Summer Opera
Program
2026
The Musica Proibita Summer Opera Program provides a full immersion into Italian culture.
Study and performance experience for singers under the artistic guidance of an internationally acclaimed faculty of voice teachers, vocal coaches, conductors and stage directors.
The pedagogy of opera studies, giving students the tools they need to advance to the next level
of their career preparation.
Dates
04th - 24th July 2026
Arrival 04th July course will start on the morning of 05th July and end on the 24th July.
Venues
All lessons and accommodation will be at the Seminario Vescovile, Citta Alta Bergamo, Via Arena,11, 24129, Italy.
Concerts and Opera will take place in Bergamo, Brescia, Mantova and Torino.
The Summer Opera Program is divided into 2 sections
Section A
04th - 24th July 2026 - 21 days
Opera Program
Don Giovanni
W. A . Mozart
Double cast, Roles
Don Giovanni (baritone o bass)
Il Commendatore (bass)
Donna Anna (soprano)
Don Ottavio (tenor)
Donna Elvira (soprano o mezzosoprano)
Leporello (bass-baritone)
Masetto (baritone o bass)
Zerlina (soprano o mezzosoprano)
La Rondine
G. Puccini
Double cast , Roles
Magda (soprano)
Lisette, la sua governante (soprano)
Prunier, poeta (tenor)
Ruggero (tenor)
Rambaldo, protettore di Magda (baritone)
Gobin (tenor)
Ivette, amica di Magda (soprano)
Bianca, amica di Magda (soprano)
Suzy, amica di Magda (mezzosoprano)
Un maggiordomo (bass)
Un cantore (soprano)
The opera will not be performed in full, but in reduced form with cuts planned on recitatives and some arias at the discretion of the artistic team. Each participant will receive the score with the cuts after acceptance of registration. All participants must use the score sent by the production team.
Summer Opera Program
Musica Proibita Summer Opera Program is a 20 day intensive study program, for singers from advanced college students to finishing undergraduate degrees to emerging professionals seeking to reach the next level of their careers.
We welcome singers 18 years of age and older from all countries.
The program is designed to build skills and discipline that will help you to succeed in an opera career.
The program focuses on the standard operatic repertoire with emphasis on Italian repertoire.
The opportunity to sing in an Opera in a fully staged opera production with a professional orchestra.
Private singing and coaching lessons.
Master classes with world-renowned professional opera singers, opera coaches, conductors and stage directors.
Daily Italian diction lessons with native speaker during your singing lessons.
Acting classes where you will work on the Opera that will be staged.
Stage rehearsal.
Audition training seminar.
Audition with Artistic director.
A peaceful and supportive environment where each singer is valued and encouraged to focus on reaching one's potential.
Upon arrival singers will receive a detailed schedule with a daily break-down of their coaching, rehearsals, master classes and seminars etc.
All lesson will take place at the Seminario Vescovile Giovanni, Bergamo.
Lessons
10:00 - 13:30
Siesta / Riposo
15:00 - 18:30
Individual voice lessons
Individual coaching
Italian diction lesson during repertoire lessons
Master classes and seminars
Group Acting classes
Rehearsals for Opera
Group Musical / dramatic preparation (Rehearsals for concerts and Opera)
Perform a role with orchestra in a fully staged opera.
Gala Opera Concert with the Orchestra Colli Morenici in the Festival dei Colli Morenici.
Audition and recordings
Section A
Please submit 2 arias in varying style and language demonstrating the range of your desired roles Video links only (YouTube).
Submissions do not need to be of professional recording quality.
Video or audio recordings are excepted.
C.V.
Copy of proof of payment for the audition fee.
Bank details
Bank: Intesa Sanpaolo
Beneficiary : Musica Proibita Management
IBAN: IT68 P030 6909 6061 0000 0174 797
SWIFT/BIC: BCITITMM
Reference: Your full name, Summer Opera Program 2026
Email: mpmoperaprogram@gmail.com
Tel: +39 334 168 2530
Accommodation
The Seminario Vescovile Giovanni offers the following accommodation.
Single room with private bathroom including breakfast and lunch.
Companion
It is possible to have a double room with 2 private bathrooms including breakfast if you would like to bring a companion. (Please contact us for further information)
The cost (Tuition fees in euro)
Section A
04th - 24th July 2026 - 21 day program
Audition Fee: 30,00 €
(Candidates who apply via NATS Summer program audition - NO audition fee applicable)
Tuition Deposit: 1650,00 € (Due at time of acceptance, towards cost of tuition)
Balance of Payment: 2300,00 € (will be due upon receipt of invoice, approximately 60 days before departure)
Tuition: 3950,00 € with (Single room with breakfast and lunch included)
Please note that the cost for Tuition & Accommodation is listed as one inclusive fee.
Included in your Tuition
Tuition
A single room with private bathroom or double room with private bathrooms at the Seminario Vescovile Giovanni ,Bergamo.
Breakfast and lunch for 20 days.
Not Included
Roundtrip airfare
Travel Visa processing fee
Health and personal Insurance
Evening meals and snacks
Streetcar/bus/train tickets
Incidental expenses like laundry
Cancellation Policy & Refunds
If you need to cancel your participation in the program, the following policies and deadlines must be respected.
All cancellations must be made in writing by email, phone calls or phone messages are not an acceptable as form of cancellation.
Section A and B
Cancellations after the 15th March 2026
A 200,00 € withdrawal fee will be applied to your refund.
Section A
Cancellations after the 15th Aprile 2026
Your 1650,00 € deposit will be forfeited plus any prepaid nonrefundable expenses.
Section A and B
Cancellations after the 15th May 2026
No refunds will be made after this date.
Please note that due to the late date, the full amount of your tuition fees will be forfeited, No exception can be made.
Trip insurance is strongly recommended for your protection in case of cancellation or trip interruption.
No refunds are available for partial use of the program.
No refunds for cancellations will be issued after the
15th May 2026
How to arrive
You can fly to:
Milano Malpensa International Airport (MXP)
Take the train to Milano Centrale train station, from Milano Centrale train station take the train to Bergamo train station, from Bergamo train station take a bus to Città Alta Bergamo (Bus N.1)
OR
Take the Bus to Bergamo Orio al serio Airport (Bus Orioshuttle) from Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport take the Bus to Bergamo,
Città Alta (Bus N.1)
Milano Linate Airport (LIN)
Take the Bus (Bus Orioshuttle) to Bergamo Orio al serio Airport International (Bus Orioshuttle) from Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport take the Bus to Bergamo, Città Alta (Bus N.1)
Orio al Serio Bergamo airport (BGY)
From Orio al Serio Bergamo airport take the Bus to Bergamo, Città Alta (Bus N.1)
OR
Take a taxi to Bergamo Città Alta, Seminario Vescovile Giovanni XXXIII, Via Arena 11, 24129, Italy
Passports
Make sure your passport is up-to-date!
For full information on obtaining or renewing passports, see the U.S. State Department website.
Limits of Responsibility
The following Limits of Responsibility apply to your participation in the Summer Opera program.
The Summer Opera Program:
Reserves the right to request references from applicants and to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member.
Reserves the right to make substitutions or changes in the faculty staff , alter, cancel or withdraw any portion of the Summer Opera Program. In the event of any of the foregoing, refund will not be made for any accommodation or services omitted.
Reserves the right to make substitutions, alter, cancel, withdraw or change a student in the Opera production, if the staff of the Summer Opera Program feel that the student is still not at the required level to perform the assigned role. In the event of any of the foregoing, refund will not be made for any accommodation or services omitted.
In the event of any of the foregoing, refund will not be made for any accommodation or services omitted.
The Summer Opera Program MPM shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage to persons, property, accommodations, transportation or other services resulting directly or indirectly from Acts of God. Dangerous incidents from the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment acts of governments or other authorities, de jure or de facto wars whether declared or undeclared civil disturbances, strikes, riots, injury, thefts, burglary, pilferage, vandalism, epidemics, quarantine or customs regulations. Delays or cancellations of or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas, or other documents.
Won’t assume responsibility to aid in obtaining redress, restitution or resolution of incidents or damages that a participant may suffer during the course of attending Summer Opera Program.
Takes all caution in providing a safe and pleasant environment in which to hold the Summer Opera Program but cannot be responsible for incidents that occur beyond its control or for issues that may arise in the course of living in Bergamo or its environs in the course of the Summer Opera Program.
I have read The Summer Opera Program Limits of Responsibility and agree to abide by their conditions and that my approval online is binding.
Currency (Euro)
The most efficient way to exchange currency is by withdrawing money from a local ATM (called Bancomat) using a debit card, Visa, Mastercard, Debit cards, Credit cards, Visa and Mastercards are accepted everywhere.
Insurance
Travel Insurance for your protection, we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance. In case of a health problem or family emergency that might require you to make a last-minute change in plans.
Health Insurance
You should check your policy carefully but under most circumstances you should be covered. If not, you might want to consider a short-term policy even though the Italian system is very hospitable to foreigners.