SALBEK OPERA FESTIVAL

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

Until the end of this spring, the Salbek Castle Association will be open to applications to take part in the second Salbek Opera Masterclass (21-25 August), a series of premium classes given by international opera singers: mezzosoprano Ruxandra Donose, tenor Ramón Vargas, and soprano Leontina Văduva. The masterclass is the only one of its kind in Romania and, the same as last year, will be held on the Salbek Castle Estate, in the village of Petriș, Arad County.

The Salbek Opera Masterclass is aimed at young musicians aged between 18 and 35, who are invited to apply by 31 May by filling the form here. From 1 to 10 June, the three teachers will make their final selection of the applicants who will have the opportunity to attend the masterclass.

“This year we have raised the age limit for applications to take part in the masterclass from 30 to 35, since we wished to offer the opportunity to study as part of this open-air opera event to as many young people as possible. Ultimately, this is a field where you never stop learning. I can hardly wait to meet this year’s students!‘ says mezzosoprano Ruxandra Donose.

The International Salbek Opera Masterclass will take place from 21 to 24 August 2024 on the Salbek Castle Estate and in a number of places in the surrounding area, and will culminate in a Special Opera Gala in Arad City Hall Plaza on 25 August, featuring the Arad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Crescenzi and opera singers Valentina Naforniță, Ruxandra Donose, Ramón Vargas and Cosmin Ifrim, along with the cream of the crop from the Salbek Opera Masterclass 2024.

All in all, a unique five-day programme of events, in which course attendees will enjoy not only the advice and guidance of the three international opera stars, but also the opportunity to watch or join as stage partners rehearsals for and then the Special Opera Gala itself, to be held in Arad City Hall Plaza and organised in partnership with CMC Arad.

“The maestros and team who made a success of the Salbek Opera Masterclass last year were from five European and Latin American countries, and the students taking part were from four European and Asian countries, all of which serves to confirm the international scope and nature of the event. The Salbek Opera Masterclass proved that you can organise a highly sophisticated educational event in a Romanian village and achieve exceptional results. My wish is that the 2024 edition will likewise bring to Romania young people from all over the world who are eager to learn opera from some of the best musicians in a setting ideal for both relaxation and learning. So, let the applications get underway!‘ says Ana Maria Mihăescu, the chairwoman of the Salbek Castle Association.

When students work together in such international groups, it encourages an exchange of cultural traditions, working practices, and personal experiences, which fosters good mutual knowledge within the intercultural dimensions 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.