XXV BELGRADE BAROQUE ACADEMY
SIROE

by George Frideric Handel

27 FEBRUARY – 8 MARCH 2026

THE NEXT ACADEMY

Belgrade Baroque Academy presents SIROE, RE DI PERSIA by G.F. Handel

The captivating world of Baroque opera comes alive once again! After the great success of our last three opera projects, Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare, and Alcina, of which Giulio Cesare also received the Award for the Best Concert Performance in 2024 from the music magazine "Musica Classica", Belgrade Baroque Academy is delighted to announce its next ambitious opera – the semi-staged presentation of Alcina by George Frideric Handel, one of the most enchanting operatic masterpieces of the Baroque era.

The Academy will be held from

27 February to 8 March 2026.

LOCATION

Perform Baroque Opera in the Heart of Europe

Experience the pulse of Europe in Belgrade, where the next Baroque Academy unfolds. This historic city, brimming with culture and vitality, invites you to its next vibrant chapter of musical excellence and international collaboration in the heart of Europe. For more information, you may visit lonelyplanet.com/serbia/belgrade

About the Opera:

Siroe, re di Persia is one of Handel’s last three remarkable Italian opera serias, premiered in 1728. Based on a libretto by Metastasio, it explores themes of loyalty, power, betrayal and filial piety within the Persian royal court. The drama centres on Siroe, the virtuous heir to the throne, who finds himself falsely accused, politically cornered and emotionally torn between duty and love. Filled with intense character conflicts and some of Handel’s most expressive arias, Siroe offers singers a rare opportunity to delve into the emotional and dramatic richness of early eighteenth-century opera seria. This programme brings the work to life on period instruments, in an immersive environment dedicated to historically informed performance.

How to apply:

We are seeking singers for all roles: Siroe, Medarse, Emira, Laodice, Cosroe and Arasse.

Preparations will take place over ten days, offering participants a unique opportunity to work with leading Baroque specialists and educators. We will also be joined by members of the award-winning period instrument ensemble New Trinity Baroque, who will share their expertise as the official orchestra in residence of the Belgrade Baroque Academy.

This intensive masterclass is intended for advanced singers and baroque instrumentalists (pitch: A=415 Hz). For those instrumentalists who don't have their own baroque instruments, one can be provided through the generous support of the Makris Institute of Music.

The primary language during the Academy will be ENGLISH, but our mentors also speak many others (Italian, German, Russian, French...).

Participation Details:

• Fee: £ 1,000 GBP for singers, and £ 500 GBP for instrumentalists. Opportunities for conductors may also exist (please inquire).

• Deadline: Until full, but priority will be given to those who apply and pay the deposit of £ 250. Payment in instalments is also possible.

• Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available to applicants for whom the fee is a challenge. Please inquire at application.

• While the accommodation is not included, we can offer assistance in finding suitable options (e.g. AirBnB, hotel recommendations).

Apply Now

Who should apply?

We welcome young, passionate singers and instrumentalists eager to explore the richness and expressive depth of Baroque musical interpretation. With the guidance of distinguished experts – including conductor, harpsichordist, baritone, and vocal coach Predrag Gosta (New Trinity Baroque, New Belgrade Opera); baroque violinist Bojan Čičić (Academy of Ancient Music); bass-baritone and stage director Sreten Manojlović (Les Arts Florissants); soprano and vocal coach Radoslava Vorgić (Academy of Arts in Novi Sad); countertenor and Italian diction coach Sandro Rossi; baroque cellist and continuo coach Srdjan Stanić; harpsichord coach Bojana Dimković; and others – this Academy offers a rare opportunity to refine your artistry and express yourself fully on stage.

Participants will receive expert coaching in Baroque style and ornamentation, Italian diction, stage movement, and historical vocal and instrumental techniques. Instrumentalists will be coached in style, technique, ornamentation and the art of the accompaniment. Singers are expected to learn their roles in advance so that we can begin coaching and staging immediately.

Focusing primarily on the music, two semi-staged performances (with two casts) on 7 and 8 March will be presented in Belgrade and Novi Sad, and will be professionally recorded on video, providing a record of your participation and artistic development which you may use for your portfolio or future engagements. Professional photography will also be provided. Click here to see videos from previous Academies on our YouTube channel.

Day-to-Day Schedule

• Day 1: Intensive individual coaching focusing on recitatives, Italian diction, with Predrag Gosta, Radoslava Vorgić and Sandro Rossi
• Days 2–5: Individual and group coaching and staging sessions with Sreten Manojlović, including rehearsals with harpsichord, focusing on arias and ornamentation, with Predrag Gosta, and Radoslava Vorgić. Instrumentalists' coaching by Bojan Čičić, Predrag Gosta and Srdjan Stanić.
• Day 6: Rehearsals with continuo section (morning); Italiana (Sitzprobe) with the full orchestra , focusing on arias; additional coaching with Gosta, Vorgić and Rossi
• Day 7: Scenic–orchestral rehearsal – integration of movement and dramatic elements within the semi-staged/concert setting, directed from the harpsichord by Predrag Gosta
• Day 8: General rehearsals
• Days 9–10: Two full semi-staged performances with alternating casts – one in Belgrade (Madlenianum Theatre) and another in Novi Sad (Synagogue).

Note: The Academy officially runs from 27 February – 8 March (10 days), but all participants should arrive by 26 February, as activities will begin the following morning at 10 a.m.

Apply Now