Bachelor of Fine Arts in Opera

The purpose of the programme is to provide students with the fundamental education for their future professional role as an opera singer. The programme aims to equips them with the knowledge and skills in vocal and stage performance to enable them to articulate, contextualise and reflect on their own artistry and profession. The programme prepares students for further studies at advanced level.

Instruction is in English.

This programme leads to a Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Opera (Konstnärlig kandidatexamen i opera).

The programme, which is offered on an artistic foundation, aims to provide students with a fundamental education to prepare them for their future professional role as an opera singer. It is made up of three parts: vocal performance, stage performance and theory and learning.

The main part of the education consists of Vocal Performance courses, which include individual voice lessons, rehearsal, language coaching, master classes, repertoire classes, ensemble singing and romance interpretation. The Acting courses include acting training, opera performance, stage projects, movement and dance. The stage work and its progression are at the core of the programme. The Theory and Learning courses include music theory and opera history as well as supervision in oral and written work in artistic processes.

The first year of fundamental acting training leads to an opera collage presented to the public. The second year of stage training consists of work on musical-dramatic performance under individual supervision and a chamber opera production, working with a professional director.

During the final year, students present their final production – a full scale opera production with an orchestra, conductor and complete artistic production team. Student stage work during the final semester consists of in-depth musical-dramatic performance under individual supervision. The final year also focuses on professional preparation, such as audition training, and involves collaboration with representatives from the industry. In the Independent Project (Degree Project) Bachelor course, students work with an artistic investigation based on a question of their choice. The course, divided into two semesters, leads to an artistically reflective presentation and a written reflective text in the format of the student’s choice.

Collaboration and joint studies with other programmes are included in several department courses and projects, including studies within ethics and social issues. Regular feedback from teachers stimulates development and learning. The programme is clearly linked with students’ future professional roles, including interaction with the surrounding community. Collaboration with orchestras and organisers outside the department is common as well as study tours and development projects with international networks.

The programme comprises three years of full-time study (daytime), each worth 60 higher education credits. Studies on evenings and weekends can occur to a lesser extent.

The programme’s studies are divided into the following courses:

Year 1
MD1311 Vocal Performance 1 30 credits
MD1111 Acting 1 15 credits
MD1411 Theory and Learning 1 15 credits

Year 2
MD1313 Vocal Performance 2 30 credits
MD1123 Acting 2 22,5 credits
MD1423 Theory and Learning 2 7,5 credits

Year 3
MD1325 Vocal Performance/Theoretical depth 30 credits
MD1125 Acting 3 15 credits
MD1615 Independent Project (Degree Project) Bachelor 15 credits

General outcomes for Degree of Bachelor in Fine Arts

According to Higher Education Ordinance (see SFS 1993:100, System of Qualifications, Annex 2):

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Bachelor in Fine Arts the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the principal field (main field of study), including knowledge of the practical and theoretical foundation of the field, knowledge and experience of methods and processes in the field as well as specialised study within the field.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Bachelor in Fine Arts the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to describe, analyse and interpret design, techniques and content as well as to reflect critically on his or her artistic approach and that of others in the main field of study
• demonstrate the ability in the main field of study to create, realise and express his or her own ideas, identify, formulate and solve artistic and creative problems autonomously and to undertake artistic tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability to present and discuss his or her works and artistic issues in speech, writing or in other ways and in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the competence and knowledge required to work autonomously in a professional capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Bachelor in Fine Arts the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant artistic, social and ethical issues
• demonstrate insight into the role of art in society, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and ongoing learning.

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).