CHITTENDEN,Vt. – For opera singers eyeing a career in Germany, a seven-week intensive language program at Middlebury College is aiming to perfect their pronunciation, down to the tricky umlaut.
Singing in German requires mastering the elusive umlaut, a challenge tackled by aspiring opera stars at Vermont’s famed Middlebury Language School.
Key Takeaways:
- middlebury College offers a specialized program to teach opera singers the German language.
- The program emphasizes total immersion,requiring students to speak only German for seven weeks.
- Students learn crucial linguistic nuances, like umlauts, essential for authentic operatic performance in German.
- The course also provides practical advice on auditioning for German opera houses and agents.
Germany, boasting 80 opera houses, is a prime destination for opera singers seeking international careers. Though, mastering the German language, especially its distinct sounds like the umlaut, can be a significant hurdle. This is where a unique program at Middlebury College steps in.
The Nuances of German Diction
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Stefan Rutter, the music director for Middlebury’s German for Singers course, works closely with his students.During a recent rehearsal, he meticulously guided eight singers as they performed a Mozart opera. His feedback whent beyond general praise, delving into word-by-word precision.
“The difference between the ‘oh’ and the ‘ooh’ is crucial,” Rutter explained, highlighting how these sounds, which might seem similar to non-native speakers, are distinctly different to Germans.
Total Immersion in Vermont
The core of the Middlebury method is total language immersion. Participants pledge to speak exclusively in German for the entire seven-week duration of the course.This intense environment pushes students to adapt quickly.
Ashley Schlusselberg, a 21-year-old soprano from Long Island, described the initial experience as “panic.” Orlando Montalvo, a 28-year-old tenor from Providence, Rhode Island, added, “We have class for, like, two hours a day, and then we have to eat lunch together in German. We are doing everything that we can in German.” He noted a significant advancement, stating, “I actually can speak and defend myself in German now.”
Did you know? Germany has approximately 80 opera houses, making it a key market for opera singers.
Hannah Friesen, a 30-year-old professional singer from New York, finds German especially challenging due to its consonant clusters, likening them to being “crunchy” compared to the more vowel-rich Italian language.
An Investment in a Career
The program comes with a $12,000 price tag, which Friesen views as a career investment. Bettina Matthias, the program director, acknowledged the cost but pointed out that German grants and student aid frequently enough reduce the financial burden for many. Beyond language, Matthias includes lessons on german history and culture, alongside practical advice.
“We talk about what you need to know to audition for an agent? What do you need to know to audition for opera houses?” Matthias stated.
Mitchell Widmer,a 32-year-old baritone from rural Iowa,echoed the sentiment of career advancement. “After this program, when I walk into an audition room with other Americans or people from different countries than Germany, my German is going to be so well tuned that I will have an advantage,” he saeid.
Widmer and his classmates are set to test their newly honed German skills in Germany this week, performing Mozart’s “Die Verstellte Gartnerin,” or “The Pretend Garden-Girl”-a title featuring that very same challenging umlaut.
