SINGING 2024 - Fondazione Accademia Musicale Chigiana

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SINGING

WILLIAM MATTEUZZI

22 JULY – 10 AUGUST

GENERAL INFORMATION

The course is dedicated to the study of bel canto, aiming to solidify its technical and expressive foundations, and it includes a repertoire that, while remaining within the classical realm, can range from recitative singing to contemporary pieces.

The program for the 2024 course includes:

The preparation and staging of the opera “The Turn of the Screw” by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Myfanwy Piper, in the production of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, directed by Florentine Klepper, set and costumes by Selina Schweiger, conducted by Kai Röhrig with the Mozarteum University Chamber Orchestra. Two performances of the opera are scheduled with two different casts on August 9 and 10 at the Teatro dei Rozzi in Siena.
In-depth study of solo pieces, as well as arias, duets, and ensemble pieces, in preparation for the students’ concert (August 3) and other potential public performances.

The number of participants in the 2024 course will be limited to 12 effective students.

To be admitted to the course, candidates must pass the required audition (video audition) and pay the corresponding tuition fee.

During the course, students can further refine additional chosen pieces, indicating them in advance on the registration form.

Two outstanding students from the course may be recommended to the Teatro Comunale di Bologna for possible involvement in the activities of the Fondazione Lirica, subject to compatibility between the theater’s programming and their characteristics and availability.

It is also possible to attend the course as auditor students.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION

The selection of participants for the course will be exclusively based on the video audition.

The chosen pieces for the admission audition must be indicated during the registration phase.

Program for the video audition:

For The Turn of the Screw the following is required:

The Prologue (tenor)
Prologue act I “It is a curious story” – from page 1 to page 5 (first bar “I will,” she said)

Quint (tenor)
Scene VIII (At Night) – from page 82 “Miles!…” to page 88 (second system, excluding no. 79)

The role of The Prologue and Quint must be performed by the same singer.

The Governess (soprano)
Scene IV (The Tower) – from page 34 “How beautiful it is” to page 40 “Who can it be? Who?”
Scene VII (The Lake) – from page 77 no. 65 “Flora! Come along!” to page 79 “lost!”

Miles (boy’s voice, or soprano II, or sopranist)
Scene V (The Window) – from page 42 “Tom, Tom, the Piper’s son…” to the end of page 46 “la… la la la la la…”
Scene VI (The Lesson) – from page 63 “Many nouns in IS…” to page 65 “to the Masculine are assigned”; then continuing from page 67 “Malo, Malo etc…” to the end of page 68

The soprano or sopranist voice will also be evaluated based on physicality compatible with the role. This applies to the role of Flora as well.

Flora (boy’s voice or soprano)
Scene V (The Window) – from page 42 “Tom, Tom, the Piper’s son…” to the end of page 46 “la… la la la la la…”
Scene VII (The Lake) – from page 71 “o Rivers and Seas and Lakes” to the end of page 76 “go to sleep”

Mrs. Grose (soprano, mezzo-soprano)
Scene V (The Window) – from page 50 (no. 39) “Dear God” to page 56 “…to his dreadful ways?” (excluding no. 44)

Miss Jessel (soprano)
Scene VIII (At Night) – from page 88 (no. 79) “Flora!” to page 97 “I… shall be there!…”

Reference Edition: Hawkes & Son (London), 1955

In relation to the staging of the opera “The Turn of the Screw,” the video of the production can be accessed through the following link: video

It is strongly recommended to carefully watch the video for a thorough understanding of the staging.

In addition to the opera pieces, singers are required to present at least one aria by Italian opera composers from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s (Puccini, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Giordano, Alfano, etc.). This does not apply to any boy’s voices or sopranists who may choose to propose arias from the early 1700s (Pergolesi, Handel, Vivaldi, etc.) – in Italian – with a vocal range similar to that required for the opera character.

Students admitted as actual participants (who will consequently form the two casts of the opera) must be present in Siena starting from July 18 for four days of pre-course rehearsals of “The Turn of the Screw” with Maestro Matteuzzi, conductor Kai Röhrig, and the collaborating Maestro on the piano, WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES PERFECTLY MEMORIZED, WITHOUT ANY MUSICAL GAPS, having placed significant importance on the analysis of the articulation of the English language, including native speakers.