SALBEK OPERA FESTIVAL

International Salbek Opera Masterclass (19 – 24 August 2025) – call for applications

The Salbek Castle Association is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the third edition of the International Salbek Opera Masterclass (August 19–24, 2025) — a prestigious series of courses led by internationally renowned opera singers: mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose, tenor Ramón Vargas, and soprano Leontina Văduva. Applications are open until the end of spring.

This is the only masterclass of its kind in Romania and, as in previous years, it will take place at the historic Salbek Castle Estate in Petriș, Arad County.

The International Salbek Opera Masterclass is aimed at young musicians aged between 18 and 35. Applications can be submitted until May 31, 2025, using the online application form, here. The final selection of participants will be made by the three professors between June 1–10, 2025.

“The large number of applications we received in 2024 truly impressed us. We welcomed students from Chile, France, Canada, Israel, Ukraine, Italy, China, Spain, and Romania. I’m thrilled to see so many young artists eager to refine their craft. I expect the demand in 2025 to be just as high, if not higher. We’ll have our work cut out for us — selecting the best voices will be a real challenge, but we are ready for it. So, all I can say is: applications are now open!” says mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose.

The masterclass will run from August 19–23, 2025, across the Salbek Castle Estate and nearby rural communities — Petriș, Roșia, and Ilteu — and will culminate with a Grand Opera Gala in Arad’s City Hall Square on August 24, 2025.

The Gala will be performed open-air, featuring the Arad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Crescenzi, and starring Anita Hartig, Ruxandra Donose, Ramón Vargas, alongside the top participants from the 2025 edition of the Salbek Opera Masterclass.

Thus, over the course of five unforgettable days, participants will not only benefit from the mentorship and guidance of three international opera stars but will also have the opportunity to assist or perform alongside them during rehearsals and at the Grand Gala, organized in collaboration with CMC Arad.

“We are thrilled to launch the third edition of the International Salbek Opera Masterclass, an event that has already become a landmark in the opera world. The unique combination of elite education under the guidance of world-class artists and the exceptional charm of the Salbek estate creates an ideal environment for the development of young talents. We warmly invite young artists from around the globe to join us for this experience — one that will not only shape their careers but also enrich Romania’s cultural landscape,” says Ana Maria Mihăescu, President of the Salbek Castle Association.

Working within such an international group encourages a rich exchange of cultural traditions, artistic practices, and personal experiences, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening the intercultural dimension of the project.

Maximum twenty selected participants

The young musicians, aged between eighteen and thirty, will be selected from April to June, following a public call for applicants that will be published on the project’s website and Facebook page and in the online publications of the project’s partners.

Study, recreation, visibility

The location chosen for the event – the village of Petriș, Arad County –provides participants with a setting suitable for study and recreation. The Castel Salbek Association provides accommodation, meals, local transport, and accompanying pianists – more details about the conditions, below.

The musicians will have the opportunity to work with three co-rehearsal teachers on the piano, allowing for complex and continuous study. To ensure the greatest visibility and significant sustainability, representatives of national and international cultural organisations will be invited to attend, as well as two or three specialist journalists.

At the end of the series of courses, the teachers will highlight the strengths of the participants and the improved areas. They will choose a few participants for the Opera Gala.

Present and future opportunities

The masterclasses will cover various topics, including subjects concerning Romanian and East-European traditional music and the influence of traditional themes on classical and contemporary music, combining modern techniques of interpretation with musical methodology. The project will therefore be both innovative and attractive, thanks to its interdisciplinary and multicultural approach. The masterclasses will give rise to collaborative projects between the young musicians and teachers, which will also be able to be presented before audiences on other occasions. Likewise, musicians taking part will be able to return to the counties of Arad, Hunedoara, Alba, and Timiș as part of other projects.

The Association will continue the Masterclass in the years to come and aims to expand it with opera performances and galas at prestigious European venues.

The young musicians will be able both to specialise and to benefit from the project’s exposure in their future careers. In addition, the project will be able to guide audiences attending the concerts towards music of the highest quality, and likewise to create national interest in the Arad, Hunedoara, Alba, and Timiș regions, as well as greater international interest in the Romanian cultural space.

The Salbek International Opera Masterclass wishes to offer young musicians the chance to meet outstanding teachers who will contribute to their artistic and personal development and create future opportunities for them.

Producer: Salbek Castle Association
Official Partners: BCR, Black Sea Oil & Gas
Partners: CMC Arad, Arad City Hall, Arad State Philharmonic, National Heritage Institute
Local Partners: Petriș Town Hall, “Sargeția” Local Action Group