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The Magic Flute

Lyric Arts France and Festival Opéra Bastide 2025
Villefranche-de-Rouergue
June 23 - July 27, 2025

 

Application deadline extended to 02 March 2025!

Apply Now!

News Flash!!!

We are transformed! Last summer's festival was sparse on the production support side of things (in France, a non-profit can't seek government funding in its first year of operation) but after the success of last season with the public and city of Villefranche, we have been offered our first major grant—which will pay for a new professional bilingual Company Manager and two Stage Managers amongst other things. Hooray, and thank you to last year's singers for their patience and dedication in helping to launch the ship!

Training

Young Artists work in collaboration with world-class singers, directors, conductors, coaches, and choreographers, both in production rehearsals and in training sessions. These include individual and group vocal and repertoire coaching, masterclasses, auditioning classes, seminar sessions for directors and stage managers, and career seminars addressing opportunities in Europe and the United States. There is also a focus on singing in French, French arias, and Art Song, with daily French language classes available for non-French participants.

 

Daily Schedule (on standard work days)

  • 9:00–9:50 am non-French speakers can participate in different levels of French language classes geared exclusively to our program
  • 10:00 am–1:00 pm production and musical rehearsals
  • 1:00–2:30 pm enjoy an extended French lunch!
  • 2:30–3:50 pm reserved for classes and masterclasses; each singer will receive at least one individual coaching/voice session per week, as well as attending group sessions
  • 4:00–7:00 pm production and musical rehearsals
  • and/or 8:00–10:00 pm occasional ensemble rehearsals
Rehearsal

 

Tamina and Sarastro

 

Solo Roles

We work hard to cast all Young Artists in as many appropriate solo roles as possible, as well as in all cover roles. Most roles are double-cast. Most operas are given four performances, so that each cast sings two nights. Most Artists also sing and dance in the ensemble for Carmen, and all participate in the concerts and optional late-night cabaret programs as well.

All roles in all productions are currently open to Young Artists.

Tuition and Accommodation Fees

Tuition for the Young Artist Program including individual coachings and voice lessons as well as group sessions is $3,500 (USD). Housing through the festival can be added if desired for $1,000 (USD) Prices are quoted in US dollars but can be paid in a variety of currencies. This tuition rate is significantly less than many other European Young Artist Programs of this length and caliber, a number of which do not offer inexpensive housing options.

Scholarships

A generous number of full and partial scholarships will be available – around 75% of participants in 2024 received a scholarship of some kind. See below for more details.

Auditions

Auditions are submitted as online video recordings via the website yaptracker.com. Please note that recorded videos must be uploaded as a part of the application process; a live audition may also be available by invitation in Paris, Toulouse, and Villefranche-de-Rougergue (France), in London (UK), and Denton, Texas (USA). 

Repertoire for auditions: you need to offer at least three numbers, all videoed, and if you have videos of you performing something on stage that is good too though not essential. At least one of the numbers needs to be in French. If you are interested in The Fantasticks you should include some lighter material. While it is not required, performing something from the piece you are interested in always helps, particularly if you are interested in a lead role… and if you are interested in Carmen or The Fantasticks, please don’t forget to add a video of you speaking some French text also (any text will do).

A modest Application Fee of $25 is payable on submission of audition materials, also via the website yaptracker.com.

Dates and Deadlines

Applications are open now until casting is concluded; offers will be made starting in early December. Acceptances are required within one week of an offer being made.

Tuition and accommodation fees are payable by January 31, 2025.

Transportation to and from the program and food are not covered.

Apply Now!

Finale

Agents, company representatives, referrals

Career-ready artists sometimes ask us about how we can help them with their next step up the career ladder. All of our most experienced international faculty work with us because we want to pass the torch on the next generation. Among those who have worked extensively in Europe and America's biggest opera houses, Annemarie Kremer (international Dutch soprano, who joins us for masterclasses) has contacts with agents and houses at the highest levels, Jeff Martin has a similarly extensive extensive network, and Jonathan Eaton has connections with European houses, American houses, and active connections at top American and British Young Artist Programs including the Met, Chicago Lyric, Washington National Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, the Covent Garden Jette Parker Program and with many smaller companies. All of our faculty have made successful referrals in the past and are happy to try to make connections for you if the time is right. On the agent front, the same applies: career-ready artists can be offered referrals to European agents and some American ones, and discussions are in progress for the Robert Gilder agency to send a representative to Villefranche, and for Toulouse Opera to do the same.

 

Open Windows Concert

 

Age limits

While we have no particular age limits for admission to the Young Artists Program, we anticipate that most singers’ ages will range from early twenties to mid-thirties.

Work and play

The program will organize side-trips and visits in the neighboring countryside as appropriate and time allows, and a large group of local French volunteers help to provide these. However please be aware that this is a program where, in order to achieve the highest artistic standards, you will work hard six days a week and, on rare occasions, for three sessions a day…and this is good!