SALBEK OPERA FESTIVAL

International Salbek Opera Masterclass (21 – 25 August 2024) – call for applications

The Salbek Castle Association is calling for applications for the International Salbek Opera Masterclass – 2nd edition (21-25 August) – a series of premium courses given by internationally renowned opera soloists: mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose, tenor Ramón Vargas and soprano Leontina Văduva. It is the only masterclass of its kind in Romania and will be held, as last year, on the Salbek Castle Estate, in Petriș, Arad county.

The International Salbek Opera Masterclass is aimed at young musicians between 18 and 35 years of age, who can register until 31 May by filling the form here. The final selection of students who will have the chance to participate in this masterclass will be made by the three teachers between 1 and 10 June.

“This year we have increased the age limit for masterclass enrolments from 30 to 35, because we wanted to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to study in this outdoor camp. After all, in this field you never stop learning. I can’t wait to meet this year’s students!” says mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose.

The International Salbek Opera Masterclass will take place from August 21-24, 2024, on the Salbek Castle Estate and in several places around the estate and will end with an Extraordinary Opera Gala in the Town Hall Square in Arad, outdoors, on August 25, with the Arad Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor David Crescenzi, soloists Valentina Naforniță, Ruxandra Donose, Ramón Vargas and Cosmin Ifrim, together with the best of the Salbek Opera Masterclass 2024 students.

So, a unique five-day programme in which participants will benefit, beyond the guidance and guidance of the three international stars, from the opportunity to participate as assistants or stage partners in the rehearsals and in the Extraordinary Opera Gala in the Town Hall Square in Arad, organized in collaboration with CMC Arad.

“The masters and the team that realized Salbek Opera Masterclass 2023 came from 5 countries in Europe and Latin America, and the participants represented 4 countries in Europe and Asia, which confirms the international character and scope of the event. Salbek Opera Masterclass 2023 proved that in the Romanian village you can organize an extremely sophisticated educational event with exceptional results. I hope that the 2024 edition will also bring to Romania young people from all over the world who want to learn opera from some of the best musicians, in a place suitable for both relaxation and study. So, let’s start the registration!” says Ana Maria Mihăescu, president of the Salbek Association.

Working in such international groups will encourage an exchange of cultural traditions, working practices, personal experiences that contribute to a good mutual knowledge within the intercultural dimension of the project.

Maximum twenty selected participants

The young musicians, aged between eighteen and thirty, will be selected from April to June, following a public call for applicants that will be published on the project’s website and Facebook page and in the online publications of the project’s partners.

Study, recreation, visibility

The location chosen for the event – the village of Petriș, Arad County –provides participants with a setting suitable for study and recreation. The Castel Salbek Association provides accommodation, meals, local transport, and accompanying pianists – more details about the conditions, below.

The musicians will have the opportunity to work with three co-rehearsal teachers on the piano, allowing for complex and continuous study. To ensure the greatest visibility and significant sustainability, representatives of national and international cultural organisations will be invited to attend, as well as two or three specialist journalists.

At the end of the series of courses, the teachers will highlight the strengths of the participants and the improved areas. They will choose a few participants for the Opera Gala.

Present and future opportunities

The masterclasses will cover various topics, including subjects concerning Romanian and East-European traditional music and the influence of traditional themes on classical and contemporary music, combining modern techniques of interpretation with musical methodology. The project will therefore be both innovative and attractive, thanks to its interdisciplinary and multicultural approach. The masterclasses will give rise to collaborative projects between the young musicians and teachers, which will also be able to be presented before audiences on other occasions. Likewise, musicians taking part will be able to return to the counties of Arad, Hunedoara, Alba, and Timiș as part of other projects.

The Association will continue the Masterclass in the years to come and aims to expand it with opera performances and galas at prestigious European venues.

The young musicians will be able both to specialise and to benefit from the project’s exposure in their future careers. In addition, the project will be able to guide audiences attending the concerts towards music of the highest quality, and likewise to create national interest in the Arad, Hunedoara, Alba, and Timiș regions, as well as greater international interest in the Romanian cultural space.

The Salbek International Opera Masterclass wishes to offer young musicians the chance to meet outstanding teachers who will contribute to their artistic and personal development and create future opportunities for them.