Opera

The aim of the master's programme in Opera is to enable students to develop their creative and reflective abilities to the fullest. It imparts a confident handling of musical material in all genres (instrumental, vocal and electronic music) and encourages openness in dealing with newly developing art forms.

The curriculum is competence-oriented. After completing the master's programme in Opera, students should be able to:

• master their instrument, the voice, at the highest level and be able to present themselves professionally
• be free and independent in their musical and dramatic presentation
• have a high degree of flexibility in dealing with different musical and dramatic concepts
• critically engage with artistic and academic issues
• be able to perform professionally as a soloist and in an ensemble
• have in-depth knowledge of opera stylistics and repertoire
• have a command of academic working techniques and be able to analyse, interpret and write about artistic content in a grounded manner
• develop their individual interests beyond their own field of study through targeted in-depth study in (free) elective subjects in the spirit of lifelong learning.

The four-semester master's programme is modular in structure.  Each module comprises teaching and learning content that has been combined to form thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules, the number of ECTS credits to be achieved for each module, and the type of performance assessment are specified in the curriculum. The module descriptions refer to the corresponding learning outcomes and competencies.

The Master's programme is a face-to-face programme and cannot be offered - not even in part - as a distance learning programme. The courses from the Principal Study, as well as in other One-to-One Tuition, are designed to build upon each other. Prerequisite for enrolment in courses from the Principal Study or One-to-One Tuition is a positive evaluation of the previous semester (from the second semester onwards).

The curriculum provides an overview of the courses to be completed, which are grouped into modules.

The courses are visible online in Curriculum Support:

Link to the curriculum

Admission to a master's program requires the completion of a relevant bachelor's degree (BA) or another equivalent degree at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Para. 3 UG 2002).

A prerequisite for starting the course is also passing an audition. Auditions take place once a year and consist of an instrumental audition and, if necessary, proof of German language skills. All information about the audition can be found under “Information on the admissions process” further down on the page.

PLEASE NOTE: You can only apply for study programmes for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Students of the Master's programme are encouraged to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to subject-specific competences, a study period abroad can also lead to the acquisition and deepening of:

• Subject-specific foreign language skills
• General foreign-language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Organisational skills, through independent planning of everyday student life in international administrative and university structures
• Knowledge about international study systems, as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Intercultural competences

Examinations and assessments taken during studies abroad can be approved by the Director of Studies as equivalents to compulsory subjects, elective sujects or free elective subjects required by the Mozarteum University for your degree course. The documents required for the approval procedure are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after their exchange semester.

Details at International Affairs.

Admission to an MA Performance programme requires the completion of a relevant bachelor's degree (BA) or other equivalent degree at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Para. 3 UG 2002).

A prerequisite for admission to this university course is also the successful completion of an audition. Registration for an audition is completed online via Muvac and requires candidates to upload documents proving their eligibility for the course. An invitation to audition will only be issued after the necessary documents have been submitted in full and approved by the admissions office.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Document checks can take up to 6 weeks! Early registration is therefore recommended.
• Applicants can only apply for degree programmes for which they have not yet obtained a degree!

Applicants whose documents have been approved will be invited to the on-site audition. This consists of an instrumental audition and, if necessary, a test of German language skills.

The following documents must be uploaded in the online application form:

• BA certificate or degree certificate of a relevant degree programme, if the degree programme has already been completed
• Confirmation of current enrolment if the degree programme has not yet been completed (the certificate must be submitted prior to enrolment!)
• Overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of the BA degree programme
• Official confirmation of the principal study, if this is not evident from the other documents (e.g. "Bachelor of Music" is not sufficient!)
• If further previous studies have been completed, a full overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of all artistic and pedagogical Master's and diploma studies must also be uploaded.

Format of documents

• The documents can be uploaded as PDF in the application form.
• If the documents are not available in German or English, an official translation must be submitted.

Please note:

Applicants who pass the audition and are offered a university place must ensure that their documents meet the certification requirements by the time of their enrolment at the latest.

• Online registration during the application period via the application portal Muvac (Please note: Registration is only possible if all required information and documents have been submitted!)
• Once the online application has been processed: invitation to on-site audition. The invitation will be sent via Muvac.
• The invitation to audition on-site must be accepted or rejected in Muvac; information on the audition programme in the principal study must be provided if required by the instrument/degree programme in question
• participation in the on-site audition
• Upon passing the audition and being offered a place: invitation to enrol in the degree programme
• Enrolment (in person) during the general admission period

First round:

• Performance of a piece chosen by the candidate and possibly by the commission.
• Six arias or opera scenes from different stylistic periods in different languages must be prepared, two of which must be staged, at least one in German and one in Italian, as well as one aria with recitative.
• The programme must be performed from memory.

Possible intermediate round:

• If required, a workshop session (musical and/or dramatic) with the corresponding principal study teachers, lasting approx. 20 minutes, will be held.

Second round:

• Second part of the audition, in which a programme of the remaining pieces will be performed.

If necessary, an interview with the examination board (discussion of motivation, background, previous studies, expectations or career prospects).

Note: In the case of a double application for MA Opera and MA Lied, applicants will audition for each degree programme separately.

All applicants whose first language is not German must prove their German skills by the time of enrolment at the latest.

• Required language level: at least A2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages GER 2001)
• Information on the approved language certificates can be found HERE

Exam A - Audition to determine artistic aptitude: 1.7.-4.7.2025
Exam B - German language skills: certificate (to be presented upon enrolment)

overview of all current entrance exam dates

Please note that the Mozarteum University Salzburg offers various support options at the time of your audition and during your studies if you have a disability or a chronic illness.

If this applies to you and you would like to take advantage of counselling, please contact Claudia Haitzmann: claudia.haitzmann@moz.ac.at or +43 676 88122 337.