Lyric poetry for peace

Twenty-one young talents from seventeen countries and six continents, ten world-renowned maestros, and ten scholarships, including two dedicated to Ukrainian artists. On Tuesday, May 31, the “Opera for Peace Academy-Rome” will be launched, the first opera academy in Europe dedicated to peace and social justice. Promoted by the international organization “Opera for Peace” in collaboration with the Guido Carli University, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, the International Academy of Music and Art, and Opera Europa, the Academy will be based in Rome, a city that symbolizes this art form and is now officially a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. In the coming years, the academy will also be hosted in other European cities, spreading its messages across the entire Old Continent.

The Academy’s inaugural event, “Music for a Sustainable Future,” will be held on Tuesday, May 31, at 5:00 PM on the Luiss University campus at Viale Pola 12. All the opera singers admitted to the first course will be present. Of the more than 150 applications submitted from over 43 countries, these 21 individuals represent global excellence for the future of opera. Ranging in age from 21 to 36, they come from diverse nations including Ukraine, Russia, France, the Republic of Benin, Mexico, South Africa, China, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and the United States. They will have the opportunity to learn from internationally renowned instructors such as Thomas Hampson, Lawrence Brownlee, Ludovic Tezier, Damiano Michieletto, and Angela Meade.

The event will kick off with a panel discussion, introduced by Luiss Rector Andrea Prencipe, featuring the following participants: Francesco Giambrone, superintendent of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma; Anna Maria Meo, general director of the Teatro Regio di Parma and president of Opera Europa; Fulceri Bruni Roccia, head of the knowledge programme at the European Investment Bank Institute; Luca Jahier, former president of the European Economic and Social Committee; Luiss professors Mark Thatcher and Sofia Hina Fernandes da Silva Ranchordas; and Vincent Kunda, director of the Kongo River Festival.

Following the various presentations, five scholarship recipients will perform live, showcasing their talents and the potential for growth with Opera for Peace to the audience.

To celebrate the launch of the “Opera for Peace Academy,” the organization, along with its partners, has planned individual lessons and masterclasses from May 30 to June 5. These sessions will allow young artists to hone their skills, study singing, and delve into highly relevant topics through various workshops. These will cover environmental sustainability, the promotion of peace with the Institute for Economics & Peace, gender equity, and social enterprise. Thanks to the agreement with OperaVision, funded by the European Union, the masterclass recordings will later be available for free on their platform.

At the event’s conclusion on June 5 at 8:00 PM, participants will perform a concert in the hall of the Pontifical Institute in Piazza S. Agostino, showcasing some of the most famous arias.

Co-founder Julia Lagahuzère, named “Femme de culture” in 2020 for the Opera for Peace project, envisions the academy as a hub for intercultural exchange, a melting pot of diverse experiences, education, and professionalism. It will serve as a springboard for fostering dialogue and mutual understanding. People coming together in a cultural heritage that finds its core in opera and in Italy.

“Our ultimate goal, after identifying the most promising artists,” says General Director Julia Lagahuzère, “is to support them financially and educationally in their training, so that they can become not only opera talents, but also ambassadors for peace and advocates for social issues.” For the co-founder, “at a time when the world needs peace, hope, and beauty more than ever, we believe that music can heal the soul, save lives, and unite people rather than divide them. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors, the EIB, our partners , and all the professionals who generously contribute their expertise and time to nurturing the artists of tomorrow.”