16 Oct 2006
Opera at Curtis
Curtis, America’s top fully funded conservatory, is on the move as one of the nation’s leading opera preparatory programs.
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Commentary
Directed by Mikael Eliasen, internationally renowned vocal collaborator and coach, the Curtis Opera Theatre trains around twenty-five singers, ages 18-28, each year in the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Professional Studies programs. Students from around the world audition, singing four to five selections from opera, oratorio and art song, depending on the desired program. Many audition, but few are accepted to pursue this elite training.
What makes this program cutting edge is its emphasis on musical and dramatic values, offering weekly classes in movement, repertoire, make-up and foreign language diction, along with performance seminars lead by Eliasen. Students also receive three hours of vocal coaching each week, as well as additional language classes.
With such extensive training and performing experiences, it is no surprise that more than sixty alumni have sung with the Metropolitan Opera, and Curtis graduates can be found singing on stages worldwide.
Cick here for information on this year's performances at the Curtis Opera Theatre.
Sarah Hoffman
All photos by David Swanson
[Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles on music education relating to opera and vocal music.]