The Academy of the
Opéra des Landes…
…is your next step in professional development - and your opportunity to immerse yourself in a French summer opera festival! Only 12 singers will be chosen, ensuring you have personalized training and development.
June 26 - July 30, 2026
Performance opportunities 2026
Mainstage Opportunities 2026:
Les pêcheurs de perles
Requiem - Fauré
Requiem - Fauré - SOPRANO AND BARITONE SOLOIST
Academy singers will have the opportunity to perform as soprano and baritone soloists in Fauré’s luminous Requiem. This iconic work offers refined lyricism, expressive depth, and a chance to showcase vocal elegance within a full choral and orchestral setting.
Les pêcheurs de perles - ALL COVER ROLES AVAILABLE
All principal roles in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles are available at the cover level, offering singers invaluable exposure to the full rehearsal and coaching process of a French operatic production. Covers will work closely with faculty and production staff, participate in staging and musical rehearsals, and be fully prepared to step into performance if needed—an essential professional skill and résumé credit.
Concert performances:
Airs au Château
Broadway in the Landes
Airs au Château is the 2026 gala aria concert, set in the courtyard of the newly renovated historic castle, the Château Saint-Pandelon. In this elegant formal evening—one of the most anticipated nights of the festival—each singer will perform a featured aria and appear in select duets and ensembles. A true highlight of the season, this concert celebrates operatic excellence in a spectacular setting.
Broadway in the Landes is the festival’s crossover scenes concert on the main stage and the official closing performance of the season. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, the program features English operetta, selections from the Great American Songbook, and contemporary Broadway favorites. Sing before a sold-out audience and take center stage in an unforgettable finale.
Cultural Connection Recitals:
Impromptus
Après-Show
Impromptus offer singers the opportunity to perform French art song for a warm and engaged local audience. These intimate performances represent the culmination of our work in French diction, style, and interpretation, allowing each artist to present a thoughtfully prepared song set. Repertoire developed for Impromptus is carefully chosen to become part of each singer’s lasting recital portfolio.
Après-Show is an informal, late-evening gathering around the piano following select concerts and opera performances. In a relaxed and social setting, singers share a wide range of repertoire—from arias and musical theater to cabaret and light pop. One evening is dedicated to a special “All Fach’d Up” theme, where you can sing your favorite aria of another voice type!
Professional Training
Daily Private Coachings from top French professionals
Participants receive daily private coachings during the first three weeks of residency, with a wide range of distinguished professionals, allowing for sustained, highly personalized work tailored to each singer’s voice, repertoire, and long-term artistic goals. This structure supports deep exploration of interpretation, language, and stylistic refinement—at a level rarely possible in larger programs.
Every participant will work privately with Gaspard Brécourt, Artistic Director of the festival; Mark Van Arsdale, Program Director of the Opera Academy; and Hélène Blanic, renowned vocal coach to the Paris Opéra.
Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 12 singers, ensuring an exceptional level of individual attention, mentorship, and artistic depth.
Agent Audition and Masterclass
The Agent Audition is one of the defining highlights of the Academy and a pivotal professional opportunity for participating singers. All artists will perform for international artist managers and industry professionals in a focused audition setting designed to mirror real-world agency auditions.
Following the audition, each singer will receive personal feedback from the agents. This dedicated conversation offers invaluable insight into next steps, including repertoire development, professional readiness, and long-term career strategy. Singers leave with a clearer understanding of where they stand in today’s market and how to position themselves for future success.
The Masterclass is a 1 or 2-day opportunity to work with an esteemed French professional for technique and performance feedback. Sing, watch and learn with your peers in this supportive environment.
French language, acting, and performance workshops
French language diction and instruction are an essential part of the Academy. While no French is required for the program, any background in French will certainly be useful!
The Acting Workshop will be during the first week of the Academy, and introduce singers to certain French styles of performance and movement on stage. This will prepare singers for the final concert of the season, the opera scenes performance.
Finally, the Director of the Opéra des Landes, Yassine Benameur, will give a performance workshop on scenes and dramatic interpretation.
Wellness and Culture
Psychology, Mindfulness, and Yoga
The Academy is dedicated to developing the whole artist. While technique and language are essential, so is mental health.
Wellness Seminar. During the first weeks, a special multi-day seminar will be held with clinical psychologist Amy Van Arsdale, Ph.D., to help understand anxiety and stress, share in a small group setting, and work on strategies for mindfulness and well-being, both on and off the stage.
Yoga classes will be taught every other morning, deepening the mind-body connection and understanding of both the musculature of the vocal apparatus as well as the entire body through postures, breath exercises, and meditation.
French Culture and Immersion
The town of Soustons is in the heart of the Landes region of southwest France, and located just minutes from the Atlantic coast. Fun in the sun as well as rich cultural excursions await:
Daily bike rides. Each participant will have their own bike for the program, and it will be the primary form of transportation from lodging to the rehearsal and performance venues.
Group beach trip. There will be a group beach day at the beginning of the program. Following this, singers will have the opportunity to go to the beach independently on their free time.
Day Trip to Biarritz and Bayonne. We will discover together the rich history of Basque Country, just south of les Landes region.
The Beach and
Cultural Excursions
France is a country of immense beauty: in music, in art, in language, in nature.
The Academy of the Opéra des Landes is the perfect combination of a young artist program and a study abroad program. Over the period of 5 weeks, participants will experience:
Full participation as a professional in a French summer opera festival. Singers will learn the rhythm and feeling of being a professional singer in a summer opera festival - the rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule, as well as the joy and fun of performing beautiful music in front of a warm, appreciative audience.
Full immersion in French culture and language. Singers will experience the joys, large and small, of daily life in France: the local boulangerie, the Sunday farmer’s market, drinking a café on a terrasse, working with local collègues, and speaking in French every day!
One day in your summer.
Weeks 1-3: Study and Rehearsals
9 AM: Yoga class or French class
10 AM: Wellness seminar or Acting workshop
12 PM: Lunch with the group at the theatre
1 PM: Private coaching
3 PM: Opera scene rehearsal
5 PM: Quick trip to the beach, maybe?
8 PM: Dinner with the group
Weeks 4-5: Performances and Showcases
10 AM: Yoga Class or French class
11 AM: Warm-up for Masterclass or Agent Audition
12 PM: Lunch at the theatre
1 PM - 4 PM: Masterclass
5 PM: Quick change for evening performance
6 PM: Impromptu performance
7 PM: Dinner with the group
8 PM - 11 PM: Evening Opera Performance