International Opera Competition in memoriam Ferenc Erkel

 

THE COMPETITION HAD TO BE CANCELLED DUE TO TECHNICAL REASONS!
 
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
 
The competition is open to singers of all nationalities who were born on or after the 1st of January, 1975.
 
APPLICATION
 
The application form should be send by mail to Philharmonia Budapest Concert Agency
(H-1075 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 24-26.), or by e-mail (liszkay.maria@hu.inter.net) till the 1st of May 2010 (the latest).
All of the following documents must be enclosed with the application form:
            a/ brief curriculum vitae
            b/ certificate of musical qualification
            c/ letter of recommendation from a prominent personality in music life
            d/ ID or passport copy 
            e/ two recent photographs with your name on the back
            f/ the copy of the receipt about the transfer of the entry fee
 
The  entry fee of equivalent to EUR 130 is to be remitted to the following bank account:
 
                   Magyar Nemzeti Bank / Hungarian National Bank
                   H-1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 8-9.
                   Filharmónia Budapest Kft. – Erkel Singing Competition
                   SWIFT: MANEHUHB
                   IBAN: HU70 1003 2000 0028 6978 0000 0048
                   (Please cover the costs of the transfer!)
 
The application is valid only after the entry fee has been paid in and the letter of confirmation has been received.
The entry fee will not be refunded to contestants who withdraw from the competition.
The number of participants will be determined by the Organizing Committee which reserves the right of pre-selection.
Candidates will be informed of the acceptance of their application by 10 June 2010.
 
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION
 
The competition is divided into three rounds: preliminary, semi-final, final.
All rounds are public.
The order of appearance will be decided by ballot at the opening of the competition. This order will be valid throughout the competition.
 
The Organizing Committee has distinguished official piano accompanists available to the competitors free of charge. Competitors may bring their own accompanist at their own expense if they wish so.
 
After the distribution of the prizes, the prize winners will perform at a Gala Concert. No payment will be made for this or any of the contestants‘ performances, radio and TV recordings during the competition, and any further use of these recordings.
 
JURY
 
The jury will evaluate the performances with points ranging from 1 to 25 and will handle the points strictly confidential.
The competitors selected for the next round will be listed in alphabetical order.
According to plans the jury will select 12 contestants for the semi-final and 6 contestants for the final round.
The jury reserves the right to decide whether or not to award the prizes, or to change the content of any of the prizes. The jury‘s decisions are final and are not open to any appeal or discussion.
 
INTERNATIONAL JURY
Éva MARTON, President - Hungary
Laurence DALE – Great Britain
Peter DVORSKỲ - Slovakia
HALMAI Katalin - Hungary
Sherrill MILNES – United States of America
 
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
 
         Éva MARTON
         Katalin HALMAI
         Sándor SÓLYOM-NAGY
 
SECRETARY OF THE COMPETITION
 
         LISZKAY Mária
 
ACCOMMODATION
 
The organizers of the competition offer a reduced-price accommodation possibility for the participants of the competition and their accompaniment in Budapest. Detailed information will be followed after the acceptance of the application.
Those selected to play in the final will be the guests of Philharmonia Concert Agency till the end of the competition.
 
PRIZES
 
         First Prize               10000€
         Second Prize           8000€ 
         Third Prize                6000€ - The third prize is offered by Gyula, Ferenc Erkel’s native town.
 

After the distribution of prizes in Budapest, the prizewinners of the competition will also take part in a gala night as guests of Erkel’s native town, Gyula on 17th September 2010. Competitors are requested to take into consideration this programme as well when arranging their travel schedule.
 

Beyond these prizes concert engagements and special prizes will be offered to the winners by foreign and Hungarian institutions, festivals and concert organizers.
 
SECRETARIAT OF THE COMPETITION
All communications should be addressed to
Philharmonia Budapest Concert and Festival Agency
Mária Liszkay, Manager, Secretary of the Competition
H- 1075 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 24-26.
Hungary
Phone: +(36-1) 266-14-59, 302-49-61
Telefax: +(36-1)302-49-62
e-mail: liszkay.maria@hu.inter.net

REPERTOIRE OF THE COMPETITION

 After the acknowledgement of their application the competitors will be asked for the piano accompaniment of their planned programme
 
I. Preliminary
Three arias from three different eras (Baroque, Classic, Romantic) in a  maximum of 12 minutes. From the three arias participant can chose one, and another will be chosen by the jury. /
 
II. Semi Final
 
A/ Competitor can choose one aria to perform from the following Erkel operas
    For further information about the arias visit http://digitalis.kotta.info
 
Bánk bán, László Hunyadi, György Brankovics, György Dózsa
Nameless Heroes, Mária Bátori, King Stephen
 
B/ Competitor should choose two Italian or French arias from the Romantic Era
     The jury will select one to be performed 
 
III. Final
 
Two scenes – performed on stage in costume - in maximum 20 minutes / each; One scene from Bánk bán and the other from the list of operas given below
 
 
                   Don Giovanni
                   Le nozze di Figaro
                   Die Zauberflöte
      Beethoven: Fidelio
                        Lucia di Lammermoor
                        L’elisir d’amore
                       La Boheme
                       Tosca
        Verdi: Nabucco
                    Rigoletto
                    Il trovatore
                    Un ballo in maschera
                    Don Carlos
                    Othello
                    Aida
                    Falstaff
        Bizet: Carmen
        Gounod: Faust
        Tchaikovsky: Onegin
                                Pique Dame
          
The organizers will provide for contributing artists required for performing the scenes. The costumes for the final round and the gala concert will be provided by the organizers.
 
In the first two rounds the participants will appear with piano accompaniment; in the final the soloists and the orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera will join their performance. 
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The arias should be  performed in the original language, by heart. The titles of the arias should be given in the original language.