New Paths, new Success!
Course Program 2023
May 18-21 Acting and aria coaching with Oliver Klöter and Denette Whitter
May 30 - June 4 Master class, Acting through the Song with Felipe Ramos
June 7 - June 11 Role Study Oratorio Elias with Denette Whitter
July 18 - July 23 Role study Carmen with Denette Whitter
July 31 - August 4 Children's workshop with Karin B. Friedli, Dieter Doetsch and Denette Whitter
August 14 - August 27 Staged Role Study "The Merry Wives of Windsor"
with director Oliver Klöter and Denette Whitter
September 12 - 16 Boot Camp Prof. Arthur Janzen, Oliver Klöter, Denette Whitter
September 19 - 24 Masterclass Prof. Klesie Kelly
September 26 – October 1 Masterclass Prof. Nikolay Borchev
October 3 - 8 Masterclass Prof. Klesie Kelly Bach Matthew Passion/Pfingst Cantata
October 24 - 29 Role Study La Cenerentola with Denette Whitter
November 1 - 5 Otello Role Study with tenor Ricardo Tamura
Acting and Aria Coaching for singers
with stage director Oliver Klöter
and vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: May 18 - 21, 2023
Course fee: €375
Registration fee: €50
Passive participation (entire course): €75
Is your acting falling behind? Unsure how to move on stage? Then this course is the right choice! Director Oliver Klöter offers the basics as well as advanced techniques for singers who want to go on stage. With vocal coach Denette Whitter, the participants have the opportunity to work on the arias musically as well. Each participant should prepare 2-3 arias by heart. An audio sample is not necessary. The course starts on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday with a public concert at 4:00 p.m. There is the possibility of a live video recording on Sunday as part of the course.
Course languages: German, English
Acting through the song
Musical (also Opera!) Masterclass with Felipe Ramos
Date: May 30 - June 04, 2023
Accompaniment: Denette Whitter
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee (active): EUR 525
Course fee (passive): EUR 150 for the entire course
Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Triple Threat! Intensive week voice - body - movement... voice technique in connection with musical, scenic expression. The renowned course instructor Felipe Ramos works on the “complete package” of the singer-actor in individual coaching and in the group. The course is suitable for professional singers as well as pupils and students. Singers of all musical genres (musical, opera, operetta) are very welcome.
The number of active participants is limited to 14; Everyone receives individual lessons several times a day, as well as daily exercise and coaching. Interested singers should include a short curriculum vitae, current audio samples and a repertoire list with their registration. No audition is required of singers already known to Felipe Ramos. The first 14 qualified applicants will be admitted. A public concert concludes the course.
Before the start of the course, a zoom conversation is held in person to talk directly to the course instructor about the repertoire and special concerns.
Course languages: German, English
Höre, Israel
Role Study “Elias”
with vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: June 07 - 11, 2023
Registration fee: €50
Course fee large game (active): EUR 495
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Academy director Denette Whitter is again offering the opportunity this year to study a complete repertoire role and to perform it in concert.
This week the music of "Elias" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy will be rehearsed in German. Particular attention is paid to performance practice and diction. The course is aimed at professional singers/singing students as well as qualified part-time singers. The number of active participants is limited. Everyone receives daily lessons, as well as the opportunity to sing through the entire role as part of the course.
Interested singers should add a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample to their registration form. Please indicate which role you are applying for. No audition is required of singers already known to Denette Whitter. The first qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants. There is also the possibility of passive participation. A public final concert shared by all course participants will conclude the course.
The roles at a glance:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass
Prends garde à toi!
Role study "Carmen"
with vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: July 18 - 23, 2023
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee large game (active): EUR 525
Course fee middle section (active): EUR 425
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Academy director Denette Whitter is again offering the opportunity this year to study a complete repertoire and perform it in concert.
This week the music of "Carmen" by Georges Bizet will be rehearsed in the original French. Particular attention is paid to pronunciation. The course is aimed at professional singers/singing students as well as qualified part-time singers. The number of active participants is limited. Everyone receives daily lessons, as well as the opportunity to sing through the entire role as part of the course.
Interested singers should add a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample to their registration form. Please indicate which role you are applying for. No audition is required of singers already known to Denette Whitter. The first qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants. There is also the possibility of passive participation. A public final concert shared by all course participants will conclude the course.
The Roles at a glance:
Major Roles:
Don Jose: tenor
Carmen: mezzo-soprano
Minor Roles:
Michaela: soprano
Frasquita: soprano
Mercedes: mezzo-soprano
Escamillo: baritone/bass
Remendado: tenor
Dancairo/Zuniga/Morales: baritone/bass
Als Büblein klein
Scenic Role Study “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
with director Oliver Klöter
and vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: August 14 - 27, 2023
Registration deadline: June 30, 2023
In German, with dialogues
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Stage Director: Oliver Klöter
Musical Director: Denette Whitter
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee Large Game (active): EUR 775
Course fee middle game (active): EUR 675
Course fee (passive): EUR 150 per week
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
It's difficult to learn an entire opera role on your own. However, it is becoming more and more important to show sung roles in order to be accepted at the theater. For this reason, the Opera Academy is again offering scenic role studies in 2023. Here there is the opportunity to develop and perform an entire role in the original language together with the complete cast. The entire opera will be performed, both scenically and musically. With director Oliver Klöter and vocal coach Denette Whitter, you have the chance to develop your role from the acting and singing side.
The course ends with two complete scenic performances (weather permitting in the romantic castle courtyard). The number of participants is limited to 18, i.e. each role is cast twice. Interested singers should include a short curriculum vitae, a current audio sample (if possible with an aria in German) and a recommendation from a singing teacher or répétiteur with their application. No audition or recommendation is required from singers already known to the instructors. The participants are selected no later than six weeks before the start of the course.
The roles at a glance:
Major Roles:
Sir John Falstaff: Bass
Herr Fluth: baritone
Frau Fluth: soprano (1 seat free)
Frau Reich: mezzo-soprano (fully booked: waiting list is available)
Minor Roles
Jungfer Anna Reich: soprano (1 place free)
Fenton: Tenor
Herr Reich: bass/bass-baritone
Junker Spärlich: playing tenor (1 place free)
Dr. Cajus: bass/bass-baritone
Curtain Up!
Opera Boot Camp
An intensive week in the singing training camp
Date: September 12 - 17, 2023
with
Prof. Arthur Janzen, vocal technique
Oliver Klöter, acting and audition training
Denette Whitter, vocal coaching
Registration fee: €50
Course fee (active): €625
Course fee (passive): €150
Course fee (passive): €35 per day
Intensive week voice - body - audition... Voice technique in connection with musical and scenic expression. Three renowned course instructors work on the “complete package” of the singer-actor in individual coaching and in the group.
The number of active participants is limited to 10; Everyone receives one-to-one lessons three times a day, as well as daily acting and audition training. Interested singers should enclose a short curriculum vitae and current audio samples with their registration. No audition is required of singers who are already known to the instructors. The first 10 qualified applicants will be admitted. A public concert concludes the course.
New paths, new success!
Vocal Masterclass with Prof. Klesie Kelly
Date: September 19 - 24, 2023
Accompaniment: Denette Whitter
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee (active): EUR 495
Course fee (passive): EUR 150 for the entire course
Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Prof. Klesie Kelly is one of the most sought-after singing teachers of our time. The Opera Academy looks back enthusiastically on many years of cooperation with Prof. Kelly and is very pleased that she will again be leading a singing master class 2023 in Henfenfeld. She will devote herself entirely to the art of vocal technique and interpretation. Her many years of stage and teaching experience provide an inexhaustible source for vocal students and professional singers alike.
The number of active participants is limited to 12. Everyone gets lessons every day. Interested singers should include a short CV and a current audio sample with their registration. A short recording from the lesson is sufficient. No audition is required of singers who are already known to Prof. Kelly or the Director of the Opera Academy, Denette Whitter. The first 12 qualified applicants will be admitted. There is also the possibility of passive participation. A final public concert in the Red Hall of the Castle will conclude the course.
Course languages: German, English
New paths, new success!
Vocal Masterclass with Prof. Nikolay Borchev
Date: September 26 - October 01, 2023
Accompaniment: Denette Whitter
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee (active): EUR 495
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Nikolay Borchev is one of the leading lyric baritones of his generation. The Opera Academy is very pleased that he will give a course in Henfenfeld for the first time. The focus of the course will be on the vocal technique, with special attention to its incorporation in the repertoire, as well as interpretation. Each singer should prepare 3-5 arias or songs.
The number of active participants is limited to 12. Everyone receives daily lessons from Prof. Borchev and additional coaching from Denette Whitter. Interested singers should include a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample with their registration form. No audition is required of singers who are already known to Prof. Borchev. The first 12 qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants.There is also the possibility of passive participation. A final public concert in the Red Hall of the Castle will conclude the course.
Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder!!
Vocal Masterclass "St. Matthew Passion"
and "Pfingst-Cantata"
with Professor Klesie Kelly
Date: October 03 - 08, 2023
Accompaniment: Denette Whitter
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee (active): EUR 495
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
A singing master class of a different kind: this week, the "St. Matthew Passion" and the Pentecost cantata BMW 172 by Johann Sebastian Bach will be rehearsed with the Bach luminary Prof. Klesie Kelly. Her many years of stage and pedagogical experience, especially at the international Bach Academy in Stuttgart, offer an inexhaustible source of knowledge for singing students and professional singers in all aspects of technique, style and interpretation. The number of active participants is limited to 12: everyone receives daily lessons. Other Bach arias are also possible by arrangement.
Interested singers should include a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample with their registration form. No audio sample is required for singers who are already known to Prof. Klesie Kelly or Academy Director Denette Whitter. The first qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants.There is also the possibility of passive participation. A public final concert shared by all course participants will conclude the course.
The roles at a glance:
Soprano: Arien, Magd, Frau des Pilatus
Alto: Arien, Eine Zeugin
Tenor: Evangelist, Arien, ein Zeuge
Bass: Arien, Petrus, Judas, Hohepriester, 1. Priester, 2. Priester, Pilatus
Non più mesta
Role study “La Cenerentola”
with vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: October 24 - 29, 2023
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee large game (active): EUR 525
Course fee middle section (active): EUR 425
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
Academy director Denette Whitter is again offering the opportunity this year to study a repertoire role as a whole and to perform it in concert.
This week the music of "La Cenerentola" by Gioacchino Rossini will be rehearsed in the original Italian. Particular attention is paid to ornamentation. The course is aimed at professional singers/singing students as well as qualified part-time singers. The number of active participants is limited. Everyone receives daily lessons, as well as the opportunity to sing through the entire role as part of the course.
Interested singers should include a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample with their registration form. Please indicate which role you are applying for. No audition is required of singers already known to Denette Whitter. The first qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants. There is also the possibility of passive participation. A public final concert shared by all course participants will conclude the course.
The roles at a glance:
Major Roles:
Don Ramiro: tenor (1place available)
Dandini: baritone
Don Magnifico: Bass
Tisbe: mezzo-soprano/alto
Clorinda: soprano
Angelina (La Cenerentola): mezzo-soprano
Minor Role:
Alidoro: Bass
Role Study "Otello"
with tenor Ricardo Tamura and vocal coach Denette Whitter
Date: November 01 - 05, 2023
Registration fee: EUR 50
Course fee Major Role (active): EUR 525
Course fee Mino Role (active): EUR 425
Course fee (passive): EUR 150
or Course fee (passive): EUR 35 per day
This year the Academy is again offering the opportunity to study a repertoire role as a whole and perform it in concert. We are also extremely pleased to have won tenor Ricardo Tamura, who has performed the role of Otellos several times internationally, for this course.
This week "Otello" by Giuseppe Verdi will be rehearsed in the original Italian. Particular attention is paid to performance practice and interpretation. The course is aimed at professional singers/singing students as well as qualified part-time singers. The number of active participants is limited. Everyone receives daily lessons, as well as the opportunity to sing through the entire role as part of the course.
Interested singers should add a short CV and, if available, a current audio sample to their registration form. Please indicate which role you are applying for. No audition is required of singers who are already known to Ricardo Tamura or Denette Whitter. The first qualified applicants will be admitted as active participants. There is also the possibility of passive participation. A public final concert shared by all course participants will conclude the course.
The roles at a glance:
Major Roles:
Otello: Dramatic tenor
Jago: Dramatic baritone
Desdemona: Youthful dramatic soprano
MInor Roles
Emilia: mezzo-soprano/alto
Cassio: lyric tenor
Rodrigo: Lyric tenor
Ludovico: Bass
Montano: Bass