2026/27 Singer Application Stats | National Opera Studio

Applications for the 2026/27 Young Artist Programme for singers have now closed. Last week, we welcomed a shortlisted group of singers to the Studio, where they performed live before a panel comprising members of the NOS Artistic Team alongside representatives from our six partner opera companies: English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opera North, The Royal Ballet and Opera, Scottish Opera, and Welsh National Opera.

We are delighted to report a record-breaking year for applications, with 532 singers applying to the programme. Below, we share a breakdown of applications by voice type, as well as the three most frequently submitted arias for each category.

Sopranos – 287
Mezzo-soprano – 119
Contralto – 3
Countertenor – 8
Tenor – 48
Baritone – 45
Bass-baritone – 18
Bass – 4
TOTAL – 532

Aria Frequency

Soprano
Ach, ich fühl’s – 29
Come scoglio – 16
Deh vieni, non tardar – 15

Mezzo-soprano
Va! Laisse couler mes larmes – 13
Ah, scostati… Smanie implacabili – 13
Una voce poco fa – 11

Contralto
Give him this orchid – 2

Countertenor
I know a bank – 3
Svegliatevi nel core – 3
Dawn, still darkness – 2

Tenor
Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön – 8
Kuda, kuda – 5
Here I stand – 5

Baritone
Hai già vinta la causa! – 13
Within this frail crucible of light – 5
Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! – 5

Bass-baritone
Madamina, il catalogo è questo – 3
Ach, wir armen Leute – 3
Come, master – 2

Bass
O Isis und Osiris – 2
Vecchia zimarra, senti – 2

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