The 41 participants in this year's final round come from 24 nations. Nineteen of the 41 are from Europe, 14 from Asia, 3 from South America, 2 from Central America, 2 from North America and 1 from Australia. The countries with the largest contingents are China, Russia and Georgia with four participants each, followed by Japan and Ukraine with three and Argentina, Germany, Mexico and South Korea with two. The 15th NEUE STIMMEN competition will therefore feature 22 women and 19 men of all vocal ranges: 16 sopranos, 6 mezzo-sopranos, 1 countertenor, 4 tenors, 9 baritones and 5 basses. At 22, the youngest participant is a mezzo-soprano from Romania; the oldest, 30, is a tenor from Argentina.
As in past years, the semifinal and final concerts will feature the Duisburg Philharmonic under the baton of its music director, Giordano Bellincampi. The dress rehearsals on Thursday, October 10, and Saturday, October 12, will take place between 11 am and 2 pm and are open to the public. Up to 18 singers will perform at the semifinal concert, which will be hosted by soprano Christiane Karg, a finalist in the 2007 competition, and Holger Noltze, television anchorman and journalist.
Those singers who do not make it to the semifinals will have the opportunity to work individually with movement coach John Norris. All participants in the final round will be able to meet with the 11 jury members for an individual advisory session.
Beginning this year the competition will have a new prize structure. A total of €60,000 in prize money will be divided among the top three male and female winners. In addition, a People's Choice Award and a Sponsor's Prize will be given. All participants will also have opportunities for networking and for potentially appearing in subsequent concerts and receiving additional support.
"Through NEUE STIMMEN, we are bringing the world of classical music to Gütersloh," says Liz Mohn, vice-chair of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board and president of the NEUE STIMMEN competition. "And the public has more opportunities than ever before to participate in this cultural happening – for example, through events in the Klassik-Herbst Gütersloh series. Thanks to NEUE STIMMEN, Gütersloh is making itself known as an outstanding cultural venue in North Rhine-Westphalia."
Tickets for the semifinals (Oct. 10, 2013 / €22.70) and the finals (Oct. 12, 2013 / €33.70) are available through the Gütersloh Marketing GmbH Service Center, as well as online at stadthalle-gt.de and eventim.de. Both concerts will take place at the Stadthalle Gütersloh and will be streamed live. Tickets for events in the Klassik-Herbst Gütersloh series go on sale September 24, 2013.