Giacomo Puccini

Giuseppe Verdi

Gaetano Donizzeti

Constanta National Theatre

OPERA CONSTANTA (Romania), one of the leading opera houses in Central Europe, announces A Masterclass (Worldwide) for Conductors, Vocal Artists, and Stage Directors to be held between 9-22 May, 2004 in Constanta, Romania. The focus of the Masterclass will be on the following standard operatic repertoire: LA BOHEME (Puccini), NABUCCO (Verdi) and LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (Donizetti).

Romania's second largest city, the seaport of Constanta has a Mediterranean flavor (given its location on the Black Sea), a population of approximately 400,000, and is 3 hours by train or car from Bucharest and its international airport (Otopeni). OPERA CONSTANTA performs in the acoustically-excellent Ovidius Theater, a hall that has a seating capacity of 400, and a medium sized pit for the company's professional orchestra of 55 musicians. The stage is ample for the company's large chorus, ballet division, and traditional sets.

The Masterclass will accept experienced applicants only: (6-8) conductors, up to 15 vocalists, and 3-4 stage directors to work with OPERA CONSTANTA's orchestra, chorus, ballet, pianists, soloists, and directors. The Masterclass will culminate with public performances of each of the three operas (fully-staged and sung in the original languages).

Read an article on the 2002 Opera Masterclass.

VOCAL ARTISTS (a maximum of 15 will be accepted) will have the opportunity to sing a principal role (in its entirety) in one of the three operas at a public performance, and will receive coaching and stage direction in all three works. Preparation will include work with the cast and conductors in a piano rehearsal, and with the full company in a Sitzprobe, Generalprobe (dress rehearsal) and performance.

NB: It is possible participants will be able to perform in principal or supporting roles in the other operas as well for an additional fee (depending on availability). Selected participants may be engaged for future performances with OPERA CONSTANTA during its regular season.

The following roles are available -- participants have the option of studying and singing portions of all three operas and will perform at least one principal role in its entirety in public performance:

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR: Enrico -- baritone; Lucia -- soprano; Edgardo -- tenor;
Arturo -- tenor; Raimondo -- bass; Alisa -- mezzo-soprano; Normanno -- tenor

LA BOHEME: Mimi -- soprano; Musetta -- soprano; Rodolfo -- tenor; Marcello -- baritone;
Schaunard -- baritone; Colline -- bass; Benoit -- bass

NABUCCO: Nabucco -- baritone; Ismaele -- tenor; Abigaille -- soprano;
Fenena -- mezzo-soprano; Zaccaria -- bass

CONDUCTORS will work extensively with OPERA CONSTANTA's orchestra, chorus, pianists and soloists, and conduct portions of all three operas during the Masterclass. Coaching and instruction (including video review) will be provided by Maestro Gheorghe STANCIU, general music director and chief conductor of OPERA CONSTANTA, and Maestro Anthony ARMORÉ, the company's associate director and conductor. Each conductor will conduct a portion of one of the three operas in a public performance.

STAGE DIRECTORS will work intensively with the Bulgarian stage and opera director, Ognian DRAGANOV, as well as with all the company's members and components in the effective implementation of dramatic stagings that are faithful to and buttress the music and text. Their ideas will be realized in public performance.

The Masterclass fee (tuition) is 1,800 EUR for conductors, 1,050 EUR for vocal artists and 1,650 EUR for stage directors. Accommodation is included in this fee. Ground transportation will also be provided to and from Bucharest's airport and train station.

GENERAL DIRECTOR
AND CHIEF CONDUCTOR OF OPERA CONSTANTA

Born in Romania in 1950, Maestro Gheorghe Stanciu was trained as a cellist and orchestral conductor at the Music Conservatory "George Enescu" in Iasi, in northeastern Romania. He subsequently enhanced his training in Bayreuth, Germany with conducting studies with Eric Berger and Masterclasses with the legendary Romanian conductor, Sergiu Celibidache. Since then, his rise in the ranks of European conductors has been significant. In 1976 he was engaged by the Lyric Theater in Constanta, Romania after winning a contest there for conductors. He has broadened his repertoire to include more than 30 titles of opera, ballet and operetta, in addition to most of the standard symphonic works with and without voice. His focus on operatic repertoire led to his being engaged as the general director of Music Theater in Galati (where he was born), and since 1998, as the general director and principal conductor of Opera Constanta (Romania's second largest city). There he leads performances of the major works by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Donizetti, Mascagni and others, sung in their original languages. He frequently appears as a guest conductor in major European capitals and tours with Opera Constanta in such countries as Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, etc. Maestro Stanciu has recorded three CDs with the orchestra and chorus of Opera Constanta: the Requiem Masses by Verdi and Faure, and the "Paulus" Oratorio by Mendelssohn.

The young Bulgarian director, Ognian Draganov, studied music performance (trumpet and piano) and opera direction in Bulgaria (with Plamen Kartaloff) and France (with Albert-Andre Lheureux). After a brief period as a member of the Sofia National Opera Orchestra (trumpet), he quickly established himself as an important stage/opera director in southeastern Europe, working as stage director and later general director for the Sofia National Opera as well a resident and guest (opera) director for companies in Greece, Macedonia, and Romania. His productions are regularly seen in productions that tour western Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Already in command of a large repertoire, his conceptions and productions are generally overarching, including sets, costumes and lighting in addition to stage action.