SUMMER ACADEMY 2026
The Summer Academy Opera by the Fjord takes place 22-28 June 2026. Applications is now open - apply by 15 December
This year's selected works are highlights from Le nozze di Figaro and Carmen, plus the students' own favourite arias. We are delighted that Swedish baritone Peter Mattei, known for his interpretation of Don Giovanni at The Met in New York, will return to be part of the teaching team – together with Solveig Kringlebotn, who has been with us from the beginning.
Bergen National Opera's summer academy is aimed at young opera singers, orchestra musicians, conductors and repetiteurs over 18 years old who are currently in education, or recently graduated. Our top team of coaches have experience from renowned opera houses and symphony orchestras.
Opera by the Fjord - Summer Academy is presented by Bergen National Opera in collaboration with Oseana kunst- og kultursenter, and is supported by Grieg Foundation, Sparebankstiftelsen DnB, Talent Norge and the GC Rieber Foundation.
Academy photos from 2025:
DATES 2025
22-28 June for singers, conductors and repetiteurs
23-28 June for orchestra musicians
AGE LIMIT
18-32 years
PLACE
Venue for rehearsals and concerts:
Oseana Art and Cultural Center, south of Bergen.
Accommodation for the students: The veteranship M/S Sunnhordland
Accommodation and meals are included in the academy fee.
CONCERT PROGRAMME 2025
Thursday 25th of June
Concert with orchestra pieces and 16 arias
Sunday 28th of June
Excerpts from Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart
Excerpts from Carmen by Bizet
Staged performances
HOW TO APPLY / All application forms are now closed /
APPLY HERE (link to Muvac)
DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION
15 December 2025
ACADEMY FEE
Singers, orchestra musicians, conductors and repetiteurs: NOK 5000
Orchestra musicians: NOK 2500
The academy fee includes tuition, accommodation and three meals a day.
The academy fee do not include travel to/from the academy.
APPLICATION FORM
Please use our application form for your expertise or instrument at Bergen National Opera's page at Muvac.com
You will soon find them all listed there, under "Vacancies”. In order to apply, you first have to make a personal profile on Muvac. This is free of charge.
APPLICATION FEE
Please also note that all applicants are obliged to pay an application fee of EURO 26. The application fee will not be refunded.
YOUR APPLICATION VIDEOS
Please note that you only can include videoLINKS (not password protected) which lead to web sites like YouTube or Vimeo. We do not accept video files which have to be downloaded.
*** SINGERS (14 students) ***
Academy fee for singers: NOK 5000
Our academy is unique in that singers can rehearse and perform together with an orchestra, in a staged situation, as well as in concert arias. The training program is put into a larger context and will go beyond only vocal training.
The singers will get a role in Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart or in Carmen by Bizet.
In addition each singer will get the opportunity to sing one of their favourite arias with the academy orchestra.
In the application form you are required to include your CV, and video recordings of two different arias of your choice – preferably in different styles. In the “Questionnaire” at the end of the application form, you should also name three opera arias in different styles that you would like to study and perform in concert. Each aria should not be more than 5 minutes long. One of them will be picked out for you to be sung with the orchestra during one of the two academy concerts.
*** ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS (33 students) ***
Academy fee for orchestra musicians: NOK 2500
In the academy orchestra 33 young musicians will play together with 8 top professionals from renowned opera and symphony orchestras, who also will be their section leaders and mentors.
For the academy orchestra we have positions available for these instruments:
violin
viola
cello
double bass
flute - 2. flute also piccolo
oboe – 2. oboe also cor anglais
clarinet – 2. clarinet also bass clarinet
bassoon
horn
trumpet
trombone
bass trombone
In addition to the tutti rehearsals, there will also be group sessions, enabling you to dive into the orchestra excerpts from the opera literature with your section leader.
For cello and bass trombone players: By agreement, we will subsidise the transportation of your instrument.
For double bass players: By agreement, we will provide you with an instrument.
In the application form you are required to include your CV, and a video recording of a solo piece of your choice – plus video recordings of 1 or 2 short orchestra excerpts from our repertoire-list. It is up to each of you to decide if you wish to use piano accompaniment or not when recording the solo piece of your choice.
The list has specified details for each instrument, and also separate links to music sheet PDFs. Please note that the PDF for your specific instrument is also to be found as a part of the application form on Muvac.
*** CONDUCTORS (4 students) ***
Academy fee for conductors: NOK 5000
The conductor students will get a tailor-made mentoring in the specialist skills required to be an opera conductor. They will lead vocal as well as orchestral rehearsals, and also have the possibility to conduct pieces in concert.
In the application form you are required to include your CV, and 1-3 video recordings as links.
*** REPETITEURS (2 students) ***
Academy fee for repetiteurs: NOK 5000
As a repetiteur student you will have the possibility to work closely with the pianists and vocal coaches, and follow the conductors in the coaching of the singers.
In the application form you are required to include your CV, and 1-3 video recordings as links. One of the music pieces has to be an aria with a singer and you as the accompanist. And in addition the solo piece(s) of your choice.
THE FACULTY / ARTISTIC TEAM 2025
Directors and founders:
Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Artistic & General Director of Bergen National Opera, and Chief Conductor of Noord Nederlands Orkest
Sascha Goetzel, Music Director for Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and Principle Guest Conductor for Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Staging team:
Ivar Emil Tindberg, stage director, writer and composer
Ann-Terese Aasen, assistant stage director, choreographer and stage director
Costume design:
Cathrine Ahlsen, Head of Costumes, Bergen National Opera
Vocal pedagogues:
Solveig Kringlebotn, soprano and professor at the Academy of Opera in Oslo and Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo
Peter Mattei, baritone from Sweden, renowned for the title roles as Don Giovanni and Wozzeck at The Met
Vocal coaches:
Hans-Otto Ehrström, pianist and vocal coach from the Vienna State Opera
Audrey Saint-Gil: vocal coach and music consultant Opernstudio at thr Vienna State Opera
Orchestra coaches/section leaders:
1st violin: Maxim Brilinsky, leader of the 1st violin section, Wiener Philharmoniker
2nd violin: Lucas Takeshi Stratmann, principal 2nd violin, Wiener Staatsoper
Viola: James Opie, co-principal viola, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra in Stockholm
Cello: Erik Wahlgren, solocellist, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra in Stockholm
Double bass: Patrick Wilder, co-principal double bass, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet
Woodwind:
Karl-Heinz Schütz, solo flute, Wiener Philharmoniker
Audun Halvorsen, principal bassoon in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DR SymfoniOrkestret)
Brass:
Rune Brodahl, solo horn, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet
QUESTIONS?
Do you have questions about our Summer Academy Opera by the Fjord?
Please contact info@bno.no
The Summer Academy Opera by the Fjord is presented by Bergen National Opera in collaboration with Oseana kunst- og kultursenter, and is supported by Grieg Foundation, Sparebankstiftelsen DnB, Talent Norge and The GC Rieber Foundations.
Photos from the Opera at the fjord concerts 2021, 2022 and 2023:
Academy photos from 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024:
