Voice
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This season we are casting roles in extended scenes from La bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, La finta giardiniera, Cenerentola, La Traviata, and other bel canto repertoire. Other scenes will be chosen from standard bel canto, Romantic, and Baroque Italian repertoire, including Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Pergolesi, Handel, etc. Singers will be assigned opera scenes and arias, based on audition, for performances in local venues.
See audition information below.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE
All vocalists and pianists are enrolled in Italian at the Lucca Italian School. Our faculty believe an immersive language environment is a crucial element of opera training. Moving beyond diction into meaning and expressive delivery is essential for successful bel canto performance. The language school occupies a renovated villa with a private garden, veranda, and outdoor terrace. Students are placed in an appropriate level for their ability. In addition to conversational Italian, the whole program will focus on poetic Italian. The material covers at least one semester of a standard university Italian course and may help students test out of required language classes at their universities. Students will receive a certificate for their language classes by request, but we cannot guarantee university credit.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
10:00am - 12:00pm
Italian Classes at the Lucca Italian School
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30pm - 7:30pm
Lessons, Coachings, Practice, Rehearsals
Weekly and daily schedules are emailed during the program. Most weekend days are free to travel around central Italy or relax in town. Lucca is close to many important cultural and tourist destinations: 1.5 hours from Florence, 30 minutes from Pisa, 3.5 hours from Rome, 2 hours from Cinque Terre, and 30 minutes from the beach at Viareggio.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
All voice applicants must submit the following:
1. Video recordings of two contrasting selections, preferably in Italian. For a lead role in La Bohème, sing:
Rodolfo: "Che gelida manina"
Mimì: "Donde lieta"
Musetta: "Quando m'en vo'"
Other characters: A representative selection by Puccini or Verdi.
3. $30 Nonrefundable application fee
TUITION & FEES
Apartment/Hostel
Shared Room: $4350
Single Room: $4950
Homestay - (Live with a local Lucca resident. Subject to availability.)
Homestay Shared Room, Use of Kitchen: $4650
Homestay Single Room, Use of Kitchen: $5050
Homestay Shared Room, Breakfast (may not include use of kitchen): $4850
Homestay Single Room, Breakfast (may not include use of kitchen): $5250
Homestay Shared Room, Breakfast & Dinner: $5350
Homestay Single Room, Breakfast & Dinner: $5750
Not included in tuition: airfare, train travel, food (unless otherwise arranged), travel insurance, passport and visa, weekend trips.
Tuition Deposit: A $950 tuition deposit is required to secure a place in the program after acceptance. The deposit is refundable up to March 15th. Tuition is due April 20th. From April 20th to May 20th tuition is 50% refundable. From May 21st tuition is non-refundable.
Security Deposit: All students will pay a $100 security deposit, refundable two weeks after check out if there are no problems in their accommodations.
Opera Lucca is a nonprofit organization. The tuition of this program reflects actual costs at discounted rates provided by all institutions, teachers, and administration.
AFFORDING TUITION
Administrative Assistant: One $2000 scholarship is available for an administrative assistant who will assist with scheduling and other jobs during the program. Prior administrative experience required. Conversational Italian is strongly preferred for this role. There is no Italian class offered with this assistantship. Please contact info@operalucca.org for more details and to apply.
Stage Directing Intern: One full-tuition scholarship is available for a stage-directing intern to work closely with Mike Scarola and direct selected opera scenes. Prior stage managing or directing experience required. Housing is provided. Please contact info@operalucca.org for more information. Does not include Italian.
Stage/Prop Manager Internship: A $1000 scholarship is available to assist with stage managing and props. Prior experience strongly preferred. Please contact info@operalucca.org for more information. Does not include Italian.
Scholarships are offered based on a case by case basis, considering merit, student need, and the budget of the program.
Opera Lucca is a nonprofit organization. The tuition of this program reflects actual costs at discounted rates provided by all institutions, teachers, and administration.
Affording Tuition: The cost of attendance reflects housing, language school tuition, and music activities. We work to keep tuition as low as possible in order for the program to be accessible. Tuition is competitive with other similar programs. Many students raise money through online campaigns, like GoFundMe or facebook, and with university grant applications. We also strongly recommend organizing benefit recitals to raise money in your community. The sooner you begin fundraising, the easier it is to cover costs. Some scholarships are available as well.
I truly can't recommend Opera Lucca enough. This program has enhanced my musical journey in so many different ways. Dr. Fusco taught me volumes about collaborative piano and composition – from accompanying secco recitativo to following a conductor to composing idiomatically for voice. Having the opportunity to play Le nozze di Figaro in its entirety so early on in my career is an experience that I will always be grateful for. The faculty are some of the best I have ever learned from. Though I participated as a pianist and not as a singer, I also learned a lot about bel canto technique through accompanying Professor Volpe's lessons and observing his teaching. I had the special experience of participating in both the opera and composition programs at Opera Lucca simultaneously, which added another layer of enrichment to my experience. It is rare to find a program for young artists that provides such a strong platform for them to grow in so many different areas. I look forward to carrying everything I learned at Opera Lucca forward in my musical career. Whether you are a pianist, singer, or composer (or all!) I highly recommend applying to Opera Lucca!
Sydney Wang, Composer and Pianist
UCLA
Opera Lucca was amazing. I loved experiencing small-town Italian life in the beautiful city of Lucca, and immersing myself in the language, culture, and music. The program is well-organized and the faculty is superb. If you are an opera singer, pianist, or composer, go to Opera Lucca one summer. You will not regret it!
Christine Whelchel
MTSU
I will never forget my Summer in Lucca. The city, people, food, and beauty of language and culture made it an ideal place to develop as a singer. Three hours of Italian every morning pushed me to a higher standard of speaking. By week two, I was able to converse with locals! The music program is top-notch. The faculty are experts in Italian and have an in-depth knowledge of the opera industry. Opera Lucca was the perfect place to network, perform, and meet others who love opera as much as I do!
Grace Pfleger
Montclair State
It has been such a blessing to be a part of Opera Lucca this past month working on incredible music, meeting amazing people and making long lasting memories. I hope I get to have more opportunities with them in the future. To the many talented musicians, coaches, teachers, composers, directors, conductors, pianists, and singers I give my thanks.
Logan Williams
Carnegie Mellon University
