President of the Academy of La Scala Theater Pier Andrea Chevallard visited Kyiv in spring of 2013 for an audition at the National Music Academy of Ukraine for young singers, who wish to continue their education in the legendary Milan theater.
“We want to revive the practice of training the most talented young Ukrainian opera singers in Milan, as it was in the 1960s-1970s. The Italian government established a grant that allows vocalists from different countries to improve their skills. Only ten people are chosen to receive professional training after the exams. In two years students complete a course of special training, where performances on La Scala stage become the final stage of their studies,” told Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Fabrizio Romano.
“After the audition three vocalists were selected: baritone – Petro Ostapenko and two sopranos – Yulia Lytvynova and Natalia Usatiuk. All the singers performed very well in Milan,” stressed the Director of the Italian Institute of Culture Nicola Franco Balloni. “However, only Ostapenko became one of the ten lucky singers. He will receive a two-year training at the Academy of the La Scala Theater.”
This year Ostapenko graduated from the National Music Academy of Ukraine (class of Anatolii Mokrenko). Since 2010 he has performed as actor-singer at Kyiv National Operetta Theater. He made his debut in a small role of Francois in a play A Dinner Party with Italians by Jacques Offenbach. The audience remember the singer as Freddy (My Fair Lady by Frederick Loewe), Prince Eric (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Volodymyr Domshynsky), Blind (Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss), and Ottokar, servant of Zupan (Der Zigeunerbaron by Johann Strauss). Since early November, Petro begins a new stage in his life – studying in Milan. The singer told The Day about the exams he took and the way he sees his future.
“In fact, I had to go through four qualifying rounds. First was the casting in Kyiv, then three rounds in Milan. The jury selected 45 people. The first phase took place in the rehearsal hall ‘La Scala’ and we performed two pieces each,” said Petro OSTAPENKO. “One piece of our choice and the other – the choice of the judges. The second and third phases of the audition were held on the stage of the La Scala. We had to perform eight pieces: six arias and two romances (or two spiritual arias from oratorios and cantatas). In the third round I sang Count di Luna’s aria from Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi and a comic aria of Tartaglia from Le maschere opera by Pietro Mascagni. The jury selected only 10 singers this time. I was the only baritone. I feel like a birthday boy. For the competition I prepared mostly on my own. Up until the last day I didn’t know for sure whether I was going to Milan or not. We had to go to Milan to take the exam at our own expense. Now I am actively studying Italian. I know it a little, but not well enough to speak fluently. The classes at the Academy will start on November 4. I will have to quit my job in Kyiv Operetta because the managers won’t keep my position on the staff for two years.
“Grant of the Italian government provides a scholarship which allows a student to live in Milan, but starting from this year the management of the Academy decided to charge tuition and this creates a problem. I am now looking for sponsors. I am very grateful to the administration of the Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine and Italian diplomats for help in many areas.
“My dream is that when I finish my training at La Scala Academy I would be able to perform in different theaters not only in Ukraine, but also abroad. I don’t want to leave my homeland forever!”
