The role of operatic repertoire in young singers’ professional development

Abstract

This article documents and analyses the current curriculum of operatic repertoire in higher education in order to establish its role and usefulness in young singers’ training, their first auditions, competitions or recitals. The aim is to identify the way in which the repertoire selected for students in higher education institutions can influence their first professional auditions. Repertoire selection constitutes an important aspect in students’ musical education, as it encourages the development of their artistic personality as well as of their vocal identity. To conclude, repertoire has various roles in young singers’ development and they need to make informed choices when selecting their audition repertoire. This needs to be realistic – ready to be performed on stage straight away, and it needs to pertinently illustrate the vocal and artistic qualities of the young singer.