Welcome!

This project is born from a desire to equip conductors with the tools they will need to face the world of the opera. Conductor training is usually focused on study of the symphonic repertoire. Opera, however, requires particular attention, as the work is divided into two levels - the stage and the orchestra pit. We are no longer alone in building an interpretation, and must be sensitive to the singers we have before us and combine our ideas with theirs. Opera also presents technical challenges that are not present in the symphonic repertoire. The text of the libretto is a fundamental component, inseparable from the music, and understanding the deep meaning of the words is essential for building your own interpretation. 

Over the years, I have met many young conductors who have found themselves lost in front of an opera score. How does one follow and breathe with a singer? How do you face a musical rehearsal? How do you ask the right questions and use terminology to get the sound that you have imagined? What are the stylistic traditions for this repertoire? These are some of the questions that I will try to answer. I have come to understand the need for sharing targeted and precise information that will help to resolve one’s doubts. Personally, I consider myself lucky that I grew up in the world of opera, in a family with three generations of musicians. 

Each opera that we will study will be divided into 3-4 lessons where we will solve, bar by bar, all of the technical problems that the score poses. Then we will go deeper, understanding the powerful bond between the text and the music. I am limiting the size of each session to ten participants so that we may have an active conversation. I will share with you the little secrets that I have learned in my twenty-year career - when to be active and when it is better to step back and let the boat sail alone in the wind. I have always had a strong desire to pass along my experience, and I think that time has come. I look forward to beginning this fascinating journey together with you. 

See you soon!

Carlo Montanaro