The Verbier Festival Academy’s Atelier Lyrique offers exceptional young singers three weeks of intensive training at the heart of the Festival, combining vocal work, interpretation, languages, acting and professional preparation. Singers work alongside leading figures in opera and song, with numerous opportunities to perform on the stages of the Verbier Festival.
2027 applications open
Applications for the 2027 Atelier Lyrique are open until 15 October 2026.
Programme dates: 11 July – 2 August 2027
atelier lyrique on stage
GIUSEPPE VERDI
La traviata
Salle des Combins, Verbier · 2 August 2026
Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra
James Gaffigan Conductor
Ana Oniani Violetta Valéry
Michael McDermott Alfredo Germont
David Roy Giorgio Germont
Marie-Juliette Ghazarian Flora Bervoix
Fanny Soyer Annina
Adam Catangui Gastone
Redmond Sanders Baron Douphol
Jasurbek Khaydarov Doctor Grenvil
Yu He Marquis d’Obigny
atelier lyrique at a glance
- Intensive training in opera and song, combining vocal work, interpretation, languages and stagecraft
- Public and private masterclasses with singers, conductors, coaches and other leading figures in opera and song
- Individual coaching in vocal technique, interpretation, languages and audition preparation
- Opera preparation and performance with orchestra; in 2027, Wagner’s Das Rheingold with the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan
- Opportunities for selected singers to be cast in supporting roles in the Festival’s Mainstage opera — in 2027, Richard Strauss’s Salome — alongside leading international opera artists
- Song recitals as part of the Verbier Festival Mainstage programme
- Cabaret performance on the UNLTD stage
- Professional preparation: auditions, career development and opportunities to meet industry professionals
- Professional audio and video recordings of selected recitals and performances
- International exposure through the streaming of selected performances on medici.tv
Up to 15 exceptional young singers from around the world are selected each year to take part in the Atelier Lyrique. Over three weeks, they explore the programme’s two principal strands — opera and song — through intensive training, coaching and performance experience.
opera
Opera training combines vocal technique, interpretation, acting, language coaching and musical preparation. Singers perform in a public recital of opera arias and scenes and take part in the Atelier Lyrique’s opera production. In 2027, they will work on Wagner’s Das Rheingold, presented in a semi-staged performance with the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan. Selected singers may also be cast in supporting roles in Richard Strauss’s Salome, the Festival’s Mainstage opera production, performing alongside internationally renowned artists.
song
Song training gives singers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of text, language and interpretation, as well as their collaboration with the pianist. Masterclasses, individual coaching and language coaching support their preparation of repertoire. In 2027, particular emphasis will be placed on German Lied, reflecting the Atelier’s broader focus on German repertoire. This work culminates in public recitals as part of the Verbier Festival Mainstage programme.
programme dates
arrival and departure dates included
2027
11 July – 2 August 2027
2028
10 July – 1 August 2028
how to apply
Applications for the 2027 Atelier Lyrique are open until 15 October 2026. Applicants must be aged 20 to 32 on 1 July 2027 and submit an online application, including the required videos and supporting documents.
2027 mentors
James Baillieu
Head of Song
Caroline Dowdle
Head of Opera
Tim Carroll
Acting & Text Interpretation
James Gaffigan
Conductor
Ken Noda
Vocal Coach
Additional mentors will be announced soon.
past mentors
Thomas Allen
Emma Abbate
Benjamin Appl
Theo Adam
James Baillieu
Barbara Bonney
Tim Carroll
Diego Cossu
Lise Davidsen
Stéphane Degout
Claudio Desderi
Caroline Dowdle
Gian-Carlo del Monaco
Dan Ettinger
Brigitte Fassbaender
John Fisher
Renée Fleming
Barbara Frittoli
James Gaffigan
James Garnon
Véronique Gens
Hàkan Hagegàrd
Thomas Hampson
Gundula Janowitz
Stanislav Kochanovsky
Yannis Kokkos
Vincenzo Milletarì
Jonathan Miller
Alexandre Naoumenko
Ken Noda
Leo Nucci
Sandrine Piau
Elena Pankratova
Dimitri Platanias
Dorothea Röschmann
Franziska Roth
Thomas Quasthoff
Peter Schreier
Andreï Serban
Neil Shicoff
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Anna Tomowa-Sintow
Roger Vignoles
Anne Sofie von Otter
Susannah Waters
masterclasses
Information for singers
Individual masterclass and coaching schedules are established at the beginning of the Atelier, following the first working sessions.
Information for the public
A selection of masterclasses is open to the public during the Verbier Festival. The 2027 schedule will be announced at a later date.