Opera Studies

Opera Studies provides intensive postgraduate training for up to 24 singers and four student repetiteurs at any one time. It offers advanced vocal training and operates at a professional level, presenting a range of productions from opera scenes and chamber opera to three full-scale operas over the two years of study.

The Opera Studies specialism is for singers with a developed vocal technique, vocal maturity and potential for development. The training is overseen by experienced visiting professionals and will provide you with vocal and dramatic training including singing lessons, individual coaching in roles and repertoire, acting and stage techniques (such as Movement, Dance, Make-up and Drama), dedicated language coaching and career guidance. Performance is central to the programme.

You must have a developed vocal technique to enrol on this specialism. Vocal maturity and your potential for development will be taken into consideration.

The department stages three full public productions each year and three programmes of operatic excerpts in workshop settings, developed in partnership with the Production Arts Department. In the summer term, these collaborations include new work by composers and librettists on the MA in Opera Making and Writing, in association with the Royal Opera House.

In addition to these productions, the department offers the following activities to develop your singing and stagecraft:

• 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

This specialism is for highly accomplished pianists and sightreaders with knowledge of the operatic repertoire and experience of accompanying singers.

Run from within the Opera Department, this one- or two-year programme includes providing accompaniment for opera production rehearsals and coaching for singers on the Opera programme, as well as coaching and training in repetiteur techniques, piano lessons and language coaching, harpsichord tuition and continuo playing. Accompaniment for coaching sessions and introductory training in opera conducting are also available.

• 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
• Accompanying coaching sessions with guest coaches
• Introductory training in opera conducting for those interested

Opera Studies contact details

Steven Gietzen, Opera Studies Department Manager
Tel: 020 7382 7164
opera@gsmd.ac.uk