Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples Academy, 2025

In the forthcoming year, we are thrilled to launch a remarkable collaboration with the esteemed Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, and together, we are aiming to continue providing exceptional training for aspiring singers eager to refine their craft in the realm of opera. From January 7 to 19, 2025, participants will immerse themselves in a transformative thirteen-day experience at the David and Cecile Wang Opera Center in Naples, Florida. They will engage in rigorous coaching, stage and orchestra rehearsals for Donizetti’s beloved opera, Don Pasquale, while participating in masterclasses and insightful lectures led by a distinguished faculty of industry luminaries. A select group of participants will have the unique opportunity to perform in a fully staged production with orchestra under the baton of Opera Naples’ Artistic and Music Director, Ramón Tebar.

With a commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent, we are proud to offer tuition-free admission to the Academy for the chosen singers.

Founded by Ramón Tebar in collaboration with the legendary soprano Renata Scotto, this Academy is designed for emerging artists who aspire to launch their professional careers or enhance their existing paths, learning from some of the most revered figures in the operatic sphere.

Since its inception in 2017, the Academy has welcomed international participants from Asia, North and South America and Europe. Renowned faculty members, including Sherrill Milnes, Bruce Ford, Veronica Villarroel, Manny Perez and Maria Zouves, have contributed their expertise, enriching the learning experience.

Dates

January 7 - 19, 2025 (Performances January 17 & 19)

Location

Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave.  Naples FL, U.S.A. 34112

Eligibility

This intensive program is ideally suited for those singers ready to perform any one of the leading roles in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale: Norina, Ernesto, Malatesta and Don Pasquale.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Two video recordings, illustrative of the desired role in Don Pasquale, including arias and excerpts from the opera’s ensembles
• A professional biography and resume in English (word or PDF format, one page maximum)
• A high-resolution headshot

Selected singers will be invited to attend the Academy in Naples, FL, based on their submitted applications. Participants are expected to arrive with their roles fully prepared, and there is no participation fee. Accepted international students must supply their own visas. While housing and travel arrangements are the responsibility of the participants, Opera Naples will provide scholarships to a limited number of attendees.

Faculty

• Ramón Tebar, Opera Naples Artistic and Music Director
• Nicoletta Pavarotti, President of Luciano Pavarotti Foundation
• Sherrill Milnes, Baritone and Director of the Savannah Music Festival
• Maria Zouves, Stage Director, Executive Director of the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs
• John Churchwell, Head of Music of San Francisco Opera
• Carrie-Ann Mattheson, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center, Adler Program and Merola Opera Program
• Maria Katzarava, Soprano and Artistic Director of Teatro Bellas Artes, Mexico
• Bruce Ford, Tenor
• Louis Otey, Baritone
• Yelena Kurdina, Metropolitan Opera pianist, prompter and assistant conductor