2026 Italy Guest Artist Masterclass - Dilan Şaka, mezzo-soprano

In collaboration with Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini La Spezia, we were honored to welcome Turkish mezzo-soprano Dilan Şaka for our third masterclass with the students of FAU Opera in Italy. Dilan Şaka is a mezzo-soprano whose training includes the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff, and Istanbul University State Conservatory. Her operatic work reflects a growing international career, with roles including Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola at Teatro alla Scala, La Baronessa di Champigny in Il cappello di paglia di Firenze at Teatro alla Scala, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Siebel in Faust, Irene in Bajazet, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and Carmen. Her concert and oratorio work includes appearances connected with Teatro alla Scala and the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, as well as performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Cimarosa’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ. We are deeply grateful to Dilan Şaka and Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini La Spezia for sharing such a generous, thoughtful, and artistically meaningful session with our students. 29 May 2026 | La Spezia, Italy 0:00 Welcome and introduction to Dilan Şaka 2:14 Handel, “Lascia ch’io pianga” from Rinaldo 6:45 Baroque style, tempo, and Italian diction 11:30 Text work, consonants, and legato 17:07 Second verse, high-note preparation, and breath support 21:55 Massenet, “Ah! fuyez, douce image” from Manon 25:38 Calmness, mystery, and emotional connection 29:09 Gesture, legato, and musical line 33:58 High-note space, soft palate, and tongue release 38:53 Final notes on position and support 40:04 Mendelssohn, “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges” 41:41 Opening performance 43:36 Style, phrasing, and expressive contrast 46:34 Natural vocal color and brightness 50:21 Forward placement and phrase shape 56:34 Final pass, German diction, and text clarity 1:02:18 Mozart, “Deh vieni, non tardar” from Le nozze di Figaro 1:06:35 Character, style, and stage presence 1:09:39 Storytelling and musical intention 1:13:23 Expression, breath strategy, and phrase connection 1:17:59 Lighter return, connected notes, and crescendo 1:22:15 Rodgers and Hammerstein, “You Are Never Away” from Allegro 1:25:48 Text, romance, and sustained phrases 1:28:50 Diction emphasis and word painting 1:30:15 Fermata work and confidence 1:36:40 Character freedom and artistry 1:39:28 Final run-through with expression 1:41:45 Mozart, “Voi che sapete” from Le nozze di Figaro 1:44:26 Vocal color, fach exploration, and character work 1:46:29 Italian diction and consonants 1:48:30 Breath, vowel space, and support 1:52:22 Posture, rhythm, and Mozart style 1:55:34 Desire, clean notes, and color choices 1:59:40 Heartbeat feeling and rhythmic style 2:03:17 Serrano, “Canción de la gitana” from La alegría del batallón 2:06:33 Spanish style, character, and low-note support 2:09:13 Tempo changes, rubato, and seductive text 2:11:58 Spanish ornamentation and vocal entrance 2:14:31 Stability, support, and phrase connection 2:19:15 Flamenco energy and final high-note confidence 2:22:56 Debussy, “Fantoches” 2:25:06 Score study, French diction, and precision 2:28:21 Mystery, vowel support, and breath 2:30:42 Crescendo waves and body connection 2:33:06 Vowel consistency and resonance work 2:39:36 Pianissimo trill, support, and coloratura precision 2:42:15 Final coloratura cleanup and closing comments