Guildhall Artist in Performance: Opera Department

Opera Studies

In 2007 the Opera Department won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the quality of its achievements and its innovative training programme.

Opera Studies provides an intensive training for up to 24 singers and 4 student repetiteurs at any one time. It offers an advanced level of vocal training and aspires to work at a professional level over two years full-time.

The course provides:

singing lessons
individual coaching in roles and repertoire
acting and stage techniques - movement, dance, make-up and drama
language coaching
workshop productions of scenes
fully staged public productions
career guidance

Applicants for this course must have a developed vocal technique. There are no age limits for applicants but candidates’ vocal maturity and potential for development are taken into consideration.

Training in stage techniques and musical coaching is in the hands of experienced visiting staff who are active in the profession. In addition to the vocal and dramatic training, the department mounts, in full collaboration with the Technical Theatre Department, three full public productions each year and three programmes of operatic excerpts in a workshop setting.

Department of Opera teaching staff

‘As a singer I get to work with a variety of highly accomplished artists and directors who demand high standards. The Opera Course provides me with opportunities for being seen and heard by external agencies, the media and casting directors.’ David Stout, Opera Course

Audition requirements for Opera Course

The audition comprises of two rounds – candidates who are successful in the first round will be invited to sing again in the second round.

First Round

Candidates should prepare two contrasting operatic arias. Those whose first language is not English must offer one aria, either originally composed in, or translated into English.

Second Round

Candidates invited to sing in the second audition should prepare two contrasting operatic arias, one of which must be different from those offered in the first round.

Repetiteur Training

This is for excellent pianists and accomplished sight-readers, with experience of accompanying singers and some knowledge of the operatic repertoire.

The course is run from within the Opera Department and successful candidates will be fully committed to the work of that Department.

The course comprises:

accompanying opera production rehearsals
coaching singers on the Opera Course
individual coaching
training in repetiteur techniques
harpsichord tuition and experience of continuo playing
piano lessons
language coaching

Audition

Candidates will be required to:

play and sing two contrasting operatic excerpts of their own choice. At least one extract must be an ensemble
sight-read from opera vocal scores
follow a conductor’s beat
take pronunciation tests in French, German and Italian

Recent productions

2008-2009

Martinu The Marriage
and
Rossini La cambiale di matrimonio
Gluck La rencontre imprévue
Sallinen The King Goes Forth to France

2007-2008

Mozart Die Zauberflöte
Offenbach La vie parisienne
Gounod La Colombe
and
Rossini L'Occasione fa il Ladro

2006-2007

R. Strauss Capriccio
Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Hindemith The Long Christmas Dinner
and
Berkeley The Dinner Engagement

2005-2006

Mozart La finta semplice
Verdi Falstaff
Puccini Gianni Schicchi and Il Tabarro

2004-2005

Thomas Mignon
Ravel L’heure espagnole
Poulenc Les mamelles de Tirésias
Britten The Turn of the Screw – Kyiv Festival
Jonathan Dove The Little Green Swallow

2003-2004

Martinu Comedy on the Bridge
Berlioz Béatrice et Bénédict
Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Britten The Rape of Lucretia

Details of forthcoming events