A Typical Week in Urbania During the Four Week Program
June 2 - June 30, 2012

Although there is a great deal of quality music-making in “Si parla, si canta,” the most important component of the program is the language study.  Every day, Monday through Friday, begins with a class in the Italian Language from 8:50 AM to 12:20 PM.

There are also Italian conversation classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and a special Italian tutorial on Saturday morning for two hours (optional), which provides an opportunity to clarify any linguistic concepts that haven’t been thoroughly understood. Vocal coachings and musical rehearsals are held in the afternoons and early evenings, after the Italian classes are finished. On Wednesday afternoon and all day Sunday, there is an optional bus excursion (for a small extra fee), which typically visits a near-by place of interest, such as Urbino, Assisi, San Marino, or Siena. Saturday is usually free and many students like to catch the bus to Pesaro, Rossini’s birthplace, to spend the day on the beach or peruse the trendy shops.

All singers can expect to have two private coachings a week on their solo repertoire in addition to other rehearsals for any ensembles (duets, trios, etc.) they have been assigned. Singers will also participate in at least three public concerts, one of which will be held in Urbania’s charming 19th century Teatro Bramante, one in the imposing 14th century Castello Brancaleoni in Piobbico, and one in the the breathtakingly beautiful Chiesa San Filippo in Fossombrone.

Pianists enrolled in the program will be preparing operatic scenes, accompanying coachings for Mr. Hess, Mr. Cowart, Mr. Hagegård, Mr. Sacchi and Mr. Murphy, and will accompany the public concerts.

A Typical Week in Urbania During the Six Week Program
June 2 - July 14, 2012

Participants who exercise the option of staying for the entire six weeks will have the same experience during the first four weeks as described above, but with week number five, the program changes dramatically. In addition to the continuation of daily intensive language study and individual coachings, the students will have the ability to attend classes in Italian vocal technique, advanced Italian diction, Baroque performance practice. Further, the singers and pianists will participate in master classes with visiting scholar Alberto Zedda as well as the regular faculty of “Si parla, si canta.”

Students will also go on a delightful excursion to Verona and Venice on July 7th and 8th, which includes admission to the Arena di Verona for an unforgettable opera performance, a night in a beautiful four-star hotel, and special guided tours of both Verona and Venice, including the spectacular La Fenice Theatre.

Click here to read what students have to say about their experience at "Si parla, si canta."