Vocal Accompaniment for Opera

Prerequisite for admission to the Master’s degree course is a successfully completed Bachelor’s degree in the same field of study or an equivalent qualification as well as successfully passing the entrance examination and there being a place available on the course.

The Director of Studies can link admission to the Master’s degree course to the condition that specific courses beyond the syllabus of the Master’s degree must be completed or that written essays must be submitted. The student can be set a deadline to fulfil these conditions. If no deadline is set, these conditions must be fulfilled before the end of the course.
This course is offered in three central artistic subjects: instrumental accompaniment, vocal accompaniment for song and oratorio and vocal accompaniment for opera. The course trains pianists who go on to provide the accompaniment for instrumental concerts, become the professional partner of lied singers or are used in operas.

The entrance examination is done by sending in two application videos. Important information for a correct recording of your application videos can be found here.

The application videos include:

• Introduction video + artistic presentation “solo performance”
• Artistic presentation “accompaniment”

Introduction video

The introduction video takes max. 2 minutes, the language is either German or English. In this introduction video, please include your personal information (name, etc.), important stages of your education to date, important artistic achievements, your motivation for studying, why you would like to study at MUK and, if applicable, your teacher wishes.

Directly after the performance, you will start your 1^st video for the 1^st round of the artistic presentation (without editing).

Artistic presentation

The presentation of your artistic programme takes place directly after the introduction video (without editing!). You choose the program in your own order. The specified examination programme of the 1^st round (without breaks/cuts) must be recorded in full length.

1^st round examination programme “solo performance”

• Virtuoso étude by F. Chopin or F. Liszt, C. Debussy, A. Scriabin, S. Rachmaninoff
• Slow movement from a sonata by L. v. Beethoven
• Significant composition, at the level of difficulty of a Chopin ballad or a piece from the time of C. Debussy through to the modern day, printed compositions, at the level of difficulty of Jeux d’eau by M. Ravel
• One representative aria by W.A.Mozart and one by G.Puccini (including singer)

If the 1^st round of your entrance exam has been graded "passed", the commission will review your second video (uploaded in the course of the application) with the exam programme of the 2^nd round.

2^nd round examination programme “accompaniment”:

• 1—2 representative arias from different stylistic eras, e.g. by W. A. Mozart, by G. Puccini or of the candidate’s own choice. (including singers)

The choice of technical equipment is up to you, since it is in your own interest that sound and image quality are as representative as possible.

You will be informed personally via e-mail about the result of your video application.

On-site audit (for selected applicants):

After viewing the video applications, selected applicants will be invited to an additional on-site audit at MUK.

Contents of the on-site audit:

• One or two mandatory arias and one aria, which will be announced one week before the exam (singer will be provided by MUK)
• Prima vista playing: Pieces from the opera literature, chosen by the committee
• Prima vista singing of a simple aria with simultaneous accompaniment of the same
• Interview about study motivation