For four days, eight singers from eight countries worked intensively with the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča and pianists Markus Zugehör and Raffaele Cortesi. The artistic collaboration was characterized by high standards, great openness, and inspiring exchange. In addition to intensive musical coaching, the young talents also had the special opportunity to ask Elīna Garanča personal questions about career paths, international stages, and the challenges of a fulfilling life as a singer. For many, the direct encounter with the world-class artist was a formative and encouraging moment that had an impact far beyond the musical work. Matthias Schulz, artistic director of the Zurich Opera House and member of the board of trustees of the Liz Mohn Foundation, also accompanied the Q&A session and gave the singers insights into the work at an opera house from a management perspective.
Elīna Garanča, who is at home on all the world's major opera stages, impressed at the NEUE STIMMEN Masterclass not only with her expertise, but also with her open, engaging manner in encouraging the young singers individually. Her precise advice on technique, expression, and interpretation, as well as her personal insights into the life of an international artist, provided the young talents with valuable inspiration for their future careers.
Liz Mohn, founder and president of NEUE STIMMEN, stated: “With the Masterclass as a central component of the ’Creating Careers’ promotional program, we offer young singers the opportunity to learn from great artists. In this way, we inspire and encourage them to find their own way onto the world’s great stages. I am delighted that we have been able to win Elīna Garanča, an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, for our program."
The Masterclass concluded with an Advent Concert on Saturday evening in the foyer of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. In front of guests from the worlds of business, politics, culture, and society, the singers presented a festive concert program of Christmas music and selected arias and ensembles by composers such as Mozart, Puccini, and Humperdinck – artfully accompanied by pianists and a brass ensemble from the Air Force Band Münster. The young artists impressed with their expressiveness, technical excellence, and impressive stage presence. The audience thanked them with enthusiastic applause.
Interested visitors were already invited to attend the public dress rehearsal on Friday evening. The high demand and great interest shown by the audience once again demonstrated how much the work of NEUE STIMMEN is appreciated in the region and beyond.
The Masterclass is a central component of the NEUE STIMMEN ‘Creating Careers’ support program. It combines top-level artistic support with personal guidance and international networking, providing young singers with lasting support on their way into the international opera world. Formats such as thisMasterclass, supplementary coaching, and concert performances significantly strengthen the next generation of singers and underscore the Liz Mohn Foundation's commitment to a vibrant, diverse opera culture.
