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

(Title to be announced)

Period of the EOA module in 2025-2026:

  • From 26 January 2026 to 08 May 2026 (Easter holidays from 02 April to 13 April 2026)

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 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

The specialty of this module in comparison with other courses:

Valencia is a major cultural center and encourages immersion into the professional opera and music scene:  Palau de les Arts Opera House, concerts, and presentations by prominent 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 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: José Cebrián

Possible extras besides the module

Masterclasses

Participation in other projects:

  • “Ópera sofá”: Concerts of highlights from operas 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 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 15 September 2025

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 15 June 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 30 September 2025

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

PAR 4. Piano Accompaniment and Opera Coaching (pianists, training)

Period of the EOA module in 2025-2026:

ERASMUS students (SMS) may choose mobility within one semester (or both)

  • Winter Semester: 01 October 2025 –  2nd week of February 2026
  • Spring Semester: 3rd week of February 2026 – 30 June 2026 

Content:

This module guides the student to master the complex and challenging art of piano accompaniment in opera.

  • Performance practice and repertoire (individual lessons on specific operas according to student’s needs and choices, main opera repertoire, analysis, study and practice on chosen opera scores, different (vocal) accompaniment techniques according to different music styles)
  • Répétiteur and coach techniques (theoretical and practical lessons on the basso continuo, as a stage-rehearsal accompanist, how to play under direction)
  • Specialized practice (vocal repertoire: chamber music and opera scores)
  • Score playing (reading piano- and orchestra opera scores)
  • Little practical internship in Singing lessons and Scenic Art lessons (different needs, different skills)
  • Possible participation in Masterclass(es), rehearsals, and concerts as a piano accompanist.

Lessons will be held in Italian and English.

ERASMUS students have to choose other courses from those annually proposed by the Conservatory to reach the total number of required credits.

The specialty of this module, in comparison with other courses in Europe

This module represents a perfect opportunity to get to know and experience the tools to become an Opera accompanist in a welcoming atmosphere of exchange and collaboration with the other students of the Conservatory from all over the world.

A unique chance to fully immerse themselves in the rich operatic music culture of the territory, attending places of exceptional musical interest within the Conservatory (Musical Section of Libreria Palatina, Boito’s Studio, and Toscanini’s Studio) or the immediately nearby it (the Library of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Verdiani, specialized in 19th-century opera and music in general, with particular emphasis on the life and work of Giuseppe Verdi, the Museo dell’Opera, the Casa della Musica, Teatro Regio, etc).

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Nicola Mottaran (Coordinator of Piano accompaniment) Riccardo Mascia (Erasmus Coordinator)
  • Teaching staff (Piano Accompaniment Teachers)  from the Conservatory’s Singing and Music Theatre Department.

Possible extras in addition to this module:

Upon request a little tour of the main “music treasures” of Verdi’s land: the birthplace of Verdi and Villa Sant’Agata, the Toscanini Museum, the worldrenowned Teatro Regio, the beautiful Teatro Farnese (17th century), the Casa del Suono, etc. Opportunity to join Italian Course lev. A2+B1 in the first semester or English Course level B1 or B2 in second semester. October is the month of the Parma Verdi Festival. Facilities are offered to enrolled students who want to experience a show at the Teatro Regio and/or other planned locations.

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

max 2

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module

  • ca 60 ho of total teaching per semester

Number of ECTS within master accreditation

min 24 ECTS / semester (but possibly increasing according to the Learning Agreement)

Entrance examination:

Online examination through the Application, which needs to include

  • CV
  • Repertoire
  • Videos
  • Motivational letter (optional)

Final examination:

30-minute performance in piano accompaniment of voice (and/or opera scenes).

Teaching language/Required level of language

Italian (min A2 to be improved) and English (B2)

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

Erasmus students (SMS) only. No extra fees.

Deadline for applications:

  • 1st deadline: 30 April 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 15 October 2025

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 30 June 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 15 December 2025

VAL 3. Repetiteur training (pianists)

(Title to be announced)

Period of the EOA module in 2025-2026:

  • From 26 January 2026 to 08 May 2026 (Easter holidays from 02 April to 13 April 2026)

Description of the EOA module:

Specific training as repetiteur working in the preparation of a fully staged opera production (title to be announced).

This includes:

  • Attendance at individual Singing and Repertoire lessons of the cast. Vocal coaching
  • Language training
  • Musical rehearsals with the conductor and singers
  • Stage rehearsals with the stage director, the conductor, and the singers
  • Chorus rehearsals with the chorus director

The specialty of this module in comparison with other courses:

Valencia is a major cultural center and encourages immersion into the professional opera and music scene:  Palau de les Arts Opera House, concerts, and presentations by prominent 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 make it a true Mediterranean gem.

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

Names of the professors of this module:

  • Singing: Gloria Fabuel, Patricia Llorens, Mª José Martínez de Velasco, Amparo Quevedo, Ofelia Sala, Charo Vallés
  • Opera coaches: Mercedes Bernabeu, Carles Budó, Miquel Carbonell, Francesc Gamón, Pablo García-Berlanga, Adrià Gràcia, Diego Sánchez, 
  • Conductor: Nadie Stoyanova
  • Stage director: Eugenia Corbacho, Jaume Martorell

Possible extras besides the module

  • Masterclasses
  • Concerts at different venues in Valencia
  • Attending opera performances at Palau de les Arts
  • Exchange and collaborate with other students of the Conservatory working on the same production.

Minimum and maximum number of EOA students

  • Minimum 1 student
  • Maximum 3 students

Number of teaching/production hours of the EOA module:

Teaching: The first 8 weeks

  • Working with the singing teachers
  • Working with the opera coaches
  • Working with the conductor and vocal coaches
  • Working with the stage director and vocal coaches

Production: The following 4 weeks

  • Ensemble rehearsals with the singers and conductor
  • Ensemble rehearsals with the singers and stage director

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

Deadline:

  • 1st deadline: 01 June 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 15 September 2025

Date for expected answers:

  • 1st deadline: 15 June 2025
  • 2nd deadline: 30 September 2025

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