THE HIBLA
GERZMAVA
The Competition is held with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives
The Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers and Accompanists Competition is initiated by Hibla Gerzmava, the People’s Artist of Russia and the Russian State Prize laureate. The Competition is organised by the Hibla Gerzmava International Charitable Foundation with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
The Competition will provide young performers with the opportunity to make their debut on the leading opera stages and to take part in concerts organised by the Hibla Gerzmava Foundation.
The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre is the General Partner of the Competition.
The Сompetition will be held once every two years, gradually expanding the geography of participants, varying formats, and updating the repertoire.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The International Opera Singers and Accompanists 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 20 and 42 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
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
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 )
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
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*
*Suggested list of arias for countertenor. A participant may also perform an aria not from the current list (Appendix 3)
Applicants must submit a video recording or a link to view the video recording on a file-sharing or internet resource: a scene from an opera (without a collaborative vocalist, an accompanist is encouraged to hum the vocal part); an accompaniment of an aria from an opera with a collaborative vocalist (free choice).
Video recording requirements:
- 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
In the First Round an accompanist must perform an accompaniment to a vocalist-participant or a collaborative vocalist:
- an aria from any Mozart opera
- an aria from an opera of the 19th century of the performer’s choice
- an aria from an opera of the 20th century of the performer’s choice
Second Round programme:
- reading from the sheet
- performance of a scene from an opera from the list suggested by the Organiser ( Appendix K )
- working with the vocalist on the aria according to the suggested list. The list will be presented after the First Round. The General Partner gives the opportunity to work with one of the artists of the opera company.
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.
Special prize from Hibla Gerzmava to a vocalist.
Special prize from Hibla Gerzmava to an accompanist.
The Organizing Committee of the competition received proposals from the musical community related to the age restrictions of the accompanist competition. The desire to show themselves in the competitive competition is shown by specialists whose age is more than 35 years. Until now, they have not had the opportunity to prove themselves in such a professional competition. Such a serious competition for opera accompanists is almost a unique phenomenon!
In this regard, the Organizing Committee of the Competition and its President Hibla Gerzmava made a decision: musicians aged 20 to 42 will be able to participate in the accompanist competition. Now age limits are significantly expanded.
The Organizing Committee of Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers Competition pays for the travel and accommodation of the contestants who have passed the qualifying correspondence round. 16 vocalists and no more than 16 accompanists will be admitted to the first full-time round. An entrance fee is not required.
Answer: Yes.
2. If vocalist and accompanist perform together, can they send the same recordings?
Answer: Yes.
3. In the Second Round, does an accompanist choose a scene from an opera, or is he/she assigned to it?
Answer: Accompanist chooses a scene himself/herself.
4. Two arias by vocalists or a scene and an aria by an accompanist have to be sent through the same link, or can I make two different recordings?
Answer: Whichever is convenient for a participant: you can send one file or two different recordings.
5. Do I have to have conservatory education to enter the Competition?
Answer: Even if you are still in college and only planning to enter a conservatory but can already handle the programme of the Hibla Gerzmava Competition, you are eligible to enter!
Now young artists and musicians who are no more than 35 years old at the time of the deadline for accepting applications, the specific date is September 30, 2022, can take part in the Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers Competition.
Debut on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia
Debut on the stage of the Moscow Musical Theatre "Helikon-Opera"
Recording of a chamber programm at "Melodia" company
Concert at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall of the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic
Participation in the Gala Concert accompanied by the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov at the the Moscow concert hall "Zaryadye"
Special prize from the rector of the Moscow State Conservatory Alexander Sokolov and recital on the stage of the Grand Hall of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory
Special prize from the Onegin National Opera Award
Special prize from Andey Konchalovsky
Special prize from two outstanding and eminent coach-accompanists
The full list of special prizes will be published before the start of the competition rounds.
People's Artist of Russia Hibla Gerzmava, artistic director of opera of the Stanislavsky Music Theater Alexander Titel and the chief conductor of this theater Felix Korobovtook part in a press-conference.
"The inner stylistic diversity of Hibla gives us the opportunity to look at the young participants, at these young singers and understand how they will navigate in this world. In any case, you need to be a personality. We will look for personality!" Felix Korobov said at a press-conference.
22 May, 2022
The press conference will be attended by:
Alexander Borisovich Titel, the People’s Artist of Russia, the Artistic Director and Chief Director of the Opera Company of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, Felix Pavlovich Korobov, the People’s Artist of Russia, the Chief Conductor of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, and Hibla Gerzmava, opera singer, the People’s Artist of Russia, the Artistic Director and creator of the International Opera Singers Competition.
Competition
team
Julia Goldman
Creative director
+79163948484
goldman@hibla.ru
Irina Gorbunova
Head of music planning department
info@competitionhibla.ruч
Varvara Trofimova
Press-manager
press@competitionhibla.ru
Elena Bukhmak
PR-Manager
+79168492711
pr@competitionhibla.ru
Olga Bestuzheva
Administrator
+79151614557
competition@hibla.ru
Anastasia Belokopytova
Content manager
+79269258158
Julia Goldman
Creative director
+79163948484
goldman@hibla.ru
Irina Gorbunova
Head of music planning department
info@competitionhibla.ruч
Varvara Trofimova
Press-manager
press@competitionhibla.ru
Elena Bukhmak
PR-Manager
+79168492711
pr@competitionhibla.ru
Olga Bestuzheva
Administrator
+79151614557
competition@hibla.ru
Anastasia Belokopytova
Content manager
+79269258158
Team
partners
