GEN 2. So French!

Period of the EOA module in 2025-2026:

  • From 13 April 2026 to 28 June 2026

Open for:

  • 1, max. 3 vocal students

Content:

This module gives the opportunity for singers to build up and perfect their repertoire in French language, both operatic as well as in French mélodie with a particular focus on The Dialogue des Carmelites by Poulenc – a fully-staged opera production which takes place in June 2026.

This module gives a specific stress to the stylistic aspects – what actually makes French vocal music so uniquely French?

The participants will receive diction tuition in both sung and spoken French and will become familiar with the phonetic approach of the language. They can additionally participate in a master class of French repertoire and receive coaching in role studies in French repertoire.

This module is also open for pianists.

Kinds of voice and role:

All voices – roles to be distributed are mainly for mezzo-sopranos, tenors and barytons.

Speciality of this module in comparison with other courses in Europe:

French language

Name(s) of the professor(s) of this module:

  • Clémence Tilquin, Stephan MacLeod, Marius Brenciu, Heidi Brunner, Susanne Schimmack, Andreas Wolf, Marcin Habela – vocal studies
  • Sacha Michon, French phonetic coaching
  • Nina Uhari and Emmanuel Olivier, Juliette Journaux – French Art Song repertoire and role studies for singers and pianists
  • Yves Coudray, stage director

Possible extras:

  • Possibility of filming an audition video

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module:

30-36

Number of ECTS within master accreditation:

To be discussed with HeMGenève

Entrance examination: Required repertoire:

If the participant wants to do the production of the scenic project, he/she should send a high quality video containing at least one opera aria by 1st of May 2025.

Description of the final examination:

Progress examination

Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included/ excluded in this price:

Full-time module: free for students in Erasmus Programme (Swiss Mobility Programme)

Communication language:

French and English

Deadline for application:

  • 1st deadline: 01 May 2025
  • 2nd deadline: N/A

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: June 2025
  • 2nd deadline: N/A

GEN 1. So Commedia dell’arte!

Period of the EOA module in 2025-2026:

  • From 05 January to 02 April 2026

      Open for:

      Min. 1, max. 3 vocal students

      Description:

      The vocal department of the HEM of Geneve offers singers a journey back to the origins of theatre with a module concentrating on Commedia dell’arte. Rafael Bianciotto, a specialist of this art form, accompanies the singers to the universe of Pantalon, Harlequin, Pulcinella and other characters of commedia dell’arte.

      Participants in this module will be familiarized with the theatrical work with masks and build up scenes with spoken and sung texts.

      This module ends with a staged concert on 14-15 February 2026 for which the participants prepare operatic repertoire with connection to Commedia dell’arte characters.

      To complete the module, the participants have the possibility to take part in a concert version of Ravel’s l’Enfant et les Sortilèges with the Orchestre de Suisse Romande in January and in March in a concert version of Meyerbeer’s Prophet with Orchestre de Chambre de Genève.

      Kind of voice and role:

      All voices

      For Ravel we are mainly looking for tenors and barytons.

      We will specify the information on the Meyerbeer production later in the spring 2025.

      Speciality of this module in comparison with other courses in Europe

      French language.

      Names of the professors of this module:

      • Clémence Tilquin, Stephan MacLeod, Marius Brenciu, Heidi Brunner, Susanne Schimmack, Andreas Wolf, Marcin Habela – vocal studies
      • Sacha Michon, French phonetic coaching
      • Nina Uhari, Juliette Journaux – French Art Song repertoire and role studies
      • Rafael Bianciotto, stage director

      Possible extras:

      • Possibility to assist to rehearsals at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

      Number of ECTS within master:

      To be checked with HeMGeneva

      Entrance examination:

      • If the participant wants to do the production of the scenic project and the concert projects he/she should send a good quality video with a French aria by 1st of May 2025.

      Description of the final examination:

      • Progress examination

      Total expenses of the EOA module per student and what is included/ excluded in this price:

      • Full-time module: free for students in the Erasmus Programme (Swiss Mobility Programme)

      Communication language:

      English and French

      Deadline for application:

      • 1st deadline: May 2025
      • 2nd deadline: N/A

      Date for expected answers:

      • 1st deadline: June 2025
      • 2nd deadline: N/A