Conditions - IV CIOS (2026)

Córdoba Opera Lab, in collaboration with the Real Círculo de la Amistad de Córdoba, announces the 4th edition of Córdoba International Opera Studio (CIOS 2026), an intensive international training programme for lyric singers and young conductors who wish to take a decisive step in their artistic development and in the early stages of their professional careers.

This 2026 edition will focus on the musical, stylistic and stage preparation of Le nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart, offering participants an immersive experience of approximately 65 hours of training and artistic practice, culminating in the role debut of a selected part in a semi-staged performance with orchestra, as well as participation in an Opera Gala and access to real professional opportunities.

CIOS aims to serve as a platform for advanced training, stage experience and professional development, in the unique historical and cultural setting of Córdoba.

1. DATES, VENUE AND WORKING LANGUAGES

Programme dates: June 6–14, 2026
Official opening: Saturday, June 6, 2026, in the afternoon, with the opening presentation
City: Córdoba, Spain Main venue: Real Círculo de la Amistad de Córdoba

General working schedule:

• 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Working languages:

• Italian

• Spanish

• English

2. WHO CAN APPLY

The call is open to:

• lyric singers

• conductors

CIOS 2026 is especially aimed at postgraduate artists and performers in transition towards the beginning of their professional careers.

There is no age limit.

Applicants with training equivalent to Bachelor’s or Master’s level will be especially valued, as well as vocal and musical quality, technical preparation, stylistic suitability, artistic personality and professional potential.

3. POSITIONS AND ROLES AVAILABLE

Singers

Applications are open for all roles in Le nozze di Figaro:

• Figaro

• Susanna

• Count Almaviva

• Countess Almaviva

• Cherubino

• Marcellina

• Bartolo

• Basilio

• Don Curzio

• Barbarina

• Antonio

The Artistic Direction may decide to assign double casting for principal roles, depending on the artistic level of the selected applicants and the production requirements.

The organisation may also assign more than one role to certain participants in secondary or comprimario roles when this is considered appropriate according to the vocal, dramatic and artistic profile of the final cast.

Conductors

A maximum of 4 conducting students will be selected. Each conducting student will have 45 minutes of podium practice with the Córdoba Opera Lab Orchestra and singers as part of the programme.

Ensemble numbers in the Opera Gala may be conducted by the selected conducting students, according to the artistic planning of the programme.

4. WHAT CIOS 2026 OFFERS

CIOS 2026 offers an intensive and fully immersive artistic experience, conceived as a real platform for advanced training and professional development.

The programme includes:

• musical and stage preparation of Le nozze di Figaro

• technical and stylistic work with specialised faculty

• practical work with répétiteur and orchestra

• participation in an Opera Gala

• role debut in a semi-staged performance with orchestra

• professional video and photo recording

• access to concrete artistic and professional opportunities

5. WORKLOAD AND TRAINING STRUCTURE

CIOS 2026 is conceived as a full-time intensive programme with an approximate workload of 65 hours, including classes, rehearsals, musical and stage work, orchestral practice, Opera Gala, lectures and final performance.

Participation in CIOS 2026 includes:

• 1 individual vocal technique lesson

• 2 individual coaching sessions

• individual role preparation with the music director and collaborative pianist

• 2 orchestra rehearsals of the assigned role with the Córdoba Opera Lab Orchestra

• participation in the Opera Gala, accompanied on piano

• role debut in Le nozze di Figaro in a semi-staged performance with orchestra

• 1 group stage movement class

• attendance at a musicology lecture on Le nozze di Figaro

• attendance at a collective professional guidance and career development session focused on the professional path of lyric singers

6. ACADEMIC AND ARTISTIC CONTENT

The programme is structured around the following areas:

• vocal technique

• Italian operatic repertoire

• conducting and orchestral coordination

• stage movement

• individual musical preparation of the assigned role

• musicology applied to repertoire

• professional development

• gala and final staged performance

CIOS 2026 is not conceived merely as a training course, but as an intensive preparation experience with real stage application and direct connection to the professional world.

7. FACULTY AND ARTISTIC TEAM

Francesco Izzo
Opera Studio Director
Italian operatic repertoire classes and aria work

Alberto Cubero
Music Director
Conducting and orchestral coordination classes; conductor of the performances

Aquiles Machado
Vocal Technique Professor

Guillermo Amaya
Stage Movement Professor

Claudia Zucconi
Collaborative Pianist
Accompanist and répétiteur

Víctor Sánchez
Musicologist
Lecture on Le nozze di Figaro

Miguel Galdón
Deputy Director of Teatro de la Zarzuela
Collective professional guidance and career development session for lyric singers

8. OPERA GALA

All selected participants will have the right to take part in the Opera Gala of the programme.

In principle, each singer will perform one aria, although the organisation may also include ensemble or concertante numbers according to the artistic planning of the programme. The Gala will be accompanied by Maestro Francesco Izzo.

Concertante numbers may be conducted by the selected conducting students.

9. PERFORMANCE(S) OF LE NOZZE DI FIGARO

CIOS 2026 will culminate in a performance of Le nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart in a semi-staged version with the Córdoba Opera Lab Orchestra.

Each participant will have the right to take part in one complete performance.

If the Artistic Direction decides to establish double casting for certain principal roles, a second performance will be scheduled on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in a venue other than the Real Círculo de la Amistad de Córdoba.

10. PROFESSIONAL PROJECTION AND ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES

One of the distinguishing features of CIOS 2026 is its commitment to supporting the transition of young artists into the professional field. In addition to the intensive work carried out during the programme, this 4th edition will offer concrete opportunities for artistic continuity to selected participants:

Temporada Lírica de A Coruña

One participant may be selected for a professional contract to perform in a recital within the Temporada Lírica de A Coruña, specifically in the Lírica Inclusiva series.

LittleOpera Zamora Festival

One participant may be selected for a professional contract for the 2027 LittleOpera Zamora Festival.

Real Circulo de la Amistad

Three professional contracts — soprano, tenor and baritone/bass — will be offered for participation in an oratoriowithin the activities of the Aula de Ópera del Real Círculo de la Amistad, currently scheduled for February 2027.

Córdoba Opera Lab / Opera en la provincia

CIOS participants will receive preferential consideration for future casts in Córdoba Opera Lab projects, especially within Opera in the Province, where the following are planned:

• 4 performances of Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2026

• 4 performances of La traviata in 2027

11. AUDIOVISUAL RECORDING AND PROFESSIONAL MATERIAL

During the programme, the Opera Gala and the performances, participants will benefit from professional video and photo recording. This material may serve both promotional purposes for the programme and the artistic projection of the participants.

12. APPLICATION AND REQUIRED MATERIALS

Applications must be submitted through the form available at: www.coperalab.com

For any enquiries, applicants may contact: cool@albertocubero.com

Applicants must submit:

• curriculum vitae in PDF format

• short artistic biography

• 2 recent video links with arias

Audition format. The audition process will be online.

Links may be submitted via:

• YouTube

• Vimeo

• or a similar platform

Audition repertoire. Applicants must submit 2 arias.

13. APPLICATION DEADLINE

The deadline for applications is: April 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

14. SELECTION PROCESS

Participants will be selected by the Artistic Direction of the programme according to:

• vocal and musical quality

• stylistic suitability for the repertoire

• quality of the submitted materials

• suitability for the roles offered

• artistic and professional potential

Places are limited, and the decision of the organisation will be final.

15. FEES AND TUITION

Application. The application and audition process are free of charge.

The tuition fee for the programme is:

€1,000

Selected applicants must confirm their place by paying the full tuition fee within 5 calendar days from the official notification of acceptance. Failure to pay within this period may result in the loss of the assigned place.

16. WHAT THE TUITION FEE INCLUDES

The tuition fee includes:

• participation in all academic and artistic activities of the programme

• 1 individual vocal technique lesson

• 2 individual coaching sessions

• individual role preparation with the music director and collaborative pianist

• 2 rehearsals with the Córdoba Opera Lab Orchestra

• participation in the Opera Gala

• participation in one complete performance of Le nozze di Figaro

• collaborative pianist

• professional video and photo recording

17. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

CIOS 2026 may grant a limited number of partial scholarships, depending on the artistic excellence of the applicant, profile suitability and budget availability.

These may include:

Emerging Talent Scholarship Andalusia / Córdoba

A partial tuition scholarship intended for a singer or conductor with a strong connection to Andalusia, and preferably to Córdoba, who demonstrates outstanding artistic potential.

COOL / Partner Scholarship

A partial scholarship granted by the organisation, potentially in collaboration with associated institutions or sponsors, to applicants of special artistic interest.

The number, amount and awarding of these scholarships will be determined by the organisation.

18. CANCELLATION POLICY

Once the tuition fee has been paid, no refund will be granted, except in the event of total cancellation of the programme by the organisation.

If the programme is cancelled for reasons attributable to the organisation, the full tuition fee paid will be refunded.

19. PRACTICAL CONDITIONS

Accommodation is not included.

Meals are not included. However, participants will have access to a special menu price at the facilities of the Real Círculo de la Amistad de Córdoba.

A collaborative pianist is included in the programme.

Transport. The organisation will provide transport to the performances, when necessary within the framework of the artistic activities of the programme.

Travel to and from Córdoba must be covered by each participant.

20. IMAGE RIGHTS AND PROMOTIONAL USE

Participation in CIOS 2026 implies authorisation for the organisation to record and use photographs, videos and other audiovisual materials taken during the programme, the Opera Gala and the performances for artistic, educational, promotional and archival purposes.

21. ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS

Submitting an application implies full acceptance of these terms and of the artistic and organisational decisions adopted by the Direction of the programme. The organisation reserves the right to introduce any modifications deemed necessary for the proper development of the programme.

22. CONTACT

Website: www.cordobaoperalab.com
Email: cool@albertocubero.com
Instagram: Córdoba Opera Lab

23. FINAL STATEMENT

Córdoba International Opera Studio 2026 invites lyric singers and young conductors to take part in an intensive experience of training, stage practice and professional projection centred on one of the great works of the operatic repertoire.

CIOS aims to bring together in Córdoba a new generation of talented, ambitious and committed artists, offering them a real opportunity for refinement, public visibility, work with orchestra and connection with future professional opportunities.