Talented young opera singers are invited to submit their applications for the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s 15th International Singing Competition NEUE STIMMEN by March 31, 2013. The finals of the competition will take place in Gütersloh from October 6 to 13, 2013. The jury is chaired by Dominique Meyer (57), director of the Vienna State Opera. Media partner is the West German Broadcasting Corporation in Cologne. The amount given in cash prizes for the competition has increased, and the award structure has also changed. For the first time, each of the three top-placing men and top-placing women will receive cash prizes with a combined total of EUR 60,000 – which includes two first-place prizes of EUR 15,000 each. A people's choice award will also be presented, as is customary. Additionally, the vocalists have the chance to establish numerous contacts and communicate with opera company and festival directors and agents, as well as to take part in the NEUE STIMMEN Master Class, workshops or the NEUE STIMMEN Lied Master Class. Further opportunities include performing at concerts in Germany and abroad; and suitable candidates may also receive a scholarship to study at the International Opera Studio of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden at the Schiller Theater, Berlin. The competition will conclude with a concert featuring the winners, scheduled for the spring of 2014 in Berlin.
Young vocalists from around the world will have the chance to present their talent during the preliminary rounds of the competition, held from April 21 to August 5, 2013, at 22 international locations: Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Cluj-Napoca, Düsseldorf, Kiev, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Moscow, Munich, New York, Rome, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Tbilisi, Toronto, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw and Yokosuka, Japan. Brian Dickie, former director of the Chicago Opera Theater, and Evamaria Wieser, artistic consultant at the Lyric Opera Chicago and the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, will supervise the preliminary rounds. They will select the top 40 to 45 singers for the finals in Gütersloh.
Prospective participants may submit their applications on the NEUE STIMMEN website. The website contains comprehensive information about all aspects of the competition – from the compulsory repertoire representing four stylistic periods (from the 16th to the 20th century) to the locations where the preliminary rounds will be held. Male applicants must be no older than 32, female applicants no older than 30. Online applicants will receive a personal access code to follow all of the latest information and to view their application, dates and evaluation scores on a secure site. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2013.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s International Singing Competition, NEUE STIMMEN, launched in 1987 by Liz Mohn, is recognized as one of the most important international markets for young opera singers. It offers them an opportunity to establish contacts with members of the jury, directors of opera companies and agents. "There are singers with great potential all over the world. I encourage them to apply for this competition," says Liz Mohn, president of NEUE STIMMEN and vice-chair of the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Executive Board. "Our international competition is a good opportunity for these young people to show their talent , learn from each other and network with others."
NEUE STIMMEN competitions have opened up career opportunities for numerous young artists, including Vesselina Kasarova, René Pape, Nathalie Stutzmann, Noëmi Nadelmann, Roman Trekel, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Melanie Diener, Dietrich Henschel, Angelika Kirchschlager, Anna Samuil, Maxim Mironov, Marina Rebeka, Julia Novikova and Christiane Karg. More than 1,400 talented young singers applied to participate in our most recent competition in 2011, which concluded with Ukrainian soprano Olga Bezsmertna winning first prize. She received a contract from the Vienna State Opera since the spring of 2012.