Come to Opera Lucca 2022!
We are excited to return to Italy in the summer of 2022, and we welcome you to join us!
Opera Lucca is a summer festival for singers, pianists, and composers. It will be held at the Lucca Italian School in the summer of 2022, June 12th through July 9th. This season we will be performing a complete Suor Angelica in one of Lucca’s historic churches. We will be casting roles in Suor Angelica as well as in scenes from Le nozze di Figaro, La bohème, La Traviata, and other bel canto and dramatic repertoire. We specialize in teaching Italian opera and art song through a focus on the language. Our distinguished faculty are either native Italian speakers or experts in operatic Italian. The faculty believe in the need for Italian language immersion as an important component of bel canto training. We teach not just diction but expressive delivery of the text through an understanding of the poetry. Host family stays are available to further improve conversational Italian beyond language classes.
CITY OF LUCCA
Lucca is a beautiful historic city in northern Tuscany and is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini. At one time, Lucca was a powerful city-state and trading center, and visitors are now charmed by its distinctly old-world atmosphere. It is nicknamed “la città delle cento chiese” because of the nearly 100 old churches throughout the city. Some of these churches are spectacular and unusual, with elaborate striped-marble façades and tall towers. Its surrounding wall was originally designed to protect Lucca from invaders, but it is now a tree-lined park with a paved bicycle path. The Lucchesi and tourists frequently use the walls for morning runs, afternoon walks, and leisurely rides on their bici. It is also an easy way to travel from one side of the city to another. Because of the wall, the buildings in the original centro of town have not changed much over the centuries. But inside these buildings one finds a wealth of boutique stores, traditional restaurants, local food markets, wine bars, and artisanal gelato shops.
TESTIMONIALS
“I learned more about bel canto singing in a single summer at Opera Lucca than I might have in a full semester at conservatory. Lessons with world class faculty and a comprehensive education in the Italian language made me a more proficient musician in the fine art of Italian Opera. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to further their musical development in a beautiful city and in a supportive artistic environment!” – R.K. from Mannes Conservatory
“Opera Lucca was a fantastic experience for me! The city of Lucca was beautiful and getting to perform in and around it was incredible. Italian class every morning helped immensely to settle in to the culture and feel comfortable about living in it for the next month. Repetoire was great all around and the coaches and teachers were knowledable and easy to work with. Getting to learn from Peter Volpe over the course of 4 weeks propelled me forward as a musician and he’s truly a master of his craft, both teaching and performing. The days are filled with coaching, lessons and rehearsals with the maestro and everything stayed super productive. The experience I gained from performing and living in Italy was invaluable and something I look forward to repeating in the future!” C.O. from Manhattan School of Music
“While Italy itself was unforgettably beautiful, this past month would mean nothing without the people that came into my life while I was there, and the friendships that I’ve made during my first summer opera program. Opera Lucca, thank you for teaching me so much about myself as a musician and a person. It’s unbelievable how much I’ve grown since stepping foot in Lucca for the first time a month ago. But most of all, thank you for letting me spend a month with a group of people that inspire me daily both in and out of performance. The friendships and connections I’ve made here are priceless, and I’ll always cherish them.” S.H.
“I am so happy I made the decision to attend Opera Lucca as it has been an incredible month of learning and making incredible connections in one of the most breathtaking little cities of Italy. Lucca will always have a special place in my heart.” L.F.
“I never thought that I could become so attached to a place, but I am incredibly emotional to leave Lucca. Really, I have fallen in love with a place that has been a vessel of my professional and personal growth. I am blessed to have called Lucca home for four weeks. To the Italian teachers at the Lucca Italian School and to the faculty at Opera Lucca, thank you for the bottom of my heart for making Lucca such a warm and welcoming place. Lucca will always feel like home to me. I have made memories that will last and that I will cherish forever.” V.M.
