Information about the Opera Coaching Programme
The University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar belongs to the German music schools that offer opera coaching as an independent major study programme. The tradition goes back to the 1970s, when this specialty had a stronghold at East German music schools.
The objective of the study programme is to obtain the qualification to work as a accompanist at music theatres and related institutions. Therefore, the emphasis of the study programme is opera and music theatre literature. There is no independent major study programme in Weimar for instrumental or ballet accompaniment.
The opera coaching studies at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar are closely connected with the study programme of the conducting department. That can be traced back to the traditions of German music theatre, in which accompaniment was and continues to be a significant part of the conductor's occupation as well as its substantial basis. Often, conductors begin their careers as accompanists. Conversely, it is possible that excellent accompanists discover their conducting talent, either during their studies or in their first years of work, and then develop it further. It is possible to change from a coaching major to conducting (with an emphasis on orchestra or choir conducting) if the respective requirements are met and the transfer test is passed.
The opera coaching major is an artistic study programme and ends with the Bachelors or Masters degree.
At the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, Professor Ulrich Vogel and Professor Hans-Christian Steinhöfel are currently the instructors of the opera coaching study programme.
The objective of the study programme is to obtain the qualification to work as a accompanist at music theatres and related institutions. Therefore, the emphasis of the study programme is opera and music theatre literature. There is no independent major study programme in Weimar for instrumental or ballet accompaniment.
The opera coaching studies at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar are closely connected with the study programme of the conducting department. That can be traced back to the traditions of German music theatre, in which accompaniment was and continues to be a significant part of the conductor's occupation as well as its substantial basis. Often, conductors begin their careers as accompanists. Conversely, it is possible that excellent accompanists discover their conducting talent, either during their studies or in their first years of work, and then develop it further. It is possible to change from a coaching major to conducting (with an emphasis on orchestra or choir conducting) if the respective requirements are met and the transfer test is passed.
The opera coaching major is an artistic study programme and ends with the Bachelors or Masters degree.
At the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, Professor Ulrich Vogel and Professor Hans-Christian Steinhöfel are currently the instructors of the opera coaching study programme.