MASTERCLASS FOR CLASSICAL VOCAL ARTISTS

MASTERCLASS FOR CLASSICAL VOCAL ARTISTS

16-23 August 2026 – Château de Thard (Burgundy, France)

Fees and Registration

Come and enjoy a unique musical experience in the heart of the Morvan Regional Natural Park!

This course is intended for singers wishing to refine their musical and stage interpretation skills.

Participants will stay at Château de Thard, located within an 11-hectare private estate in the heart of the Morvan Regional Natural Park.

The course is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.

Guest Professor: Ursula Ruttimann

Ursula Ruttimann studied at the Geneva Conservatory of Music, where she obtained both her Professional Diploma and her Concert Diploma as a pianist.

Early in her career, she focused on chamber music and, above all, on working with singers. She was subsequently appointed Professor of Vocal Coaching and Professor of Operatic Interpretation at the Geneva Conservatory.

At the same time, she was engaged by conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch as an orchestral pianist and became a permanent member of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, a position she held for 31 years. During this period, she performed in numerous concerts in Switzerland and on tours throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States under the baton of renowned conductors such as Wolfgang Sawallisch, Horst Stein, Armin Jordan, Charles Dutoit, Pinchas Steinberg, and many others.

Ursula Ruttimann has successfully prepared many singers for examinations, competitions, and auditions. She has also given masterclasses in Japan, Russia, Egypt, Kuwait, Denmark, Ireland, Romania, Tunisia, and China. In 2006, she taught as a guest professor at the National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo. Since 2002, she has collaborated regularly with the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. Since 2022, she has been invited annually to serve on the jury of the Festival des Solistes in Tunis.

Course Programme

Upon registration, participants will be asked to submit at least four works they wish to study during the course (art songs, lieder, opera arias, and oratorio repertoire).

Singers will have the opportunity to perform in a concert in the château courtyard on 23 August.

Accommodation

Participants will stay at Château de Thard on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner included). A fully equipped kitchen will be available for preparing lunches. A village with shops and restaurants is located only 7 km from the estate.

During their free time, participants may enjoy the château grounds, the surrounding countryside, the swimming pool, and leisure facilities such as table tennis, billiards, and the library.

The château’s exceptional setting, offering peace and tranquillity, provides an ideal environment for artistic work and creativity.

Fees and Registration

  • €590 in a shared double room with half board
  • €750 in a single room with half board
  • Registration Form