Arturo Melocchi Academy: The Home of Italian Old School Operatic Singing

Learn the legendary vocal technique that trained some of opera’s greatest voices

The Melocchi method

Our Academy proudly perpetuates the vocal method pioneered by Arturo Melocchi (1879-1960) and later passed down to Marcello del Monaco (1919-1984), the brother of the renowned tenor Mario del Monaco. Arturo Melocchi developed a vocal training system grounded in physiological principles, enabling his students to maximize their vocal potential. The method involved employing specific vocal exercises designed to train and strengthen the laryngeal muscles. When the vocal apparatus was fully developed, the voice acquired volume, strength, clarity and roundness. The success of this approach is evident in the notable dramatic voices it produced during the twentieth century, including Mario Del Monaco, Gianfranco Cecchele, Franco Corelli, Gastone Limarilli, Giuseppe Giacomini, Nicola Martinucci, Silvano Carroli, and many others.

Who This is For?

You’ve invested years in formal education — conservatory, university, private lessons — but something still isn’t working. Or maybe you’ve studied with countless teachers over decades, yet something essential has never clicked.

• The passaggio feels like a fight every time.

• High notes are unreliable, thin, or strained.

• You’ve received conflicting advice, and technique feels vague or theoretical.

• You can sing the repertoire, but it doesn’t feel grounded or sustainable.

• You feel your voice has potential, but it lacks power and resonance.

• Teachers told you "the high notes will come" or "it’s your voice type"

• You know there’s more in your voice — and you're willing to work for it.

Core benefits of the Method

● Expanded Vocal Range

Unlock your full range using a grounded, efficient technique rooted in tradition.

● More Powerful Voice

Develop the strength and resonance needed to carry effortlessly in the opera house.

● Homogeneity of Timbre

Achieve a consistent, rich tone across all registers—from bottom to top.

● Resolution of the Passaggio

Smooth over vocal breaks with precise exercises passed down from Arturo Melocchi.

What Students Are Saying

“Ignas completely transformed my vocal technique. I went from struggling with projection and high notes to singing confidently on one of the world’s biggest stages — the Vienna State Opera.”

— Simonas, bass, Austria

“The Melocchi Method has taken my voice to places I never thought possible. Ignas is a remarkable teacher—meticulous, insightful, and deeply committed to this powerful old-school technique.”

— Ruben, tenor, USA

Before and After: The Melocchi Method in Action

Bass Student Transformation through the application of the Melocchi technique

Arturo Melocchi

Arturo Melocchi was born in 1879 in Milan. At a young age, he was accepted into the Milan Conservatory, where he studied piano from 1893 to 1898. Being gifted with a strong baritone voice, he later enrolled in the conservatory's singing program under the direction of Giuseppe Gallignani. For his final exam, Melocchi performed an aria for baritone from Meyerbeer’s Dinorah, the sixth vocalize for baritone by Gaetano Nava (Op. 24), and the aria “È ver ch’io t’ingannai” from Meyerbeer’s Fra Diavolo. He also demonstrated sight-reading skills and answered questions on vocal anatomy, pedagogy, and both classical and modern vocal literature. In 1912, Melocchi began teaching at the Conservatory of Pesaro. His career was interrupted in 1916 when he was drafted into military service during World War I. After completing his service, he resumed teaching, a vocation he would continue until 1941. Over the years, he trained many renowned singers, including his most famous student, Mario del Monaco, whom he met in 1932. In 1941, Melocchi was suspended from the conservatory due to his anti-fascist views. During this period, he spent three years teaching in Hong Kong and Shanghai. On September 7, 1947, Melocchi’s students petitioned the director of the Dante Conservatory, for his reinstatement. Their efforts were successful, and the conservatory council offered him a teaching position for the 1947/48 academic year. Melocchi resumed teaching, but only for two more years before retiring permanently.