Atelier lyrique

The Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal has a mandate to offer professional internships that provide both training and on-stage experience for young Canadian artists who have completed their studies and intend to pursue a career in the field of opera. Yvonne Goudreau founded the Atelier lyrique in 1984, and its director since 1990 has been Chantal Lambert.

Integration into the daily operations of an opera company allows the young artists to acquire invaluable experience, giving them a glimpse of the profession and a network of valuable resources to help them embark on their careers with confidence. The artists of the Atelier lyrique have the opportunity to take part in Opéra de Montréal productions, in one or more roles suitable to their abilities. Whether as soloists or covers, they learn to perform on stage while mastering major operatic works. Each season, their repertoire is enriched by several complete roles, along with many excerpts. Auditions are organized with directors of opera companies and other resource people, helping the young artists gain some recognition and providing them with advice on their opera careers.

The Atelier lyrique cultivates fruitful partnerships. For the ninth year in a row, this March, the Atelier is staging its very own production in collaboration with the National Theatre School of Canada and the Monument-National. The young artists are also called on to participate in the majority of Opéra de Montréál outreach initiatives intended to make opera more accessible to a greater number of people and to significantly further its reach throughout the Montreal community and to young audiences. The Atelier lyrique appears in concert throughout the Maisons de la culture network and with other presenters in the Greater Montreal Region.

Training

The Atelier lyrique aims to equip these young artists for every aspect of their career. To that end, it offers a host of activities to develop skills in a variety of areas: vocal technique, musical performance, acting, diction, body language, physical and mental approach to performance, and career management. The internships—lasting one to three seasons—are developed by the Atelier lyrique team and are led by high calibre trainers (vocal coaches, vocal advisors, stage directors, conductors, singers, lecturers, and other specialists). Individual and group coaching, master classes, workshops, seminars, and various courses keep the young artists busy at a rate of about thirty hours per week. Over the course of their development, they are supervised, evaluated, and supported in the pursuit of their specific goals. They benefit from musical, theatrical, and linguistic resources offered in close collaboration with the Opéra de Montréal.

RECRUITMENT

Canadian or Landed Immigrant candidates* who have completed their studies, and are pursuing a career in opera are selected through auditions held in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The final selection takes place in Montreal. The standards are high, as the artists will be called on to take part in Opéra de Montréal productions as of the first year of their internship. When selecting candidates of comparable quality, the administration favours candidates who are age 28 or under. In-depth training in vocal technique and solfeggio is essential for singers. The young artists are remunerated over the course of their internship and benefit from the training free of charge. Occasional financial aid is available to help them in their efforts to begin their careers. Information on national auditions  and a registration form can be downloaded from the website.

* Candidates must be Canadians Citizens or have Landed Immigrant status at the time of application.

The Atelier lyrique benefits from the financial support of Canadian Heritage (Canada Arts Training Fund), the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation. Its presentation partner is Hydro-Québec, and its financial partner, National Bank.

INFO

514.985.2222, extension 2271