drop O perafestival di Roma is a non-profit educational institution that offers opportunities to musicians from all nations to study and perform opera in Italy in the summer. Performances in 2009 will be given in the beautiful 15th Century courtyard of S. Ivo alla Sapienza in central Rome. They are fully staged with original costumes and lighting and are accompanied by the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’International Chamber Ensemble. Three weeks of masterclasses, coaching, lessons in lyric diction, voice and conversational Italian, and rehearsals for the opera provided by a distinguished faculty culminate in a week-long series of opera performances, recitals, opera scene performances, and concerts. College credit available.

Live Auditions:

Spartanburg, SC—October 19
Richmond, VA—October 25
Hattiesburg, MS—November 14, 15
New York City—December 6
Arlington, TX–January 24, 2009
Tempe, AZ –February 6, 2009
San Francisco, CA–February 7, 2009
Boston, MA–February 7, 2009
Los Angeles, CA–February 8, 2009
Jacksonville, FL–February 14, 2009
Fort Collins, CO–February 14, 2009
Washington, DC–February 21, 2009

Exciting new opportunity for instrumentalists!

Our production of Suor Angelica will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra composed of Operafestival participants. Positions for strings (violin, viola, cello, bass), brass and winds) will be selected by audition. Please call for more information—434-984-4945.

2009 Season

Le Nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart
Suor Angelica by G. Puccini
Recitals, Chamber Concerts and Opera Scenes

Positions are open for all lead and supporting roles, ensemble, instrumentalists, accompanists/coaches, voice teachers, stage managers, and lighting, costume and prop technicians.

Festival Dates

July 1-27, 2009

Performing Dates

Le nozze di Figaro—July 21, 22, 24, 25
Suor Angelica— July 23, 26

Productions

Past productions have included Die lustige Witwe, Gloria, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, I Pagliacci, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Cosi fan tutte, La serva padrona , L'elisir di amore, Le nozze di Figaro, Suor Angelica, and Stabat Mater.

All productions are sung in the original language with much of the training emphasis placed on diction and style. Each leading role is double cast, providing singers with the rehearsal and stage time necessary to develop the role fully. Voice and diction training and masterclasses are designed to enhance this experience. Each opera is staged with original costumes, props, and lighting planned for the production by our design team.

In Loving Memory

Louisa Panou, founder of Operafestival di Roma, passed away in her home in Charlottesville, Virginia, on January 16, 2006. The cause was pancreatic cancer. Read more.