Operalab

With Operalab, the International Opera Academy (IOA) and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen are launching a laboratory for expression and innovation, where a new generation of opera artists prepares to step onto the stage. Twice a year, during intensive project weeks, young artists immerse themselves in iconic scenes from the operatic repertoire. Together with experts in the field, they search for the beating heart of timeless music: what does it tell us today, and how can we bring it to life as truthfully as possible?

In this first edition, the young singers dive into six different opera scenes, from Falstaff to Carmen, without sets or costumes. What remains is the essence of opera: voice, imagination, and performance. Under guidance, they explore how authentic opera can be. Can something that is inherently artificial also feel truly real?

Each scene is carefully chosen to match the voices and artistic challenges of the performers. The result is an evening that balances between performance and experiment, a kind of docu-opera, in which the singers not only play their roles but also reveal themselves. They step in and out of their characters, search for honesty, and confront boundaries.

No costumes, no tricks but top-level music, intense performance, and a behind-the-scenes look at the work of young opera talents. Operalab offers a unique opportunity to discover up close how the opera professionals of tomorrow explore the repertoire and reinvent the future of opera.