Since our conference in Barcelona, the Opera Europa Next Generation platform supported by the European Commission has been rolling out several activities to support and promote emerging artists.
A singer’s vocal and artistic development is – quite rightly! – at the heart of their training. At the same time, we recognise that a range of other skills, knowledge and contacts can play a major role in launching a successful professional career. Bridging the gap between training and the profession is not easy.
In October 2025, Opera Europa delivered the first edition of the Career Management Course, in partnership with Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, working closely with its Opera Academy under the leadership of Beata Klatka. The participants were a cohort of 21 singers at an early stage of their professional journeys, recommended by 13 companies in 7 countries.
To devise the course, we conducted a wide-reaching international survey of emerging artists to understand their own perceptions of their training needs, beyond vocal and artistic topics. We also consulted an international committee of experts in developing and supporting young artists. Drawing on those insights, we developed a 2.5-day programme for talented singers connected to Opera Europa member companies.
Sessions were led by Josef Fuchs, Beata Klatka, Ewa Krasucka, Boris Orlob, Karen Stone, Sebastian Schwarz and Daniela Spering. Topics included: digital presence and creating video content; identity; overcoming fear of rejection; understanding different opera systems; contracts and finances; developing a professional network. The group also took part in feedback auditions, created video content for World Opera Day and heard directly from Teatr Wielki’s new General Director, Boris Kudlička, and renowned Polish-Ukranian soprano, Olga Pasichnyk. Alongside the official training programme, there were ample opportunities for informal peer-to-peer discussion, a tour of Teatr Wielki’s iconic theatre, a production of Nabucco and – of course – some excellent pierogi.
Our wonderful cohort of participants and the companies they represented were:
Vladimír John (tenor/stage director), National Theatre Brno
Ekaterina Krovateva (soprano), Národní divadlo/National Theatre Prague
Karis Trass (mezzo-soprano), Estonian National Opera
Botond Pál (tenor) and Gergely Halász (baritone), Hungarian State Opera
Daniils Pogoriless (baritone), Latvian National Opera and Ballet
Austėja Zinkevičiūtė (soprano), Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Karolina Zielińska (soprano), Opera Bałtycka Gdansk
Maksymilian Skiba (baritone) and Maria Olender (soprano), Teatr Wielki – Opera Poznań
Adam Dobek (baritone), Emilia Rabczak (soprano), Iryna Melnyk (soprano), Izabella Fabrycka (soprano), Marta Wiktorzak (mezzo-soprano), Mateusz Kulczyński (baritone) and Mariana Poltorak (soprano) – Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera
Angelina Nasonova (soprano) – Dnipro Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Kateryna Vovk (soprano) – Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theatre
Roman Arabadzhi (baritone) – Open Opera Ukraine
Daniil Ryndin (bass) – Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre
The Career Management Course will take place each year, in a different location, through to 2028… Watch out for news of the 2026 edition!
Hannah Griffiths
Associate Director, Development & Collaborations
