The Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers Competition

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The International Opera Singers Competition will bring together leading singers, directors, conductors, and opera agents as members of the Jury and the Expert Council. The Jury will be chaired by Hibla Gerzmava.

We believe that the Competition will attract and foster a new audience of listeners of academic music, and that it will contribute to the development and promotion of Russian musical culture.

Winners of the Competition will not only receive monetary prizes but will also have the opportunity to make their debut on the opera stages of the best theatres of Russia.

PARTICIPANTS OF THE COMPETITION

Vocalists,

with a university degree, or students of musical schools.

Participants must be between 18 and 35 years of age.

All types of voices representing any country in the world may participate in the Competition.

Accompanists,

who have higher musical education or students of musical schools.

Participants must be between 22 and 35 years of age.

A maximum of 16 vocalists and 16 accompanists are selected for the First Round, which will be held in-person.

Vocalists and accompanists selected for the in-person competition rounds will have their travel and accommodation in Moscow covered by the Organiser. No entry fee is required.

ROUNDS OF THE COMPETITION

VocalistsAccompanists

PRELIMINARY AUDITIONFrom June 1 to September 30, 2022

Applicants must submit a video recording of a performance of two different arias, or a link to view this video recording on a file-sharing or internet resource:

• video must be of high quality (in MP4 or AVI format)
• only video recordings created in 2022 will be accepted
• no video editing is allowed, except for multi-camera filming of the performance
• any audio editing is forbidden
• all works are to be performed by vocalists from memory, in their original language and key tonality

COMPETITION

First roundJanuary 13–14, 2023

For the First Round of the Main Vocal Competition a participant must perform three (3) arias:

• an aria from any Mozart opera
• an aria from an opera composed in the 19th – early 20th century ( from the suggested list (Appendix 1) ), for countertenors – arias by composers of the 18th and early 19th centuries ( from the suggested list Appendix 1a )
• an aria from an opera by a composer of the 20th–21st centuries from the suggested list ( see Appendix 1b )

Second RoundJanuary 17, 2023

A maximum of 10 vocalists will be selected. Competition auditions will be held with piano accompaniment.

Second Round programme:

• folk song a cappella
• an aria from a classical operetta from the suggested list ( Appendix 2 )
• for countertenors, instead of an aria from a classical operetta, an aria chosen by the participant from the suggested list ( Appendix 2a )
• duet or duet scene from the proposed list (the list will be published after the selection of 16 vocalists participating in the Main Competition)
• an aria of the performer’s choice

Third RoundJanuary 20, 2023

A maximum of 6 vocalists will be selected for the Third Round. The Third Round shall be accompanied by the theatre symphony orchestra.

Three pieces must be performed in the Third Round:

• two arias of the performer’s choice;
• one aria from an opera by a Russian composer of the 19th–21st century.

DATES AND VENUES

June 1 – September 30, 2022

Call for applications

June 1, 2022

The Expert Council members confirmed

October 17, 2022

Announcement of nominees: 16 vocalists and 16 accompanists

December 1, 2022

The Jury members confirmed

January 11-22, 2023

Main Competition:

– 3 rounds for vocalists

– 2 rounds for accompanists

January 22, 2023

Gala Concert of winners and laureates

Season 2023/2024

stage debut

PRIZES AND AWARDS

The prize fund for the Competition has been

set at 6,700,000 rubles plus special prizes.

Vocalists:

Grand Prix

2 500 000 ₽

Debut on the stage of the General Partner or other music/opera theatre

First prize

1 500 000 ₽

Debut on the stage of the General Partner or other music/opera theatre

Second prize

1 000 000 ₽

Third prize

800 000 ₽

Accompanists:

First prize

400 000 ₽

Second prize

300 000 ₽

Third prize

200 000 ₽

Special prizes

Special prize from Hibla Gerzmava to a vocalist.

Special prize from Hibla Gerzmava to an accompanist.

https://competitionhibla.ru/en/