Manhattan School of Music

Opera Theater, part of MSM's Voice program, is one of the foremost opera training programs in the world.

About MSM Opera Theater

Voice students at MSM who are accepted into Opera Theater, will refine their opera technique and develop their artistry under the guidance of a faculty of eminent artist-teachers — while gaining exposure before New York City audiences.

Headed by Dona D. Vaughn, Artistic Director, the program is internationally known for its excellence, attracting some of the most talented young singers around the world. Praised by the New York Times for its significant contribution to operatic life in New York, Manhattan School of Music has a long and proud tradition of producing some of the finest artists singing throughout the world today.

Specific courses and degree sequence plans can be found in the Course Catalog.

Productions

Each year two fully staged productions are presented, which span the classical and contemporary repertoire.

Dona D. Vaughn directs one main stage production each season, as well as the Senior Opera Theater, which is required of all senior voice majors. Students have an opportunity to work with leading professional directors and conductors in the other production of the season, as well as in the Opera Scenes program that is presented each fall.

Opera Theater Administration

Dona D. Vaughn, Artistic Director, Opera Theater

William Tracy, Head of Opera Musical Studies

Jorge Parodi, Music Director of Senior Opera Theater

Daniel Benevant, Managing Director of Theatrical Productions

Anne Shikany, Assistant to Artistic Director

Opera Theater Faculty

Ensembles

Undergraduate Vocal Ensembles 17-18

Graduate Vocal Ensembles 17-18

MSM Opera Theater 17-18
Performance History

2016–17
La clemenza di Tito, W. A. Mozart
Der Zigeunerbaron, Johann Strauss

2015–16
The Dangerous Liaisons, Conrad Susa
Persée et Andromède, Jacques Ibert and L’enfant et les sortilèges, Maurice Ravel

2014–15
Macbeth, Ernest Bloch
Die Zauberflöte, W.A. Mozart

2013–14
The Mother of Us All, Virgil Thomson
Orlando Paladino, Franz Joseph Haydn

2012–13
Thais, Jules Massenet
Aufsteig Und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, Kurt Weill

2011–12
Cosi fan tutte, W. A. Mozart
The Ghost of Versailles, John Corigliano

2010–11
Summer and Smoke, Lee Hoiby
El amor brujo and La vida breve, Manuel De Falla

2009–10
Pénélope, Gabriel Fauré
Le nozze di Figaro, W. A. Mozart

2008–09
Later the Same Evening, John Musto
Die Fledermaus, Johann Strauss

2007–08
Street Scene, Kurt Weill
Griffelkin, Lukas Foss

2006–07
L’Italiana in Londra, Domenico Cimarosa
Lord Byron’s Love Letter, Raffaelo de Banfield, and The Village Singer, Stephen Paulus

2005–06
Cendrillon, Jules Massenet
A Dinner Engagement, Lennox Berkeley and Riders to the Sea, Ralph Vaughan Williams

2004–05
Zemire und Azor (Beauty and the Beast), Louis Spohr
A Month in the Country, Lee Hoiby

2003–04
Mirandolina, Bohuslav Martinu
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benjamin Britten

2002–03
Béatrice et Bénédict, Hector Berlioz
The Seagull, Thomas Pasatieri

2001–02
Der Wildschütz, Albert Lortzing
Amelia Goes to the Ball, Gian Carlo Menotti, and Roman Fever, Robert Ward

2000–01
The Rape of Lucretia, Benjamin Britten
The House of Seven Gables, Scott Eyerly
Outreach Opportunities

Students accepted into the Opera Theater also have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive outreach training program, including Discover Opera! and an abridged classic opera, Amato’s Opera-in-Brief.

Other important elements of the opera program are the Opera Workshop and Opera Lab, which provide appropriate venues for singers to develop stagecraft and dramatic interpretation as well as gain additional performance experience.
Notable Alumni

Kate Aldrich (Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Teatro Colón)
Liam Bonner (Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, English National Opera)
J’nai Bridges (Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera)
Andrea Carroll (Houston Grand Opera, Wiener Staatsoper)
Anthony Roth Costanzo (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, English National Opera)
Lauren Flanigan (Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, La Scala)
Susan Graham (Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Paris Opera)
Soloman Howard (Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Los Angeles Opera)
Lauren Jelencovich (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis)
Sol Jin (Metropolitan Opera)
Brandon Jovanovich (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Deutsche Oper Berlin)
Kathleen Kim (Metropolitan Opera)
Catherine Malfitano (Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paris Opera; Voice Faculty, MSM)
Johanna Meier (Metropolitan Opera, Bayreuth)
Laquita Mitchell (Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Opéra Comique)
Simon O’Neill (Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala), Kyle Pfortmiller (Metropolitan Opera)
Amy Shoremount-Obra (Metropolitan Opera)
Krysty Swann (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago)
Dawn Upshaw (Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne, Salzburg Festival)
Yunpeng Wang (Metropolitan Opera)
Matthew Worth (Dallas Opera, Atlanta Opera)
Dolora Zajick (Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Lyric Opera of Chicago)
MSM Opera Theater Recordings

View the MSM Opera Theater discography, professionally produced and released on Albany Records, here.

“I’ve had incredible opportunities here, including the chance to perform roles I could only dream of and working with teachers that have made me a better actress, singer, and performer.”

Abigail Shapiro

Soprano (PS '18)