm energy.”
Orsi Fajger
(Head of Music, Royal Danish Opera)
”Hervé is a perfect French coach, clear, efficient, and most importantly effective. He was able to combine a solid understanding of the phonetics of his language with his skill as a musician and performer to give appropriate guidance to our cast. He worked with the music and production staff to deliver a show that sacrificed neither clarity or drama.”
Chris Moon-Little (Assistant director, Carmen, WNO)
“Hervé has a great ear for pronunciation, but also offers assistance in projection and intention, making him an all-round excellent language coach.”
John M Savournin (Bass)
