The International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera provides young singers of both sexes with the opportunity to augment and complete their training in day-to-day theatre conditions. The International Opera Studio is supported by the Körber-Stiftung, the Stiftung zur Förderung der Hamburgischen Staatsoper, EADS Airbus GmbH plus Jochen Kauffmann.
TRAINING OBJECTIVES
The two main objectives of the two-year Opera Studio membership, both equally important, are defined as follows:
- To involve the studio members in the practical aspects of the work by providing them with enough knowledge to enable them to understand the ins and outs and requirements of day-to-day opera operations, to assimilate this knowledge. and to put it into practice on a daily basis..
- To provide the Opera Studio members with training and further training in the sense of deepening the knowledge gained from singing studies as well as providing advice/instruction as regards future career opportunities and career planning..
REVIEWING PROGRESS AND SUCCESS
Membership of the Opera Studio should not be regarded as an extension of college/university training. For this reason it is not possible to conduct any sort of progress or success review in the form of an examination or similar. Instead, Studio members are provided with continuous, personal specialist advice as well as with group-based and one-to-one-based supervision. During the supervision sessions the experiences of the Studio members, which can sometimes be quite contradictory, can be discussed and dealt with.
The Opera Studio advice and supervision programme is run as follows
- the Studio management and the choral coaches, who are in continuous contact with the management of the Opera Studio, together work out a specific study/rehearsal plan for each individual. This plan is regularly checked and adjusted to the progress the individual is making.
- Regular supervisory meetings are held, alternating between group supervision meetings and one-to-one meetings with the Opera Studio Management.
TRAINING CONTENTS
The members of the Opera Studio receive a monthly grant plus an all-inclusive fee for participating in Hamburg State Opera performances.
- Supervision and specialist support as above-mentioned (obligatory)
- Role studies for small and medium roles in Hamburg State Opera productions (obligatory)
- Roles in Hamburg State Opera productions (obligatory, but in principle no more than a total of 60 evenings spread over two seasons)
- Five to ten-day master classes (obligatory, at least three a year)
- Role studies in medium and major roles according to suitability of voice (obligatory)
- Group dramatic instruction (obligatory, up to three times a week)
- One-to-one dramatic instruction according to suitability and need, including instruction in dialogue, phonetics, rhythmical movement and improvisation (obligatory)
- Body training (recommended)
- Voice coaching (Italian, French, German and other languages as required - obligatory)
- Costume science and makeup techniques (recommended)
- Opera production procedures (recommended)
- Attending rehearsals (obligatory)
- Regularly attending opera performances and analysing them later (obligatory)
- Creating and participating in own programs and/or Opera Studio opera productions (obligatory)
- Participating in performances of the MTR degree course in the ”Forum der Hochschule für Musik und Theater”
INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF OF THE INTERNATIONAL OPERA STUDIO
The Manager and Artistic Director of the Hamburg State Opera heads the International Opera Studio. The instructors are drawn from the staff of the Hamburg State Opera and the faculty of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, and also include guest teachers (featuring, to date, Montserrat Caballé, Renate Behle, Mechthild Gessendorf, Kurt Moll, Harald Stamm, Hermann Winkler and Konrad Junghänel).
INTERNATIONAL OPERA STUDIO OPERA PRODUCTIONS 2004/05
During the 2004/05 season the production of “Ein weltliches Bankett” premièred on Kampnagel Hamburg as part of the Bach Festival. On 23rd January 2005, the current members of the International Opera Studio, as well as former members, staged a concert to celebrate the Opera Studio’s 10th anniversary.
TERMS OF ADMISSION AND APPLICATION
The auditions for the 2006/07 season were completed at the beginning of April 2006. No further auditions are planned at present.
For the 2007/08 season (beginning on 1st September 2007) it is expected that two sopranos and one bariton will be sought. The auditions will be held in winter 2006/07, Interested young singers (the upper age limit for women being 30, and 32 for men, as of 1st September 2007) ought to submit their complete application documents (CV stating date of birth, a list of repertoire sung/studied, plus a photograph).
Auditions for mezzosoprano, tenor and bass will be planned for the 2008/09 season, applications should be sent in autumn 2007.
The auditions for the International Opera Studio are generally held in two phases. In the first phase, all applicants who basically meet the conditions are invited to audition. In the second phase, the short-listed candidates are then invited to audition, and these auditions must be held on the main stage of the State Opera.
The jury for the Opera Studio auditions is composed of representatives of the State Opera and the Hochschule für Musik.
Information is available from:
Hamburgische Staatsoper
Dörte Rüter/Bettina Kok
Grosse Theaterstrasse 34
D-20354 Hamburg
Telephone: +49 (0)40-35 68 389
Fax: +49 (0)40-35 68 458
opernstudio@hamburgische-staatsoper.de
