Croatia - Opera beyond the postcard

In this episode of Opera Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz turns to Croatia as a revealing case study for the operatic realities of smaller European countries. Blessed with one of the most striking Mediterranean coastlines and internationally known cities such as Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia attracts nearly five times as many visitors each year as it has inhabitants. Yet this global visibility is highly seasonal and geographically concentrated — while the country's operatic infrastructure functions largely inland, year-round, and far from the tourist gaze. The episode argues that Croatia exemplifies a broader structural paradox: strong national institutions, permanent ensembles, and a rich operatic tradition operating under conditions of limited scale, modest international visibility, and constant pressure to justify public funding. Tracing the development of opera from Austro-Hungarian and Italian influences through the Yugoslav period and into the present, the discussion shows how history, politics, and geography continue to shape artistic life today. Alongside historical context, the episode features voices from within the Croatian operatic ecosystem — Iva Hraste-Sočo, general and artistic director of the Croatian National Theatre, Diana Haller and Marko Mimica, two Croatian born and raised and internationally sought-after singers— reflecting on training, career paths, international mobility, and the delicate balance between national repertoire and the international canon. Croatia emerges not as a peripheral operatic culture, but as a concentrated laboratory for many of the questions currently facing opera across Europe.   Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.   All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/operav... Music extracts for Episode 6: Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 Two excerpts from Judita (Frano Parać): ensemble, chorus and orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, 2025 Excerpt from Ero s onoga svijeta – Ero the Joker (Jakov Gotovac): ensemble, chorus and orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, 2025 D'Oreste, d'Ajace from Idomeneo (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart): Diana Haller,  Staatsoper Stuttgart, 2025 Nella pace del mesto riposo from Maria Stuarda (Gaetano Donizetti): Diana Haller, Croatian National Theatre Varaždin, 2026 Bonus: Final chorus from Nikola Šubić Zrinjski (Ivan pl. Zajc): ensemble, chorus and orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, 2025  OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

In this episode of Opera Road Trip, host Sebastian Schwarz turns the spotlight from national operatic traditions to a crucial gateway for emerging artists: singing competitions. Against the backdrop of increasingly opaque casting processes, the episode explores why competitions continue to play a decisive — and controversial — role in operatic careers today. Schwarz is joined by key figures from some of Europe's most influential competitions, including Beata Klatka (Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition, Warsaw), Lars Flaaten (Queen Sonja Singing Competition, Oslo), and Andrew Watts (International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch). They discuss what distinguishes serious, transparent competitions from flawed or purely instrumental ones, and how juries actually think. The episode also features first-hand perspectives from internationally active singers Kristina Mkhitaryan and Shira Patchornik, reflecting on how competitions shaped their careers — for better and for worse. Through live excerpts, career data, and candid discussion, this episode offers young singers realistic insight, practical guidance, and a nuanced view of competitions as one — but not the only — path into the operatic profession.   Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.   All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/operav...   Music extracts for Episode 5:   Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72   Cisza dokoła from Straszny Dwor – The haunted manor (Stanisław Moniouszko): Samuel Stopford, Stanisław Moniouszko International Vocal Competition, 2025   Das war sehr gut, Mandryka from Arabella (Richard Strauss): Kathleen O'Mara, Queen Sonja Singing Competition, 2025   Non so le tetre immagini from Il Corsaro (Giuseppe Verdi): Kristina Mkhitaryan,  Valencia       Mon cœur s'ouvre a ta voix from Samson et Dalila (Camille Saint Saens): Claudia Ribas, International Voice Competition s'Hertogenbosch, 2024   Se pietà per me non senti from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Georg Friedrich Händel): Shira Patchornik, International Singing competition for Baroque Opera Pietro Antonio Cesti, 2021       OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.     ABOUT OPERA ROAD TRIP Opera Road Trip is OperaVision's new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.

Opera Road Trip is Operavision's new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future. Opera Road Trip's fourth episode is dedicated to opera in Vienna. We hear from Kristine Tornquist and Jury Everhartz, founders and directors of Sirene Operntheater about the work of the independent opera companies and their newest opera Abendsonne, set in a retirement home. We speak with Stefan Herheim, Intendant of Theater an der Wien about his thoughts on running an opera house. 200 years ago, Vienna's most prominent music critic Eduard Hanslick was born – known for his scathing reviews especially of Richard Wagner's work. Time to have a look at the role of the critic – back then and today - with Vienna's leading music journalist and critic Walter Weidringer. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera. All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/operav...   Music extracts for Episode 4:   Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 Champagner hat's verschuldet from Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss jun.): Zoryana Kushpler, Ensemble der Wiener Staatsoper Toast au champagne from Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss jun.): Héloïse Mas, Marie-Eve Munger and Guillaume Andrieux from Opéra de Lille Tarot Scene from Abendsonne (Tomasz Skweres): Juliette Mars from Sirene Operntheater, Vienna Ouverture, from Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss jun.): Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Franz Welser-Möst   OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.  

Opera Road Trip is Operavision's new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future.   Opera Road Trip's third episode is dedicated to opera in Ireland. We hear from Rosetta Cucchi, Artistic Director of Wexford Festival Opera about rediscovering forgotten repertoire; from Fergus Sheil and Diego Fasciati, respectively Artistic Director and CEO of the relatively young Irish National Opera about the birth of their national institution, and from the three mesmerizing Irish mezzosopranos Ann Murray, Tara Erraught and Niamh O'Sullivan about their paths to opera in a country without a developed operatic infrastructure.   Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.   All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/operav...   Music extracts for Episode 3:   Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 He was despised from Messiah (Georg Friedrich Händel): Niamh O'Sullivan Freude schöner Götterfunken from The importance of being Earnest (Gerald Barry) - Nouvel Opéra Fribourg Tranquille nuit, le monde sommeille (Tacea la notte placida) from Le Trouvère (Giuseppe Verdi): Lydia Grindatto, Wexford Festival Opera 2025 Ah! dal ciel discenda un raggio, from Maria Stuarda (Gaetano Donizetti): Tara Erraught, Fergus Sheil (cond.) Irish National Opera 2022 He promised me at parting, from 12 Irish songs, WoO 154 (Ludwig van Beethoven): Ann Murray, Graham Johnson Bonus: Irish National Anthem, Wexford Festival Opera 2025   OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

Opera Road Trip's second episode is dedicated to opera in Ukraine. We hear from Anna Gadetzka, program direction of Open Opera Ukraine about creating alternatives to the state-run opera factories; from Vasyl Vovkun, director of the Lviv National Opera, Bogdan Strutynsky, director of the National Operetta of Ukraine and Galyna Grygorenko, first deputy minister of culture of Ukraine, about the country's operatic heritage and repertoire and about the current challenges of running opera companies. To learn more about opera in Ukraine, visit OperaVision.eu features work from its five Ukrainian partner opera companies, notably streams of the following operas: Tiger Hunter - A musical from Ukraine and an ode to freedom in the face of oppression. Golden Crown - A story of heartbreak and dispossessed lands from 13th century Ukraine Opera Road Trip is Operavision's new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.    Music extracts for Episode 2: Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 Alcide (Dmytro Bortniansky): Oksana Lyniv, orchestra of the Lviv National Opera Rozhenka (Ukrainian folk song, arranged by Susanna Karpenko): Ivan Franko Theatre, Kyiv Zoloty Obruch (Borys Lyatoshynsky): Justyna Khil, Adrian Domarecki, Adrian Janus, Klara Janus from the Polish National Opera Zaporozhets za Dunayem (Semen Hulak-Artemovsky): Valentyn Dytiuk, National Opera of Ukraine Zozulka (Ukrainian folk song, arranged by Susanna Karpenko): Ivan Franko Theatre, Kyiv   We thank Laura Claycomb, Evan Porter and Sean Miller for lending their English and Matthieu Fons for his artwork for this series. OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

Opera Road Trip is Operavision's new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future.   Opera Road Trip's first episode is, dutifully, dedicated to opera in Italy. We hear from Danila Grassi, a young conductor making her way in what in Italy is still a male-dominated world; from author, critic and librettist Alberto Mattioli and from the CEO of the Rome Opera house (Teatro dell'Opera di Roma) Francesco Giambrone about the current state of opera in the country of its birth, political influence and what seems to be working in the search for new audiences.   Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera. On OperaVision you can hear him speak about Korngold's Violanta: https://operavision.eu/de/partner/teatro-regio-torino or read his article about Metastasio: https://operavision.eu/feature/metastasio-28-opera-librettos-and-still-counting   All episodes: https://operavision.eu/podcast   Music extracts:  Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 L'Orfeo (Monteverdi): La Musica, Claire Lees; Orfeo, Ed Lyon, Garsington Opera Le Convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Donizetti):  Paolo Bordogna, Wexford Festival Opera Tosca (Puccini): Te Deum, Roberto Frontali, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma   OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme.   Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

In the final episode of this Next Generation series, we ask two experts working at Oper Frankfurt to share their understanding of the challenges facing young artists entering a programme. From the shock of that first time on the main stage, to finding a common language when it comes to technique, and finally allowing the personality to really shine through, Felice Venanzoni and Hedwig Fassbender offer candid advice on all aspects of nurturing operatic talent with sensitivity and respect. Watch now on OperaVision Opera for Peace documentary with Leonardo Sanchez Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Il Viaggio a Reims from Young Artists at the Rossini Opera Festival Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music Extracts Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture Aquela Moça (Luís de Freitas Branco) mezzo soprano Claudia Ribas accompanied by Felice Venanzoni La Traviata Addio bel passato with soprano Karolina Bengtsson accompanied by Yuna Saito Rape of Lucretia (Britten) Give him this orchid with mezzo soporano Claudia Ribas accompanied by Yuna Saito

This month, we're joined by young artists Chiara Boccabella and Francesco Leone in the run up to the Accademia Rossiniana Alberto Zedda this summer.  They share thoughts on preparing for auditions (the key lies in character!), and how exactly to bring lightness and joy to singing Rossini so that it feels (almost) effortless. Watch now on OperaVision Opera for Peace documentary with Leonardo Sanchez Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music Extracts all from Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims at the Accademia Rossiniana 2023 Introduction & closing: Il Viaggio a Reims (opening) Con sì dotta il nobil gente, di fanal che serve al mondo with mezzo-soprano Seray Pinar (Cast B) Sì, di matti una gran gabbia with baritone Andrés Cascante (Cast A)

This month, we are back with our emerging artists from Palau de les Arts in Valencia, where we discover how steady and slow is the key to vocal progression, how going beyond your comfort zone is necessary when hustling for work, and which key elements to take from a programme into the professional world. Mezzo-soprano Laura Orueta takes her first professional steps and soprano Iria Goti looks ahead to her final stretch in Valencia and life beyond.    Music  Introduction and closing from Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Overture I Hate Music; Tavouk Guenksis; Piccola Serenata de Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) with Iria Goti, soprano, José Alberto Sancho, piano Enllà de l'origen (from Els asfòdels) by Matilde Salvador (1918-2007) Laura Orueta, mezzo soprano, José Alberto Sancho, piano   Dame, dame la noche del desnudo by Juan Durán (1960) with Marcelo Solís, baritone, José Alberto Sancho, piano   Watch now on OperaVision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg from Teatro Real, Madrid Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly

This month, we're back at Oper Frankfurt following up with our four young artists, where juggling roles and dealing with vocal fatigue are part of life at the height of a busy season.  Our singers share stories of setting boundaries, juggling repertoire, and how sometimes saying no is essential to protecting both vocal and mental health. Featuring sopranos Nombulelo Yende and Clara Hyoyoung Kim, mezzo-soprano Helene Feldbauer, and baritone Jarrett Porter.   Watch now on Opera Vision Artifacts Assembly from Young Artists at the Palau de les Arts Documentary from Oper Frankfurt on audition training for the Paul Hindemith Orchestra Academy Masterclass with Sarah Connolly Music extracts Norma (Bellini) aria Norma: Casta diva, Nombulelo Yende, Moniuszko Vocal Competition Winterreise (Schubert) Gute Nacht Jarrett Porter at the Oper Frankfurt Soirée. Pianist Felice Venanzoni  Ständchen (Schubert) Zögend, leise Helene Feldbauer at the Oper Frankfurt Soiree. Pianist Yuna Saito