Opera at YSM

Yale Opera provides intensive, personalized training designed to develop well-rounded artistry in a select group of 16 graduate-level singers. Students receive private voice lessons and coaching in operatic and song literature, and further their study in diction, interpretation, and style through weekly seminars, rehearsals, and classes.

In addition to studying with our distinguished faculty, students also benefit from residencies with renowned visiting artists. Recent guests have included Renée Fleming, Enrique Mazzola, Erin Morley, Lawrence Brownlee, and Carrie-Ann Matheson. Throughout the year, Yale Opera hosts industry professionals to audition singers and provide feedback, including representatives from the Metropolitan Opera, Zurich Opera, Dutch National Opera, Vienna Volksoper and IMG Artists.

Many current students and alumni have been prize winners in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont, Gerda Lissner, Neue Stimmen, Loren L. Zachary, and Giulio Gari competitions and have gone on to sing principal roles with leading opera houses around the world. Since 2020, graduates have joined the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera Adler program, Washington National Opera, ROH Covent Garden, Dutch National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Vienna Volksoper.

Each year, Yale Opera presents a mainstage opera performed with full orchestra at the Shubert Theatre, where recent productions include Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas. La bohème is scheduled for February 2026. Fully staged opera scenes in the fall and a spring opera performed with chamber ensemble and piano round out the season in Morse Recital Hall. All repertoire is selected to highlight the strengths and develop the skills of each year’s singers.