The 2024 Voice Residency is open to singers, pianists and harpsichordist vocal coaches and a woman conductor, as part of their career development.

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 — (photo above) 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.

MENTORS

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