Course for opera coaches
Summer masterclass for opera coaches
T
he two-year Course for opera coaches and assistant conductors was established in 1994. Coordinated by Dante Mazzola, it provides professional training in the various specializations associated with this role at performing arts institutions. One of the unique features of the course is the close ties between the Academy and Teatro alla Scala.
HIGHLIGHTS
01.
LA SCALA
The close relationship with Teatro alla Scala allows students to participate actively in Academy performances included on La Scala calendar and to attend the rehearsals and performances of works performed during the opera and symphony season.
02.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITY AND CONSTANT PRACTICE
The close relationship with Teatro alla Scala allows students to participate actively in Academy performances included on La Scala calendar and to attend the rehearsals and performances of works performed during the opera and symphony season.
03.
BROAD-RANGING IN-DEPTH PREPARATION
The curriculum includes careful study of the opera score and libretto, development of piano technique, piano reproduction of orchestra timbre, development of singer’s listening capacity as an aid in studying the musical score, attention to gesture, posture, and communicational capacity in coaching technique, development of critical capacity for musical study via bibliographic resources.
04.
PLACEMENT
The experience and competencies developed provide an unquestionable advantage in auditions and competitions. Numerous professional opportunities are available to those completing the course: La Scala Academy, Teatro all Scala, or other musical institutions may offer course graduates further professional contracts.
05.
INSTRUCTORS AND TUTORING
The teaching staff is composed of accomplished musicians at Teatro alla Scala and other musical institutions. The staff is constantly present to support students both during the course and during artistic events.
Recap 2024-26
Teaching units and staff
Assistant conductor technique and practice
Umberto Finazzi, piano accompanist, instructor of performance and theatre repertoire at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan, creative director and conductor of Opera Studio Ticino Musica
- From orchestra scores to music for voice and piano and the performance of arias and pieces from the opera repertoire
- Stylistic, philological, interpretive, and traditional aspects
- Preparation of singers for opera roles or recitals; piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Prompter techniques
Dante Mazzola, orchestra conductor, former prompter at Teatro alla Scala
- Technique and practice of conducting
- Role and technique of the prompter, from choir rehearsals to stage rehearsals and recitals, the role of the assistant conductor
- Fundamental operas and opera pieces, from Mozart to Puccini and the veristi
Rehearsal pianist technique
Beatrice Benzi, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist
Paolo Spadaro Munitto, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist and conductor
- From the orchestra score to music for voice and piano to piano performance
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor, audition accompaniment
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
German opera repertoire
James Vaughan, first rehearsal pianist, Teatro alla Scala
- From the orchestra score to music for voice and piano to piano performance of arias and pieces from the German opera repertoire, from Mozart to Richard Strauss
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor, audition accompaniment
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Russian opera repertoire
Yulia Levin, rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at Opernhaus Zurich, Salzburg Festival, Opéra de Lyon, Festival de Aix-en-Provence
- Fundamental arias and pieces from the Russian repertoire from Mussorgsky to Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovich
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Rossini repertoire
Michele D’Elia, rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at Rossini Opera Festival and other music theatres and institutions
- Fundamental arias and pieces from the Rossini repertoire; stylistic, philological, interpretive, and traditional aspects
- Recitativo secco
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Elements of conducting – Stage band conducting techniques
Bruno Nicoli, Teatro alla Scala orchestra and stage band conductor
- Technique and practice of conducting
- The stage band, from the rehearsal room to the stage
- Operas and pieces from the essential opera repertoire, from Mozart to Puccini
Choir master technique
Alberto Malazzi, Teatro alla Scala choir director
- Choral, operatic, and sacred repertoire - Preparation and directing the choir, from the section rehearsals to the stage or concert hall
- Piano accompanist for the choir
German
Cristina Maruzzi, German and English teacher at language schools, associations, and vocational schools; Italian teacher for foreign students in the Erasmus Program at Bocconi University
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Reading, conversation
Practical exercises
Performances
Sight-reading
Beatrice Benzi, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist
Paolo Spadaro Munitto, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist and conductor
- Impromptu execution, after brief review of formal structure and fundamental musical elements, of an operatic work read from the voice and piano parts of the orchestral score
Italian for foreigners
Alessia Benenti, Italian teacher
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Reading, conversation
Bibliographic resources for musicians
Andrea Massimo Grassi, musician, musicologist, teacher
- Research into music historical, styles, and interpretation with a focus on opera
- Printed materials: scores, manuscripts, encyclopedias, books, periodicals, catalogues, letters, essays, etc.
- Web resources
Creative essence and styles of musical languages
Emanuele Ferrari, concert pianist, musicologist, essayist, docent at the University of Milano-Bicocca
- Interactive lesson-concerts of famous compositions from the classical and modern piano repertoire, with formal analysis and study of the connections between the composer’s formal choices and their ethical, aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual messages.
Umberto Finazzi, piano accompanist, instructor of performance and theatre repertoire at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan, creative director and conductor of Opera Studio Ticino Musica
- From orchestra scores to music for voice and piano and the performance of arias and pieces from the opera repertoire
- Stylistic, philological, interpretive, and traditional aspects
- Preparation of singers for opera roles or recitals; piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Prompter techniques
Dante Mazzola, orchestra conductor, former prompter at Teatro alla Scala
- Technique and practice of conducting
- Role and technique of the prompter, from choir rehearsals to stage rehearsals and recitals, the role of the assistant conductor
- Fundamental operas and opera pieces, from Mozart to Puccini and the veristi
Rehearsal pianist technique
Beatrice Benzi, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist
Paolo Spadaro Munitto, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist and conductor
- From the orchestra score to music for voice and piano to piano performance
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor, audition accompaniment
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
German opera repertoire
James Vaughan, first rehearsal pianist, Teatro alla Scala
- From the orchestra score to music for voice and piano to piano performance of arias and pieces from the German opera repertoire, from Mozart to Richard Strauss
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor, audition accompaniment
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Russian opera repertoire
Yulia Levin, rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at Opernhaus Zurich, Salzburg Festival, Opéra de Lyon, Festival de Aix-en-Provence
- Fundamental arias and pieces from the Russian repertoire from Mussorgsky to Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovich
- The work of the rehearsal pianist in the theatre: preparing singers for their roles, voice rehearsals, assistance to the orchestra conductor
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Rossini repertoire
Michele D’Elia, rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at Rossini Opera Festival and other music theatres and institutions
- Fundamental arias and pieces from the Rossini repertoire; stylistic, philological, interpretive, and traditional aspects
- Recitativo secco
- Piano accompaniment in voice recitals
Elements of conducting – Stage band conducting techniques
Bruno Nicoli, Teatro alla Scala orchestra and stage band conductor
- Technique and practice of conducting
- The stage band, from the rehearsal room to the stage
- Operas and pieces from the essential opera repertoire, from Mozart to Puccini
Choir master technique
Alberto Malazzi, Teatro alla Scala choir director
- Choral, operatic, and sacred repertoire - Preparation and directing the choir, from the section rehearsals to the stage or concert hall
- Piano accompanist for the choir
German
Cristina Maruzzi, German and English teacher at language schools, associations, and vocational schools; Italian teacher for foreign students in the Erasmus Program at Bocconi University
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Reading, conversation
Practical exercises
Performances
Sight-reading
Beatrice Benzi, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist
Paolo Spadaro Munitto, Teatro alla Scala rehearsal pianist and conductor
- Impromptu execution, after brief review of formal structure and fundamental musical elements, of an operatic work read from the voice and piano parts of the orchestral score
Italian for foreigners
Alessia Benenti, Italian teacher
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Reading, conversation
Bibliographic resources for musicians
Andrea Massimo Grassi, musician, musicologist, teacher
- Research into music historical, styles, and interpretation with a focus on opera
- Printed materials: scores, manuscripts, encyclopedias, books, periodicals, catalogues, letters, essays, etc.
- Web resources
Creative essence and styles of musical languages
Emanuele Ferrari, concert pianist, musicologist, essayist, docent at the University of Milano-Bicocca
- Interactive lesson-concerts of famous compositions from the classical and modern piano repertoire, with formal analysis and study of the connections between the composer’s formal choices and their ethical, aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual messages.
Length
Two years: from December 2, 2024 to November 30, 2025 and from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2026.
Requisites for admission
- 18-30 years old at start of course);
- Three-year degree in piano or assistant conducting from a music conservatory or equivalent institute in Italy or abroad.
- Three-year degree in piano or assistant conducting from a music conservatory or equivalent institute in Italy or abroad.
Selection program
In order to be admitted to the course, applicants must pass a four-step selection process. All the details are described into the official announcement soon available.
Scholarships and loan
For practical activities and artistic events scheduled during the two-year program, artistic performance contracts will be offered and scholarships will be issued on the basis of actual presence.
Needs-based scholarships and students' loan are also available to cover all or part of tuition. Please write to segreteria.didattica@accademialascala.it for further informations.
Needs-based scholarships and students' loan are also available to cover all or part of tuition. Please write to segreteria.didattica@accademialascala.it for further informations.
You must apply within October 2, 2024.
Register to the Academy enrollment platform at iscrizioni.accademialascala.it.
Your email and the password you choose will become your login credentials [username and password] that can be used again for subsequent visits. You will also be asked to read the privacy notice. APPLICATION:
After registering, enter the information requested for the specific applicant following the step-by-step. You will asked to download, sign, and attach the Terms & Conditions “Condizioni di contratto per la partecipazione". This step is necessary to proceed with the application process.
ATTACHEMENTS:
- 1 passport-sized photo;
- your full cv;
- certification of studies.
FEE:
You will be asked to pay the application fee of € 100 directly online via credit/debit card or credit transfer. The payment must be made online directly through the enrollment platform (do not close the page before paying).A summary of entered data is generated at the end of the above steps.
