Master of Music (Opera Performance)

This practicum is the start of a suite of subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum representing the foundational experience.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop foundational knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the core skills, necessary for performing opera repertoire from either the baroque/classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the course.

This will include the development of:

• Strategies for singers to achieve foundational interactive voice, lyric diction and body work for stage productions; OR
• Strategies for repetiteurs to work at a foundational level to play keyboard parts and full orchestral scores in a spontaneous rehearsal context, and to learn how to negotiate complex ensemble interactions and dynamics in the rehearsal room.

To achieve these goals, students will work in group contexts to consolidate and develop:

• Foundation skills in vocal delivery and acting with appropriate stylistic approaches
• Foundation skills in the interactions between singing, speech, lyric diction and text appropriate to the demands of either baroque/classical, or romantic/twentieth-century operatic works.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the second of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the second stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop sound working knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the skills, necessary for performing opera repertoire with confidence from either the baroque/classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the course. This will include the development of:

Either:
- Strategies for singers to achieve confident interactive voice, lyric diction and body work for stage productions;

Or:
- Strategies for repetiteurs to work confidently between keyboard parts and full orchestral scores in a spontaneous rehearsal context, and to negotiate with confidence complex ensemble interactions and dynamics in the rehearsal room.

To achieve these goals, students will work in group contexts to consolidate and develop:
- Confident skills in vocal delivery and acting with appropriate stylistic approaches
- Confident skills in the interactions between singing, speech, lyric diction and text appropriate to the demands of either baroque/classical, or romantic/twentieth-century operatic works

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the third of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the third stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the skills, necessary to work as an elite opera performer/opera skills facilitator.

The subject gives focus to repertoire from either the baroque/ classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the subject.

This will involve working in group and solo contexts to consolidate and develop:

• Sophisticated approaches to interpreting complex operatic characterisations and roles;
• Strategies for building and maintaining relationships with community and industry partners;
• Strategies for leading opera skills workshops in community/educational contexts.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the final of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the capstone stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale capstone project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required of principal in an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the start of a suite of subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum representing the foundational experience.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop foundational knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the core skills, necessary for performing opera repertoire from either the baroque/classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the course.

This will include the development of:

• Strategies for singers to achieve foundational interactive voice, lyric diction and body work for stage productions; OR
• Strategies for repetiteurs to work at a foundational level to play keyboard parts and full orchestral scores in a spontaneous rehearsal context, and to learn how to negotiate complex ensemble interactions and dynamics in the rehearsal room.

To achieve these goals, students will work in group contexts to consolidate and develop:

• Foundation skills in vocal delivery and acting with appropriate stylistic approaches
• Foundation skills in the interactions between singing, speech, lyric diction and text appropriate to the demands of either baroque/classical, or romantic/twentieth-century operatic works.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the second of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the second stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

Through involvement with an opera production through an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in orchestral reduction and vocal score realisation, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft. Students will receive the technical and artistic training to cope with all interpretive demands of the production.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop sound working knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the skills, necessary for performing opera repertoire with confidence from either the baroque/classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the course. This will include the development of:

Either:
- Strategies for singers to achieve confident interactive voice, lyric diction and body work for stage productions;

Or:
- Strategies for repetiteurs to work confidently between keyboard parts and full orchestral scores in a spontaneous rehearsal context, and to negotiate with confidence complex ensemble interactions and dynamics in the rehearsal room.

To achieve these goals, students will work in group contexts to consolidate and develop:
- Confident skills in vocal delivery and acting with appropriate stylistic approaches
- Confident skills in the interactions between singing, speech, lyric diction and text appropriate to the demands of either baroque/classical, or romantic/twentieth-century operatic works

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the third of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the third stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale practical project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required for an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students will undertake this subject to develop knowledge, and isolate and cultivate the skills, necessary to work as an elite opera performer/opera skills facilitator.

The subject gives focus to repertoire from either the baroque/ classical periods, or the romantic/twentieth-century periods, depending on the cycle of repertoire selection for the subject.

This will involve working in group and solo contexts to consolidate and develop:

• Sophisticated approaches to interpreting complex operatic characterisations and roles;
• Strategies for building and maintaining relationships with community and industry partners;
• Strategies for leading opera skills workshops in community/educational contexts.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This practicum is the final of a suite of four subjects that focus on different productions, in different languages, which take place in a range of contexts. While the assessments are necessarily very similar across all 4 practicums, each will vary according to the demands of the practical work undertaken and the student’s place in the sequence. This practicum represents the capstone stage of development.

Students undertaking this subject will work on a large-scale capstone project, through rehearsals and culminating in a performance, in order to develop, consolidate and apply the individual skills required of principal in an opera production.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, vocal students will strengthen and consolidate a breadth of skills and knowledge regarding stylistic vocal delivery, stagecraft and movement training, role development and characterisation, and ensemble work.

Through either vocational placement in a professional opera company or an in-house University production, repetiteur students will strengthen and consolidate their skills in conducting, coaching and managing, as well as their knowledge and understandings of the rehearsal process, as applicable to all aspects of the repetiteurs' craft.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject explores the holistic performance elements required by professional opera singers.

Combining text analysis and movement principles, this subject is designed to build skills of dramatic interpretation and individual expression required for professional opera performance opera performance.

Students are encouraged to integrate imagination and physical skills with their vocal skills to develop characters and interpret text.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Students in this subject will undertake focused study of a large-scale operatic role suitable for their voice-type and stage of development.

Students will receive weekly group coaching on a timetabled basis, consisting of lyric diction, style, interpretation and staging as if preparing for an audition at a major opera company. Students will gain historical knowledge of their chosen opera and role, and the history of its performance, including notable historical performers and performances.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject is designed for students of continuo instruments who wish to focus on historical performance practice techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries. Students will further develop skills learnt in Figured Bass Realisation 1.

More challenging repertoire and performance techniques are explored with a focus on sight reading and improvisation. Additionally, the basic skills of partimento will be introduced.

DeliveryThis subject is co-delivered with MUSI30257 Figured Bass Realisation 2.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Repetiteurs in this class will advance their skills by focusing on nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first century repertoire, with particular emphasis given to the concerns of score reduction and conducting ensembles from the keyboard, the class being taught on piano. Students will learn techniques to reduce predominant orchestral scoring styles and be given effective techniques for scanning and sight-reading the full score.

Attention will be paid to score reduction to provide melodic and harmonic clarity and support for the singers. The subject also explores how to conduct from the keyboard, especially in ensembles where the repetiteur is both playing the piano and conducting. To achieve these skills, students will work collaboratively with the lecturer to read through a range of opera scores, and prepare materials for a specific opera or opera scenes.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject is designed for students of continuo instruments who wish to focus on historical performance practice techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries. Students will further develop skills learnt in Figured Bass Realisation 1.

More challenging repertoire and performance techniques are explored with a focus on sight reading and improvisation. Additionally, the basic skills of partimento will be introduced.

DeliveryThis subject is co-delivered with MUSI30257 Figured Bass Realisation 2.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Repetiteurs in this class will advance their skills by focusing on nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first century repertoire, with particular emphasis given to the concerns of score reduction and conducting ensembles from the keyboard, the class being taught on piano. Students will learn techniques to reduce predominant orchestral scoring styles and be given effective techniques for scanning and sight-reading the full score.

Attention will be paid to score reduction to provide melodic and harmonic clarity and support for the singers. The subject also explores how to conduct from the keyboard, especially in ensembles where the repetiteur is both playing the piano and conducting. To achieve these skills, students will work collaboratively with the lecturer to read through a range of opera scores, and prepare materials for a specific opera or opera scenes.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject will be delivered on-line to provide students with the skills necessary to engage in practice-based research in music.

Students will learn how to establish area and context for their practice-based research as well as define clear research questions for critical examination. Focusing upon their solo and group rehearsal and performance processes they will seek out innovation and new knowledge engaging with the key research techniques.

Students will be supported through on-line exercises to define a research question, develop a critical summary of relevant theory and literature, construct a conceptual framework, and consider ethical issues and prepare a research proposal for their project.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Lyric Diction for Opera offers an immersive experience for students to experiment with and develop high level skills in operatic lyric diction in the “big three” operatic languages: Italian, German and French.

Students will learn to correctly pronounce the characteristic speech sounds of the language, to use prosodic features, to understand special rules pertaining to each language and to apply the International Phonetic Alphabet to opera librettos.

The subject will be taught with frequent reference to operatic literature and to recorded material in an interactive lecture/seminar environment.

View detailed information in the Handbook

In this subject, students will apply their reflective and practice-led research skills in a project relevant to their own performing practice.

Students will be supported in carrying out their previously-proposed research project, and presenting their work in both oral and written form. The project is intended to suit, but is not limited to, students who have undertaken the subject Opera Performance Practicum 4.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The Opera Global Atelier elective offers students in the Master of Music (Opera Performance) an immersive two-week international experience at one of the world’s leading centres for opera training and performance. This subject will focus on continuing the development of high-level performance-ready skills in acting and singing for opera. Students will engage in a daily program of specialist studio-based workshops, working with a diverse range of the world’s best opera performance teachers. Additionally, students will attend a production by a leading professional opera company.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The Opera Atelier elective offers students in the Master of Music (Opera Performance) an immersive performance experience.

This subject will focus on continuing the development of high-level performance-ready skills in acting and singing for opera. Students will engage in a program of specialist studio-based workshops, working with a diverse range of the world’s best opera performance teachers. Additionally, students will attend a production by a leading professional opera company.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject will be delivered on-line to provide students with the skills necessary to engage in practice-based research in music.

Students will learn how to establish area and context for their practice-based research as well as define clear research questions for critical examination. Focusing upon their solo and group rehearsal and performance processes they will seek out innovation and new knowledge engaging with the key research techniques.

Students will be supported through on-line exercises to define a research question, develop a critical summary of relevant theory and literature, construct a conceptual framework, and consider ethical issues and prepare a research proposal for their project.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Lyric Diction for Opera offers an immersive experience for students to experiment with and develop high level skills in operatic lyric diction in the “big three” operatic languages: Italian, German and French.

Students will learn to correctly pronounce the characteristic speech sounds of the language, to use prosodic features, to understand special rules pertaining to each language and to apply the International Phonetic Alphabet to opera librettos.

The subject will be taught with frequent reference to operatic literature and to recorded material in an interactive lecture/seminar environment.

View detailed information in the Handbook

In this subject, students will apply their reflective and practice-led research skills in a project relevant to their own performing practice.

Students will be supported in carrying out their previously-proposed research project, and presenting their work in both oral and written form. The project is intended to suit, but is not limited to, students who have undertaken the subject Opera Performance Practicum 4.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The Opera Global Atelier elective offers students in the Master of Music (Opera Performance) an immersive two-week international experience at one of the world’s leading centres for opera training and performance. This subject will focus on continuing the development of high-level performance-ready skills in acting and singing for opera. Students will engage in a daily program of specialist studio-based workshops, working with a diverse range of the world’s best opera performance teachers. Additionally, students will attend a production by a leading professional opera company.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The Opera Atelier elective offers students in the Master of Music (Opera Performance) an immersive performance experience.

This subject will focus on continuing the development of high-level performance-ready skills in acting and singing for opera. Students will engage in a program of specialist studio-based workshops, working with a diverse range of the world’s best opera performance teachers. Additionally, students will attend a production by a leading professional opera company.

View detailed information in the Handbook