About the Opera Studio

The International Opera Studio at the Hamburg State Opera offers young singers the opportunity to supplement and complete their training in a real theatre environment. During their two-year membership, studio members are introduced to professional practice and receive support with their individual career planning. A key component of the programme is participation in the opera productions of the Hamburg State Opera.

Partner des Internationalen Opernstudios sind die

The Training

Scholarship & honorarium +

The members of the Opera Studio receive a monthly grant plus an all-inclusive fee for participating in Hamburg State Opera performances.

Training Objectives +
  • The two main objectives of the two-year Opera Studio membership, both equally important, are:
  • To involve the Studio members in the practical aspects of the work by providing enough knowledge to enable them to understand the requirements of day-to-day opera operations, to assimilate this knowledge. and to put it into practice on a daily basis.
  • To provide the Opera Studio members with further training, deepening the knowledge gained during their vocal studies, and providing advice/instruction regarding future career opportunities and planning.
Reviewing Progress & Success +

Membership of the Opera Studio should not be regarded as an extension of college/university training. For this reason it is not possible to conduct any sort of progress or success review in the form of an examination or similar. Instead, Studio members are provided with continuous, personal specialist advice as well as group and individual supervision.

The Opera Studio is integrated into the day-to-day opera operations in general and in particular by taking roles in productions of the Hamburg State Opera. A specific study/rehearsal plan for each individual is worked out and regularly checked and adjusted to the progress the individual is making.

Training Contents +
  • Role studies for small and medium roles in Hamburg State Opera productions
  • Roles in Hamburg State Opera productions (in principle no more than a total of 60 evenings spread over two seasons)
  • "Cover"- roles in Hamburg State Opera productions (preparation through role studies and participation in rehersals)
  • Major role studies (aside from repertoire, based on vocal skills)
  • Master classes (up to five a year)
  • One-on-one dramatic instruction according to suitability and need
  • Instruction in dialogue, phonetics, rhythmical movement and improvisation

Members

Admission requirements
& application

Under the artistic direction of Tobias Kratzer, we are looking for a soprano and a tenor for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 seasons.

You can submit your application via our online application portal from mid-June 2026. Applications sent by email cannot be processed. The age limit is 30 years; the cut-off date is the start of the opera studio on 1 September 2026. On the application portal, you can upload videos (AVI or MP4) in addition to your CV (PDF). Alternatively, you can attach the videos to your CV, for example as YouTube links. We recommend submitting 2 to 3 videos.

Information & contact

Staatsoper Hamburg
International Opera Studio
Artistic direction: Veronique Walter
Musical Direction: Georgiy Dubko
Communication: Marije Roos
Große Theaterstraße 25
20354 Hamburg
opernstudio [​at​] staatsoper-hamburg.de

To the online application portal