Rising stars of Australian classical music and opera will be showcased in a series of concerts presented by the Sydney Opera House, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and Pacific Opera.

From April to December 2017, up-and-coming young artists from ANAM and Pacific Opera will perform in the intimate surrounds of SOH’s Utzon Room alongside international musicians and mentors.

Pacific Opera launches the series on Sunday April 9 with an afternoon recital called 24 American Songs and Arias. It features music by Barber, Bernstein, Copland, Previn, Rorem, Sondheim and Weill as well as the Australian premiere of Race for the Sky, a cycle of three songs for voice, violin and piano written by Richard Pearson Thomas in 2002 in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Race for the Sky will be performed by young soprano Laura Scandizzo, with Lucy Warren on violin and Pacific Opera Artistic Director Simon Kenway on piano. Limelight spoke to Laura Scandizzo about the concert.

Laura Scandizzo. Photo: supplied

It must be exciting to perform the Australian premiere of Race for the Sky. Did you know the piece before you began preparing for this concert?

I am delighted to...