Opera Making

VAL 5. Experience in an opera production: assistant stage direction

(Title to be announced)

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025:

  • From 08 January 2025 to 14 April 2025 (Easter holidays from 29 March to 08 April 2025)

Description of the EOA module:

Professional training and preparation for an opera role, concluding with the performance of a fully staged opera production (title to be announced).

This includes:

  • Spanish language training
  • Working with the scenic director, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and the producer, as well as the singers, pianists and the choir
  • Ensemble rehearsals with the orchestra, stage director, conductor, choir and singers
  • Dress rehearsal with the orchestra, stage director, conductor, choir and singers
  • Opera performances in our Auditorium and other venues

Speciality of this module in comparison with other courses:

Valencia is a major cultural centre and encourages immersion into the professional opera and music scene:  Palau de les Arts Opera House, concerts and presentations by major international musicians,..

In addition, there are many events and festivals throughout the year (i.e. Las Fallas). With a rich history in modern architectural masterpieces (City of Arts and Sciences), Valencia’s deep, multicultural roots, cosmopolitan flavor, and warm climate to make it a true Mediterranean gem.

Also, Valencia is one of Spain’s (and Europe’s) most affordable cities for student accommodation.

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Stage director: Eugenia Corbacho, Jaume Martorell
  • Costume designer: Miguel Ángel Jiménez
  • Producer: TBA
  • Set designer: TBA
  • Lightning designer: TBA

Possible extras besides the module

Masterclasses

Participation in other projects:

Concerts of highlights from operas and zarzuelas performed in other venues.

Attending opera performances at Palau de les Arts

Exchange and collaboration with other students of the Conservatory working on the same production

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

Open to 1-2 students

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module:

Teaching: The first 4 weeks

  • Spanish language training
  • Working with the scenic director, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and the producer, as well as the singers, pianists and the choir

Production: The following 4 weeks

  • Ensemble rehearsals with piano, stage director, conductor, choir and singers
  • Ensemble rehearsals with the orchestra, stage director, conductor, choir and singers
  • Dress rehearsal with the orchestra, stage director, conductor, choir and singers

Opera performances in our Auditorium and other venues.

Number of ECTS within master accreditation:

25 ECTS

Entrance examination:

Contact the coordinator:

Charo Vallés

master.opera@csmvalencia.es

The materials to submit with your application are:

  • CV
  • Two Videos (it can be a link to YouTube or any other platform) 

Deadline:

  • 1st deadline: 01 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 15 September 2024

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 15 June 2024
  • 2nd deadline: 30 September 2024

Description of the final Examination:

Public performance of a fully staged chamber opera at the Concert Hall of the Conservatory Superior of Music

Teaching language:

Spanish, English, Italian, French and German

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

  • Free for students in Erasmus Programme
  • Module is available within an Erasmus exchange
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STO 2. Site specific opera performance

Period of the EOA module in 2024 – 2025:

  • 2nd of September-2nd of November 2024 (possible extension to 19/1 2024 for a full term )
  • Open for: 1 to 3 vocal students

In this module, the singer students explore how working in other venues and spaces than the opera theatre can influence the music-dramatic expression. The students work on selected Opera scenes with a stage director and an opera coach/pianist,  and bring their work into the chosen venue to  stage a performance for a small audience. The students, together with the  teachers,  take an active part in deciding how to use the chosen space and how to place the audience in the performance. The module, besides the stage work in preparation for the performance, includes singing lessons, musical interpretation sessions. It also includes coaching in Italian lyric diction where appropriate to the chosen repertoire. The repertoire is for the performance is chosen in June, in dialogue with the students.

The module can be extended to include the entire term january December with  work on a staged concert with conductor and piano or orchestra.

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

  Stina Ancker,  Assistant professor of music dramatic performance

                    Martin Hellström, Assistant professor of musical performance

  1. 120 hours

13,5-30  ECTS

 

Possible extras:

  • seminars on aspects of opera as an artform and of the opera singer’s profession

  • seminars on artistic research

Entrance examination:

We choose our EOA-students via recorded material. With the application we need recordings of sound and video.

Formats:

  • Sound: Wav or
  • Video: Mov or mp4

Description of final examination:

  • Students are examined through the staged performance in the chosen space, through the staged concert and a subsequent reflective discussion in the group and individually

Teaching language/ Required level of language:

  • Communication language: EN, level 5

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

  • There are no tuition fees for EU/EES citizens
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POR 3. Preparing an Operatic Production, for Stage Designers

Period of the EOA module in 2024-2025

08 October 2024 – 28 January 2025

and/or

11 March – 11 July 2025

This Module is divided in two parts:

A – Background knowledge and experience and

B – The preparation of an Opera

A. Background knowledge and experience: Stage Design with Technical Supervision (Costume, Set and Light Design)

8 October 2024 to 28 January 2025

Open for: 1-3 vocal students

Stage Design is, of course, divided according to specialties (Costume, Set and Light Design), and the aim of each module now offered within each specialty is to facilitate technical and artistry improvement through the use of different and specialized techniques and knowledge, according to the philosophy of building up costumes, sets and light designs within the preparation and performance of specialized operatic repertoire (from Baroque to Contemporary repertoire). The emphasis is on artistry within the process of making an opera. Each year there will be a different Opera Production which will be the aim (Part B) and consequence of this Module development (Part A). This module (within the different specialties now offered) has as the goal to enable the student autonomy, both in achieving methodological processes as well as the consolidation of a Stage Design and an artistic identity. This process will bring the student a new approach to Opera and Opera making, and it will enable the student to experience a live performance in front of an audience.

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Costume Design – Manuela Bronze/Manuela Ferreira;
  • Set Design: Helder Maia;
  • Light Design: Rui Damas

Until 20 ECTS – 10 -12 hours individual tuition & 45 hours group work

B. Preparation of an Opera Performance in fully staged Opera Production with orchestra in Porto*

11 March to 11 July 2025

Open for: 1-3 vocal students

This Module is only open for those students that have done Part A of the Module and, though, have acquired the knowledge and experience necessary and sufficient to be able to construct costumes, scenery and light designs work for the out coming opera production. Or, for those who can demonstrate through portfolios their ability and knowledge in the construction of costumes, sets and light designs.

* The Opera Production for 24-25 Preview:

TBC

The Opera for this year is still in negotiation with National Theatres.

Until 20 ECTS 10 -12 hours individual tuition & 45 hours group work

Description of final examination: full staged Opera.

Possible extras: Students may attend one, or both, of these theoretical seminars on the subject of Opera Performance:

  1. Opera communication systems in history and in actuality: a sociological approach. Seminar given by Prof. Dr. Francisco Melo – Professor of History and Aesthetics, at ESMAE
  2. The Psychology of Performance – The underlying psychology of the study of operatic roles and other issues in opera. This Seminar will be given by Prof. Dr. Daniela Coimbra (PhD) – Professor on Psychology of Music, at ESMAE.

Entrance examination

Portfolio – Interview

Video recording or link to video recording

Description of the final examination

Public performance on stage with piano

Teaching language

English – level 3

Total expenses of the EOA

1) This module is available within Erasmus exchange (Master´s level) only during the academic year 2023/24.

2) Prices are applicable for 2023-2024.

3) Prices do not include travel or living expenses

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