Thunderous ovations for Josep Carreras at the end of the 5th edition of his International Singing Masterclass (Pesaro, 20-25 January)

Last week the Rossini Conservatory of Music in Pesaro, Italy, hosted the 5th edition of the José Carreras International Singing Masterclass.

Since 2016, legendary tenor Josep Carreras has spend a whole week of January at the service of young students from all over the world, whom he has daily and individually listened to and advised in order to improve their technical and performing abilities, just like a real master with a 50-year career can do.

Such an important collaboration is renewed thanks to the artistic partnership and close friendship between Carreras and Maestro Lorenzo Bavaj, his long-term pianist and teacher of the Conservatory. The have performed in almost 600 concerts in over 30 years, all over the world.

For this reason, during the press conference Lorenzo Bavaj underlined the fact that every year Carreras chooses exclusively the Rossini Conservatory for his unique Masterclass, which is a real satisfaction for them all.

For this 5th edition, which took place from 20 to 25 January, 25 singers came to Pesaro from 13 different countries, such as Italy, USA, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Georgia, Spain, Czech Republic, and Croatia. Furthermore, the class was completed by five internal students of the Conservatory selected by a special commission chaired by director Ludovico Bramanti. 

At the end of the course, Carreras and Bavaj selected the 11 most prepared students for the final concert, which for the first time took place at the Teatro Rossini last Saturday, 25 January, 6pm.

Singers were composed of 5 sopranos, 3 tenors, 2 mezzos and a baritone, so mainly female voices. Each one, accompanied by pianists Donatella Dorsi and Paolo Gobbi, sang the aria the maestros had suggested them among the three ones they had studied in depth during the classes.

The program included popular arias by Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi, Bellini, Bizet and Mercadante. The general level of the performance appeared even higher in comparison to the previous editions.

At the end of the concert, Josep Carreras joined the stage for his speech, upon invitation of the President of the Conservatory, Salvatore Giordano, who honored him with a special plaque for the achievement of the 5th edition of his Masterclass as a sign of gratitude from the Rossini's Conservatory.

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Warmly welcomed on stage together with Lorenzo Bavaj, Josep Carreras expressed his gratitude to the Conservatory and, on this occasion, the Teatro Rossini for hosting this final concert.
After that he thanked Lorenzo Bavaj, who is like family after almost 600 recitals together, and thanked the audience. He said that he celebrates each time he is back to Pesaro both on personal and professional sides, with all those talented students full of hope and determination. He said that it's always a pleasure to work with them, as they are very serious and well prepared... a real proof that there's still so much love for music, in this case for opera singing.

Before the handing of the attending certificate to each student, Lorenzo Bavaj had a few words to thank his dear friend José for always accepting his invitation, the Conservatory's President and Director, the Teatro Rossini, and all the sponsors who generously contributed to make this event possible.

Finally, Josep Carreras was asked to sing, and he generously accepted, even though he was a bit indisposed. Accompanied on piano by Lorenzo Bavaj, Carreras chose as extra encores Dicitencello vuje and Passione, both rewarded with thunderous ovations by the entire hall.

As I am used to say in this occasion, this was a further, unintended class from our legendary tenor because he tried to cover his cough as much as he could, with all his mastery and experience. His typical phrasing, his unique legato, his unparalleled ability in conveying emotions were there 100%.