Masters don’t just appear from nowhere – and to pave the way to stardom for potential masters, the MusikTheater an der Wien organises master classes for students. Our master classes are open to the public and you are cordially invited to come along to them.
09 NOVEMBER 2025, 12 PM – 6 PM
at the KAMMEROPER
Offene Masterclass #1
COMPOSITION
His works have titles like Nischenmusik mit Klopfgeistern, Butter und Fische, Schnulzen and fat finger error that hint at the unparalleled humour and topicality his music contains. Cool though he may be, this self-confessed opera fan is not afraid to show great emotions: his major opera Dogville (2023) is proof of this, as are his numerous stage works aimed at children and young people. In December 2025, the family opera Ich bin Vincent! und ich habe keine Angst receives its premiere at the MusikTheater an der Wien. Gordon Kampe, who studied under Hans-Joachim Hespos, Adriana Hölszky and Nicolaus A. Huber, has been Professor of Composition at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg and now comes to Vienna to work with students for the first time.
10 MAY 2026, 12 PM – 6 PM
at the KAMMEROPER
Offene Masterclass #2
Direction
His directing work is inspiring, enchanting – and polarising: Stefan Herheim is considered one of the foremost directors of modern times. In 2024, he received the Austrian Musical Theatre Award for the premiere (Das schlaue Füchslein) that began his directorship of the MusikTheater an der Wien. Since 2018 he has been Professor of Direction at the Operahøgskolen Oslo where he passes his knowledge and experience on to students. In a master class, he now works with singing students from our partner universities as well, allowing them to watch over his shoulder as he works.
17 NOVEMBER 2024, 12 PM – 6 PM
at the KAMMEROPER
Publicly accessible master class #1
with David Bergmüller
Over the past decades, the MusikTheater an der Wien has become a major centre for Baroque music – in which the right stylistics are absolutely crucial. How should a da-capo aria be embellished? Should one sing with vibrato or without? Should Vivaldi be presented differently from Handel? The Austrian lutenist and composer David Bergmüller, professor at the Cologne University of Music and Dance, supports students with their work on Baroque music and demonstrates how historical knowledge can be drawn on for musical practice. This season he also leads the evening of musical theatre Combattimenti from behind his lute and can be heard in the “Hölle!” series of concerts.
Participating CAMPUS partner universities:
Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
Privatuniversität für Kunst und Musik der Stadt Wien
Hochschule der Künste Bern
1 MARCH 2025, 12 PM – 5 PM
at the HÖLLE
Publicly accessible master class #2
with Vasily Barkhatov
He is now firmly established as a sought-after director: opera houses around the world all want to secure the services of Vasily Barkhatov. His stagings of works from the Baroque to world premieres often open up new and unexpected perspectives on the works and are always informed by thorough knowledge of the score and precise characterisation. His most recent production at the MusikTheater an der Wien was the Austrian premiere of Weinberg’s The Idiot, and this season he returns with Norma.
11 MAY 2025, 12 PM – 6 PM
at the KAMMEROPER
Publicly accessible master class #3
with Chiara Cattani
When they’re interpreted badly, we long for the next aria, but when they’re interpreted well we hold our breath in anticipation: in the operas of the Baroque and Classical eras, the recitatives drive the plot forward. This form of sung speech enables singers to deliver lines as freely as actors, to play with tempi and timbres and to bring an evening of musical theatre truly to life. In this master class, Baroque specialist Chiara Cattani shares her knowledge of the forms of recitative. This season she takes on the musical direction of Isacco from the pianoforte.
