Karine Deshayes, Philippe Jaroussky, Christian Immler , Natalie Dessay (who even found her husband there), Edwin Crossley-Mercer or the last two “lyric revelations” of the French “Victoires de la Musique”, Eva Zaïcik and Eléonore Pancrazi... There are countless great voices formed under the vaults of Royaumont Abbey, a real incubator for artists called to travel the world from stage to stage.

Built by Saint Louis in the thirteenth century, this elegant cistercian monastery located 30 kilometers north of Paris is an International Center for musical and dancing artists. Throughout the year, it hosts in its 53 rooms and 13 rehearsal rooms young dancers invited by its “Choreographic Creation” department, great performers and inventive composers invited by its “Musical Creation” department and singers selected by its “Voice and repertoire” department.

The “Voices and repertoire” department has just published its very attractive 2020 training program. Medieval music, melody and lied, choir conducting and opera will be taught during 14 residency sessions at the abbey, away from the world. The instructors are prestigious : the baritone Thomas Hampson will give a 3-day master class to 6 singers and 2 pianists in collaboration with the Médiathèque Musicale Mahler ; the Conductor of the Correspondances, Sébastien Daucé, will unveil the secrets of the 17th century polyphonic repertoire; the soprano Véronique Gens and the organist Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas will assist 6 singers and 6 instrumentalists to play the scores of Rameau.

The partners are up to the task too : Pro Quartet participates to a training about Saint-Saëns; the conservatories of Paris, Boulogne Billancourt, Rueil-Malmaison, Cergy-Pontoise and Aubervilliers-La Courneuve co-organize an introduction to the medieval vocal practice led by the baritone Marc Mauillon; other operations are also made with the Paris Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales or the Orsay Museum.

The Orsay-Royaumont Academy, which has been passing down the melody and lied art for over a year is a good example of how young singers can be accompanied to the stage.  The first eight laureates will publish a collective album recorded at the abbey and will give a concert on October 5th which will launch the departure of a tour with more than 20 dates, in Barcelona, ​​London, Oxford and Montreal.

Young singers, if you want to follow in their footsteps, you have until October 4 to register for the “Voix et répertoire” department trainings.

Learn more : https://www.royaumont.com/en/voices-and-stage-unit-program

Photo : C : Aurélien Garcia