Acccademia dell'Opera Italiana Summer Opera School
Presented by the Accademia dell’Opera Italiana
📍 Chiostro dei Carmelitani, Nardò, Puglia, Italy
Course from August 7th to August 15th.
Final Performances: August 13th & 15th, 2025
An Unparalleled Operatic Training Experience
The Accademia dell’Opera Italiana (AOI) Summer Opera School is a prestigious program designed to cultivate the next generation of opera singers. Over nine days, participants engage in an immersive artistic journey, receiving intensive training from a faculty of world-class professionals.
This unique program combines rigorous vocal and musical coaching with the rich cultural tapestry of Italy. Singers reside and study in the heart of Southern Italy, refining their artistry in an environment steeped in operatic tradition.
Final Performances in Nardò
Culminating their intensive training, our Young Artists will present an opera gala on August 13th and 15th, 2025, at the historic Chiostro dei Carmelitani in Nardò, Puglia. This picturesque cloister, with its serene ambiance and historical significance, provides an enchanting backdrop for these operatic showcases. Located a short walk from Piazza Salandra, the heart of Nardò, the Chiostro offers an authentic atmosphere enriched by historic architecture and vibrant local culture.
Fees and Scholarships
AOI is committed to nurturing exceptional talent by offering 3 scholarships to outstanding young artists, one at 100%, one at 50% and one at 25% of of the total fee. These scholarships cover all tuition fees and accommodation prorata. The remaining five artists can participate for an all-inclusive fee of €1000, which includes tuition and shared housing accommodation. Faculty and participants will share the same living space, fostering a familial atmosphere that enhances understanding of the social and linguistic nuances essential to Italian opera.
Meet the Artistic Team
Musical Director: Emanuela Di Pietro
Serving as Chorus Master at Teatro La Fenice in Venice and Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Emanuela Di Pietro is also a principal professor at the Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella in Naples. Her international career includes collaborations with renowned conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Muti, as well as conducting at the Verdi Festival in Beijing.Italian Coach & Voice Teacher: Massimo Modoni
Baritone and founder of AOI, Massimo has sung at prestigious venues such as Teatro Malibran (Venice), Accademia Chigiana (Siena), Teatro Dante Alighieri (Ravenna), Teatro Comunale (Ferrara), Conway Hall (London), and at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (Ireland). His collaborations include working with conductors Renato Balsadonna, Paolo Olmi, Emanuela Di Pietro, and David Brophy, and with pianists such as Michele D’Elia, Joice Fieldsen, and Andrés GallucciRepetiteur: Brian Hughes
Irish pianist and graduate of the Royal College of Music, where he earned a Master of Performance with Distinction in Collaborative Piano. A former Kenneth and Violet Scott Scholar, he studied with Simon Lepper, Roger Vignoles, and Danny Driver, and trained in improvisation with Sophie Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin. Brian has performed at leading UK venues including the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall, and participated in festivals such as Leeds Lieder and Oxford Lieder. In Ireland, he has appeared with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra in major venues across Dublin, Belfast, and Cork. He also works as a musical director and arranger for theatre, most recently for Brendan: Son of Dublin at the Liverpool Irish Festival 2023.
Course structure
Each of the 8 participants will enjoy a 50 minute session daily for the 9 days of the course. The focus of the masterclass is the 18th and 19th century Italian operatic repertoire. Each candidate is required to present up to 5 arias or scenes to be worked on during the daily sessions. Our holistic approach combines the vocal guidance of Massimo Modoni with the mussical coaching of conductor Emanuela Di Pietro and pianist Brian Hughes.
Arrival date: August 6th Departure date: August 16th
We recommend flying to the local airport of Brindisi. From there, you can travel to Nardò via public transport, although it can take a while as our lovely village is blissfully located close to the coast.
APPLICATION
Kindly email an up to date biography, headshot and two recent videos showcasing at least one Italian operatic aria to: massimo@accademiadelloperaitaliana.com
