Zurich Opera House and Kühne Foundation jointly strengthen the training of opera singers and future artistic directors
With the founding of the «Kühne-Akademie», support for young opera singers is being expanded and, for the first time, a targeted development programme for future artistic directors is being created. Together, the Zurich Opera House and the Kühne Foundation are setting a forward-looking example for quality and innovation in music theatre, combining artistic excellence with targeted leadership development. Zurich is thus intended to become an international centre for the training of talent in the field of music theatre.
The Kühne Foundation is establishing the «Kühne-Akademie – Future of Music Theatre» in order to create, together with the Zurich Opera House, an internationally oriented and holistic training programme for the next generation of singers and artistic directors. The academy pursues the goal of comprehensively preparing young talents for entering the profession and for a sustainable career. It combines artistic training, leadership skills and individual career development, and is characterised by a holistic, personalised, practice-oriented and international approach as well as by cooperation with university partners.
The academy will begin in autumn 2026 with its first training modules for singers. Complementing the artistic work of the International Opera Studio Zurich, career-relevant skills such as contract and financial literacy, marketing and mental health will be taught. In addition, the academy will offer individual coaching and mentoring formats designed to support the path towards a successful professional career. The existing artistic training at the opera studio will also be further strengthened through this collaboration. In autumn 2027, the artistic directors’ programme will follow, focusing on leadership, strategy, innovation and individual development. Through the parallel establishment of an alumni and partner network, the long-term career development of participants will receive additional support.
Emilie Reichmann, responsible for the cultural projects of the Kühne Foundation: “With the «Kühne-Akademie», together with the Zurich Opera House, we are creating a place where artistic excellence and strategic leadership skills can grow equally. The future of music theatre needs strong personalities – on and behind the stage. This is precisely where we, as the Kühne Foundation, would like to make a lasting contribution.”
Matthias Schulz, General Director of the Zurich Opera House: “The founding of the «Kühne-Akademie» is an important step in promoting the next generation of opera singers and leaders in music theatre. It creates a unique space for learning and experience in which young talents are prepared not only for the artistic but also for the strategic challenges of our industry. Zurich will thereby become an international centre for education, innovation and sustainable career development in music theatre.”
The Kühne Foundation, based in Schindellegi (SZ), was founded in 1976 by the Kühne family and is today one of the most significant foundations in Europe. Its comprehensive programmes focus on logistics, medicine, climate and humanitarian affairs. For many years, it has also been active in cultural sponsorship. In February 2025, the foundation announced that it would build a new opera house in Hamburg and, upon completion, donate it philanthropically to the Hamburg State Opera.
The foundation sees itself as an operational organisation and usually implements its projects itself. It currently has foundation funds amounting to CHF 64 million per year and employs around 800 people worldwide. The Kühne Foundation will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Zurich Opera House is the largest cultural institution in Switzerland and one of the most productive stages in Europe. With 15 to 17 new productions each year, numerous revivals, concerts, song recitals, a series for experimental music theatre, innovative educational formats, collaborations with educational institutions and more than 300 performances, opera and ballet can be experienced in exceptional density – from the Baroque period to the present day, from classics to world premieres. The artistic profile of the house is shaped by General Director Matthias Schulz in collaboration with General Music Director Gianandrea Noseda and Ballet Director Cathy Marston. The Zurich Opera House sees itself as a cultural anchor point, an open place for all age groups and social backgrounds, and a stage for extraordinary artistic experiences that consciously stand in contrast to the fast pace of everyday life and derive their strength precisely from that. In this way, the Zurich Opera House combines past and present, tradition and renewal, local commitment and international appeal.
The International Opera Studio (IOS) at the Zurich Opera House has existed since 1961 and is therefore among the most renowned institutions of its kind worldwide. It was founded under the patronage of the Friends of the Zurich Opera House and has since established itself as one of the most important training centres for emerging operatic talent. Every year, young singers from around the world are given the opportunity to take their first steps in the international opera profession under professional conditions and in close collaboration with experienced artistic personalities. The IOS thus forms a central bridge between completed vocal training and the start of a professional career.
In addition to continuous instruction in vocal technique and stage work, as well as masterclasses with renowned figures from the fields of singing, directing and conducting, members of the opera studio regularly perform both smaller and larger roles on the stage of the Zurich Opera House, thereby gaining valuable stage experience within the repertory system.
The Zurich Opera House and the Kühne Foundation have already been connected for many years through a successful collaboration in programme sponsorship.
