Instead of a letter from Émilie or Voltaire this week, here's a news flash from Nicholas Gentile:

'I was lucky enough to receive a grant this year from Fine Music Australia to write a new opera.

'Well the next chapter has arrived! I’m thrilled to have been accepted on scholarship to travel to Lucca, Italy this July to study at the Puccini International Opera Composition Course.

'I’ll get to work intensively with some of the finest composers and opera conductors in the world on my new opera, Émilie & Voltaire.

For continuing updates on the development of the opera please consider becoming a patron here.'