Bel Canto Opera Festival in Japan 2019 Carmen Santoro “Opera studio”

◆ The Fujiwara Opera Company, in partnership with Festival della Valle d’Itria (Martina Franca, Italy), aims to create a new Belcanto opera in Japan, and calls it "Belcanto Opera Festival in Japan" S. Mercadante’s "Francesca Da Rimini" (Japan premiere) was held in the festival’s first edition. The festival’s second performance will be held in November with the staging of A. Scarlatti’s "Il Trionfo dell’onore". In line with this exciting event, Fujiwara Opera has invited Carmen Santoro, Music Supervisor of Valle d’Itria Music Festival in Italy and artistic director of the Belcanto Opera Festival in Japan to hold Master Classes with the aim of empowering young Bel Canto Singers & Corepetiteurs. Do not miss this opportunity to learn directly from Mrs. Santoro.

DETAILS Date/Time: October 16, 2019(Wed) Test singing October 17, 2019(Thu) - November 14 (Thu), 2019 Masterclass Between 14:00-17:00 (Sundays excluded)

There is a possibility of appearing by selection in the following courses and concerts. November 4, 2019 (Mon) November 7, 2019 (Mon) November 11 2019 (Sat) November 16, 2019 (Thu)

Venue: Showa University of Music （North Campus） ※Shin-Yurigaoka Station on Odakyu Line

Requirements: 1. Young opera singer (all voice type) 2. Corepetiteur (Number of participants: Approx. 3 persons) 3. Max 35 years of age, born on or after November 14, 1983 4. Applicant should be able to attend classes between October 16 (Wed) - November 14 (Sun) in 2019. 5. Ability to understand simple Italian and English

Repertoire: (for Singers & Corepetiteurs) 3 songs in total 1. Please choose 2 opera arias from Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti. 2. 1 baroque opera aria. ※Singer: Each person should accompany an accompanist. / Corepetiteurs: Each person should accompany a singer.

Screening procedure: First audition:Singing screenings on July 13 (Sat) at Showa Music University North Campus.

Second audition:Based on the first audition recordings, will be selected by the artistic director of the Bel canto Opera Festival in Japan and the artistic director of the Festival della Valle d’Itria.

Tuition: Free of charge (Transportation, accommodation and other expenses related to attending the course will be borne by the Applicant).

Application and Deadline: Please fill out the application form (separate sheet) and submit it together with an audio recording of the two arias of your choice on Monday, July 1 2019.

Note: Application forms are also available for download from the JOF website. https://www.jof.or.jp/

[Further infomation] 1-16-6 Manpukuji, Asoh-ku, Kawasaki-shi 215-0004 (Public interest incorporated foundation) Japan Opera Foundation "Carmen Santoro Opera studio" Tell: +81-044-9536411 / E-mail: [email protected]

Vocal coach CARMEN SANTORO Profile She is one of the most important Vocal Coaches of her generation. She collaborates with Zurich Opera House, Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Theater an der Wien, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp, Lithuanian National Opera in Vilnius, Theater of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Comunale of Bologna, Teatro San Carlo of Naples, Regio Theater of Parma, Petruzzelli Theater of Bari, Toscanini Foundation of Parma, Rossini Opera Festival of Pesaro, Festival of the Valle d'Itria of Martina Franca, Wexford Festival Opera, Festival Donizetti Bergamo ... She has collaborated with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Monserrat Caballé, Marilyn Horne, Diana Damrau, Mariella Devia, Juan Diego Florez, Daniela Barcellona, Pretty Yende, Javier Camarena, Lawrence Brownlee, Saimir Pirgu, Krasimira Stoyanova ... She is professor at the International Opera Studio of the Zurich Opera House, Young Artist Program of the Metropolitan Opera of New York, Royal College of Music of London, Young Artists Opera Program of the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow, Center of Perfeccionament Placido Domingo of Palau de les Arts of Valencia, School of Opera of the Municipal Theater of Bologna, Rossiniana Academy in Pesaro, Lunenburg Academy, Nova Scotia Canada, Showa University in Tokyo ... She is Director of Music Studies and Assistant to the Music Director M Fabio Luisi at the "Paolo Grassi" Academy in Martina Franca. Since 2009 he has been Assistant to M. Fabio Luisi at the Zurich Opera House, at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, at the Valle d’Itria Festival in Martina Franca where he is also Music Production Supervisor. He is Artistic Director of the Belcanto Festival in Japan organized by the Japan Opera Foundation in Tokyo. Since 1995 he has been a professor at the “A. Boito ”of Parma.