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 20 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 ( Appendix 2b ), performed with an illustrator vocalist or contestant
- an aria of the performer’s choice
A maximum of 10 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 25, 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.
NEWS

Opera Singers Jury :
- artistic director of the opera and chief director of the Stanislavsky Music Theater Alexander Titel
- general and artistic director of the Helikon-opera Dmitry Bertman
- vocal teacher, artistic director of the Youth Opera Program of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Dmitry Vdovin
- casting director of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Olga Kapanina
- accompanist of the Mariinsky Theatre, teacher of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory at the Department of Accompanist Art Irina Soboleva
- general director of the Moscow Academic Philharmonic, President of the Union of Concert Organizations of Russia Alexei Shalashov
opera agent Andrea di Amici (InArt agency / Italy)
opera agent Vasco Fracanzani (Lerín Art Management agency / Spain)
opera agent Alessandro Ariosi (Ariosi Management / Italy)
Accompanist Jury:
- artistic Director of the Academy of Young Opera Singers of the Mariinsky Theater Larisa Gergieva
- accompanist of the Opera Company of the Stanislavsky Music Theatre, professor of the Solo Singing Department of the Moscow Conservatory Evgenia Arefieva
- accompanist of the Mariinsky Theater Opera Ilona Jansons
- Associate Professor of the Accompanist Art Department of the Moscow Conservatory, Accompanist of Hibla Gerzmava Ekaterina Ganelina

January 12
Grand opening of the competition
19.00, MAMT main stage
January 13
Vocalists Round I
Accompanists I round
January 14
Vocalists Round I
January 16
Accompanist II round
January 17
Vocalists II round / Solo
January 18
Vocalists II tour / Duet scenes
January 20
Vocalists of the III round / performances of the finalists with the MAMT orchestra
January 22
Gala concert of laureates
19.00, MAMT main stage

2. G. Rossini. The Barber of Seville. Duet between Rosina and Figaro Dunque Io son – soprano/baritone
3. W. A. Mozart. Così fan tutte. Duet between Fiordiligi and Ferrando Fra gli amplessi – soprano/tenor
4. W. A. Mozart. Così fan tutte. Duet between Dorabella and Guglielmo Il core vi dono – mezzo-soprano/baritone
5. W. A. Mozart. Don Giovanni. Duet between Don Giovanni and Leporello O statua gentilissima – baritone/bass
6. G. Verdi. Un Ballo in Maschera. Duet between Amelia and Riccardo Teco io sto… Gran dio – soprano/tenor
7. G. Verdi. Il Trovatore. Duet between Azucena and Manrico Non son tuo figlio – mezzo-soprano/tenor
8. G. Verdi. Don Carlo. Duet between Rodrigo and Filippo Restate! – baritone/bass
9. G. Puccini. Tosca. Duet between Tosca and Cavaradossi (Act I) Mario, Mario! Son qui! – soprano/tenor
10. G. Puccini. La Bohème. Duet between Mimì and Rodolfo O Soave Fanciulla (Act I) – soprano/tenor
11. G. Puccini. La Bohème. Duet between Rodolfo and Marcello О Mimi, tu piu non torni – tenor/baritone
12. P.I. Tchaikovsky. Iolanta. Duet between Iolanta and Vodemont. Your silence is not understood (Tvajo malchan’je nepan’atna / Твое молчанье не понятно) – soprano/tenor
13. P.I. Tchaikovsky. Mazeppa. Duet between Mazeppa and Maria. My dear friend… (Moi mily drug… / Мой милый друг…) – soprano/baritone
14. N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Snow-maiden. Duet between Snow Maiden and Mizgir Snow-maiden, I’ve been looking for so long… (Snegurochka, davno tebya ishchu ja... / Снегурочка, давно тебя ищу я) – soprano/baritone
15. M.P. Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov. Duet between Marina and Pretender (clavier revised by Lamm) How painful, how long... (Kak tomitel`no, kak dolgo... / Как томительно, как долго...) – mezzo-soprano/tenor
16. M.P. Mussorgsky. Khovanshchina. Golitsyn’s office, scene between Golitsyn and Khovansky We are without a report, prince (A mi bez dokladu, knyaz’ / А мы без докладу, князь) (before Dosifey enters) – tenor/bass
17. G.F. Handel. Giulio Cesare. Duet between Cornelia and Sesto Son nata a lagrimar – contra tenor/mezzo-soprano
18. G.F. Handel. Giulio Cesare. Duet between Caesar and Cleopatra Caro! Bella! Piu Amabile Belta – contra tenor/soprano

- Opera singer, Honored Artist of Russia, Associate Professor of the Department of Solo Singing at the Moscow Conservatory Larisa Rudakova;
- one of the leading Russian opera singers, artistic director of the music festival "Opera.Live" Vasily Ladyuk;
- opera singer, Honored Artist of Russia, founder, member of the expert council and general director of the Onegin National Opera Prize Igor Tarasov;
- choirmaster, People's Artist of Russia, head of the Grand Choir of the Russian State Musical Television and Radio Center, head. Department of Choral Conducting of the Moscow Conservatory Lev Kontorovich;
- Conductor of the Moscow Academic Musical Theatre. Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Arif Dadashev;
- Associate Professor of the Department of Accompanist Mastery of the Moscow Conservatory Ekaterina Ganelina;
- concertmaster of the opera of the Moscow Academic Musical Theater. Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Tatyana Lobyreva;
- Concertmaster of the Mariinsky Theater Opera Ilona Jansons;
- opera critic, member of the musical theater expert council of the Golden Mask National Theater Award Konstantin Cherkasov.

1. Abdulov Gamid (Azerbaijan) - tenor
2. Aldadosova Guldana (Kazakhstan) - soprano
3. Akimov Daniil (Russia) - bass
4. Buyandalai Zhavhlangtugs (Mongolia) - baritone
5. Dagvadorzh Davaasuren (Mongolia) - tenor
6. Dulaev Dzambolat (Russia) - baritone
7. Gu Wen Meng (China) - soprano
8. Jumaev Khujanazar Jumanazar ugli (Uzbekistan) - tenor
9. Kachurovsky Eugeny (Russia) - baritone
10. Khozieva Daria (Russia) - mezzo-soprano
11. Kulagin Alexey (Russia) - bass
12. Kulagina Elizaveta (Russia) - soprano
13. Kumylganova Polina (Russia) - soprano
14. Luchi Isabella (Brasil) - soprano
15. Lupareva Maria (Russia) - soprano
16. Liwei Hou (China) - bass
17. Maslova Olga (Russia) - soprano
18. Mwelase Sanele (South Africa) - countertenor
19. Minibaeva Elvira (Russia) - mezzo-soprano
20. Mikhnovets Anastasia (Belarus) - soprano
21. Mikhailova Elizaveta (Russia) - mezzo-soprano
22. Nor Mikhail (Russia) - tenor
23. Ovchinnikova Anastasia (Russia) - soprano
24. Ochirsaikhan Erdenee (Mongolia) - baritone
25. Pakhomova Elizaveta (Russia) - soprano
26. Peryazev Gleb (Russia) - bass
27. Petukhova Margarita (Russia) - soprano
28. Poleyan Artush (Russia) - countertenor
29. Reshitov Rishat (Uzbekistan) - baritone
30. Shabetya Dmitry (Belarus) - tenor
31. Sharmanov Dmitry (Russia) - bass
32. Savinkova Ekaterina (Russia) - soprano
33. Saduakhasov Damir (Kazakhstan) - tenor
34. Semenova Ekaterina (Russia) - soprano
35. Stepanyan Sergey (Armenia) - bass
36. Tregan-Marcuz Lauriane (France) - mezzo-soprano
37. Vasiliev Vyacheslav (Russia) - baritone
38. Will Johanna (Germany) - soprano
39. Yongheng Dong (China) - bass
40. Zhang Lay (China) - soprano
41. Zemlyanskikh Nikolay (Russia) - tenor
42. Zyrendagbaeva Zhargal (Russia) - bass
Accompanists:
1. Altuhova Marina (Kazakhstan)
2. Braginskaya Anna (Russia)
3. Vaza Mark (Russia)
4. Vardazaryan Elena (Armenia)
5. Grigorieva Vera (Russia)
6. Zhusupova Zhanna (Russia)
7. Zakharov Eugeny (Russia)
8. Kim Hyunji (Austria)
9. Pavlov Kirill (Russia)
10. Popov Vasily (Russia)
11. Rudakova Anna (Russia)
12. Sergeev Eugeny (Russia)
13. Tadtaeva Anna (Russia)
14. Tarazanov German (Russia)
15. Trofimov Dmitry (Russia)
16. Cherkasov Platon (Russia)


With a special feeling, Ildar remembers the Maria Callas competition in Parma, in which 647 singers from all over the world participated! "When I won this competition, the door to Europe opened for me," says the artist, who conquered the best opera stages of the world from La Scala to the Metropolitan opera.



Having started his musical career as a pianist Fabio found himself in conducting and conquered the best stages of the world with his talent. But especially he managed to win over russian audience, who appreciates his generous emotionality.
Fabio Mastrangelo is a laureate of the international competitions for young conductors "Mario Guzella - 1993" and "Mario Guzella - 1995" in Pescari and "Donatella Flick - 2000" in London. But he was lucky to be on both sides of the competitive ramp. Fabio is often invited to the jury of various music competitions. Therefore he easily agreed to answer our #threequestions.
"For a young musician the competition is an opportunity to check at what stage of the career he is," Fabio says urging singers and pianists to apply for participation in the Hibla Gerzmava competition.

Two well-known international competitions became a real career springboard for the young vocalist Dmitry Korchak/ In 2004, Dmitry Korchak became a laureate of the International Competition named after Francisco Viñas (Barcelona, Spain) and the Operalia International Competition of Placido Domingo (Los Angeles, USA), where he received awards in two categories at once.

Answer: At the qualifying round you can play any scene.
2) Is it possible to play the concert version of the aria with a vocalist, or only, as at the clavier?
Answer: At the qualifying round you can perform a concert version of the aria.
3) If I participate at the competition alone, without a vocalist. Will I be provided with an illustrator vocalist?
Answer: Yes, you will be provided with an illustrator.
4) How will the final round of the accompanists go?
Answer: The final round of the Accompanist Competition will take place at the Small Stage of the Moscow Academic Musical Theater named after K. S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko. The accompanists will pass a special at it - reading from a sheet, performing a scene from an opera from the list proposed by the Organizers, working with a vocalist on an aria (also according to the list).
5) In the final round, can we show the work with own vocalist?
Answer: no, the vocalist will be provided by the General Partner of the competition. That is, it will be one of the artists of the Musical Theater.

1) What was the value of participating in competitions for you?
2) What is your personal competitive experience?
3) What would you wish to the participants of the Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers and Accompanists Competition?


1) What was the value of participating in competitions for you?
2) What is your personal competitive experience?
3) What would you wish to the participants of the Hibla Gerzmava Opera Singers and Accompanists Competition?

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
jury
Competition
team

Andrey Chernomurov
Coordinator of the Competition from the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre. First Deputy General Manager of the theatre.

Natalia Klimenkova
Project Manager of the Hibla Gerzmava Foundation

Julia Goldman
Creative director
+79163948484
goldman@hibla.ru

Maria Olshanskaya
Member of the Organising Committee, Public Commissioner for Culture, Moscow
Irina Gorbunova
Head of music planning department
info@competitionhibla.ruч
Elena Bukhmak
PR-Manager
+79168492711
pr@competitionhibla.ru

Olga Bestuzheva
Administrator
+79151614557
competition@hibla.ru
Varvara Trofimova
Press-manager
+79636747710
press@competitionhibla.ru
Anastasia Belokopytova
Content manager
+79269258158