There are many summer programs offered in Italy and throughout Europe, and you should choose carefully both in terms of what the programs promise and how the programs deliver on their promises. With respect to that, please keep in mind the following:
- Operafestival di Roma has been in existence since 1994 and has successfully operated in Italy since the summer of 1995. Do not be misled by other programs that use variations of our name.
- Operafestival di Roma is a training program offering voice classes, masterclasses, coaching and recital performing opportunities and an opera production program offering the opportunity to perform in professionally-staged operatic productions, with a full orchestra, before a live audience of considerable size and musical sophistication. All participants will receive both training and professional performing opportunities.
- University credit is available through special arranagement with The University of Southern Mississippi.
- Operafestival di Roma admits 50 participants each year and employs a dedicated and experienced full-time staff of 30 voice and language teachers, coaches, choral and orchestra conductors, stage directors, lighting and stage technicians, costumers, and administrative personnel. Staff arrive before the program begins and remain until it is completed.
- Operafestival di Roma’s major production each year is accompanied by the Orchestra sinfonica dell’International Chamber Ensemble, an orchestra composed of Italian professionals that performs regularly throughout the year. Maestro Francesco Carotenuto formed this orchestra more than twenty-five years ago, and it has performed widely in Italy and throughout the world. Maestro Carotenuto rehearses regularly with the singers and chorus of the major production. In addition to numerous piano conductor rehearsals, each cast sings a sitzprova, a technical rehearsal, and a dress rehearsal as well as two performances with the full orchestra. To be able to work so intensely with a major conductor and professional orchestra is a unique opportunity for singers.
- Operafestival di Roma’s hotel package features air-conditioned rooms with private bath in a comfortable, safe, clean reliable hotel, and a sumptous breakfast and lunch each day. Chef Giovanni Coppolla prepares meals that include an array of delicacies satisfying vegans, vegetarians, and traditional gourmet clients. Rehearsals and classes are conducted in air-conditioned rooms in the company hotel. Transportation is provided to and from the airport and the production space.
- Operafestival di Roma can help you develop a fund-raising plan to help cover the costs of tuition, airfare, and living expenses. Last year we helped our participants raise more than $50,000 in contributions. Not one single person who committed to attend failed to raise the funds needed to participate in this program.
- Operafestival di Roma was featured favorably in an in-depth article comparing 82 summer programs in Europe by The Classical Singer magazine in December 1999 (the cover picture is from Operafestival di Roma’s 1999 production of Cosi fan tutte) and again in 2003. You can access The Classical Singer web site (www.classicalsinger.com) for comments by participants about various summer programs including Operafestival di Roma. We invite you to read these comments. They substantiate our claim of being the outstanding summer program in Europe. In addition, we urge you to contact individuals who have attended our program and other programs for a first-hand appraisal.
- Operafestival di Roma’s singers have regularly appeared on RAIUNO MATTINO (the Italian equivalent of “Good Morning America”), seen by millions of viewers across Europe. In addition members of the company appeared on RAIDUE and Radio Vatican. Local newspapers and magazines regularly review opera performances. In 2001 our singers were featured as part of the summer festival in Formello, Italy, and in 2002 both our production of Don Giovanni and the Broadway concert were produced as part of the Conservatory of Verona’s summer music festival.
- Operafestival di Roma’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia was awarded the 2002 prize for the outstanding opera production by the National Opera Association.
- Operafestival di Roma’s alumni have gone on to work in a large variety of other well-known opera companies; including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Ash Lawn-Highland, Baltimore Opera, Minnesota Opera, New York City Opera, Sarasota Opera, Utah Festival, Virginia Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Asheville Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Natchez Opera, Ohio Light Opera, Opera Pacific, Opera in the Ozarks, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Fort Collins, New York City Opera, and Santa Fe Opera among others.