2024 VOICE RESIDENCY

Throughout its 25-year history, the Académie du Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has grown, through a combination of tradition and innovation, in numerous artistic fields within the realm of opera. Of these fields, opera singing has emerged as one of the Académie’s specialities. Each year, the Académie creates an inspiring setting in which early-career artists and renowned vocal masters can come together. It promotes artists from various countries, and offers a residency that encourages participants to contemplate their craft in today's world.

The 2024 Voice Residency follows in the footsteps of previous residencies, but explores even further the reflection on the profession of opera singers, pianists singing coaches, harpsichordists singing coaches, and conductors. Straddling the period between the end of rehearsals for the 2024 Festival productions and the opening week of the 76th edition of the Festival d’Aix, the 2024 Voice Residency provides participants a stimulating setting, public visibility, and a unique opportunity to expand their artistic and professional networks.

Darrell Babidge, vocal teacher and chair of the voice faculty at The Juilliard School in New York, is taking up the reins of this residency, during which he will share his expertise and advice with the artists. In addition, the Académie has invited singer and conductor Barbara Hannigan — with her passion for a wide vocal repertoire and her uninhibited vision of the opera artist’s profession — to lead the first two weeks of the programme. The residency will conclude with a concert programmed as part of the Festival, combining musicians from Le Concert d'Astrée, their musical director Emmanuelle Haïm, and the artists of the residency.

Participants in the 2024 Voice Residency will also be involved in a series of private and public activities, including master classes, two concerts as part of Aix en juin, musical group events organised with the Passerelles department of the Festival, and a closing concert with an orchestra. Each concert will focus on a specific repertoire: i.e. great opera arias, arias and art songs written since 1970, a world premiere (commissioned by the Académie), and French Baroque music.

Adami, a long-standing partner of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, once again proves its commitment to performing artists with its support for the residency for women conductors. Through this programme, which the Académie created in 2021, Adami participates in the training, promotion and career development of a new generation of women conductors.

MENTORS ARTISTS

Barbara Hannigan — Soprano and conductor
Darrell Babidge — Professor and chair of voice at the Juilliard School of Music in New York
Emmanuelle Haïm — Harpsichordist, conductor, and musical director of Le Concert d’Astrée
Alphonse Cemin — Pianist vocal coach and conductor
Benoît Hartoin — Harpsichordist, vocal coach

GUEST ARTIST

Golfam Khayam – Composer

RESIDENT ARTISTS

Camille Delaforge — Conductor
Susanne Burgess — Soprano
Lilit Davtyan — Soprano
Madison Nonoa — Soprano
Marine Chagnon — Mezzo soprano
Joanne Evans — Mezzo soprano
Elmina Hasan — Mezzo soprano
Jonghyun Park — Tenor
Ryan Capozzo — Tenor
Timothée Varon — Baryton
Maurel Endong — Baryton-bass
Gracie Francis — Piano
Honoka Kobayashi — Piano
Nicolò Pellizzari — Clavichord

DESCRIPTION

• Master class in vocal development by Darrell Babidge
• Work on 3 concert programmes, including one with orchestra
For the last concert of the residency, the singers will be accompanied by Le Concert d’Astrée under the direction d’Emmanuelle Haïm.

Some work sessions (held mostly in English) may be open to the public.
The residency will include public concerts and events in June and July, in Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding area. Educational group activities will be organised in conjunction with the Passerelles department of the Festival d’Aix.

With the support of Engie Foundation