The 2026/27 season marks the beginning of work for the third generation of StudioV!, the Vienna Volksoper’s opera studio, under the artistic direction of soprano Annette Dasch. The ensemble comprises singers Fabián García, Tomos Owen Jones, Alfred Mitchell, Felix Pacher, Sophie Patterson, Jamie Petutschnig and Janice van Rooy, as well as pianist Yuri Taguchi.
The opera studio supports young artists as they embark on their professional careers, offering opportunities for artistic development both through dedicated concert formats and in the Volksoper’s regular repertoire.
The new StudioV! has already introduced itself to the public with performances at kunst.fest.währing, the Gegen:klänge – Counter:parts concert at the Semmelweisklinik, and the joint presentation Willkommen Zuhause! (Welcome Home!) in the Balkon Foyer of the Volksoper. On November 22, Von Trauer und Trost (Of Sorrow and Comfort), a concert for Eternity Sunday, will take place at the Lutherischen Stadtkirche.
The young artists are also already well-represented on stage: in addition to roles in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Lehár’s The Tsarevich, their program includes appearances in Puccini’s La bohème, Kander and Ebbs Chicago, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Richard Strauss’s Salome. Yuri Taguchi accompanies the opera studio on the piano and also performed in the Volksoper orchestra for Chicago.
Volksoper is delighted that Martin Schlaff and the Ibáñez-Atkinson Foundation continue to support the development of young talent in musical theatre. The Chilean foundation is internationally committed to education, culture, and the promotion of young opera singers through scholarships, master classes, competitions, and mentoring programs. StudioV! will thus continue to stand for artistic diversity, individual development, and the future of musical theatre in the 2026/27 season.
“Talent knows no borders, but opportunity does. At the Ibáñez Atkinson Foundation, we strive to bridge that gap by connecting exceptional young artists with the training, networks, and international opportunities they need to fulfil their potential. Our partnership with the Volksoper Wien reflects this shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of opera singers and opening doors to international careers.” — Andrés Rodríguez Spoerer, Music Director, Ibáñez Atkinson Foundation
