57th INTERNATIONAL ANTONIN DVORAK SINGING COMPETITION
Karlovy Vary * November 03 - 10, 2023
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A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
The executive body of the Competition is the Secretariat, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
e-mail:OPERA HOPES - women and men from 16 to 20 years of age, incl. (born between the years 2007 till 2003)
Two-round competition taking place in one day
JUNIOR – women and men both up to 24 years of age, incl. (born in 1999 and younger)
Three-round competition, final round with Orchestra
OPERA – women and men both up to 35 years of age, incl. (born in 1988 and younger)
Three-round competition , final round with Orchestra
SONG – women and men both up to 35 years of age, incl. (born in 1988 and younger)
Two-round competition taking place in one day
Contestants can perform in one of the contests or in two of them maximum, but only in following combinations:
JUNIOR + SONG, OPERA + SONG, OPERA HOPES + SONG
The competition is not open in 2023 in the field of countertenor.
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B. EXPERT JURY
resolved by the Direcotr of the Competition.
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C. RULES OF THE COMPETITION
By signing the application, the contestants confirm their consent and compliance with the competition regulations and conditions of the Competition in the given year. By signing the application, the contestants give their consent to personal data processing.
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D. AWARDS AND PRIZES OF THE COMPETITION
Regarding the points´ results of the sekond and third rounds the Jury decides about awards and diplomas. The Jury may decide or fuse awards, excluding the first prizes. The first prizes cannot be divided. The prizes may be divided regarding the financial conditions of the organizer. The Jury may also decide not to award a prize if the performances do not reach a desirable level.
SONG – in absolute order of women and men
1. PRIZE 20.000 CZK
2. PRIZE 10.000 CZK
3. PRIZE 6.000 CZK
JUNIOR WOMEN JUNIOR MEN
1. PRIZE 20.000 CZK 1. PRIZE 20.000 CZK
2. PRIZE 10.000 CZK 2. PRIZE 10.000 CZK
3. PRIZE 6.000 CZK 3. PRIZE 6.000 CZK
OPERA WOMEN OPERA MEN
1. PRIZE 25.000 CZK 1. PRIZE 25.000 CZK
2. PRIZE 15.000 CZK 2. PRIZE 15.000 CZK
3. PRIZE 8.000 CZK 3. PRIZE 8.000 CZK
OPERA HOPES WOMEN OPERA HOPES MEN
1. PRIZE 6.000 CZK 1. PRIZE 6.000 CZK
2. PRIZE 4.000 CZK 2. PRIZE 4.000 CZK
3. PRIZE 3.000 CZK 3. PRIZE 3.000 CZK
Prices in the amount of CZK 10.000 or more (also in the case of price cumulation) will be taxed with 15% according to the tax law.
Financial prices will be paid by bank transfer on the bank account the contestant‘s writes in the application.
SPECIAL PRIZES for 2023
The Prizes of the Czech and Slovak opera stages are defined, when awarded, usually as guest appearance in an opera role in next two seasons.
In 2023 will be awarded:
The Prize of the National Theatre Prague
The Prize of the National Theatre Brno
The Prize of the National Theatre Bratislava, Slovakia
The Prize of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre Ostrava
The Prize of the J. K. Tyl´s Theatre Plzen
The Prize of the STATE Theatre Kosice, Slovakia
The Prize of the Czech Radio Vltava and the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Prize of the Czech Radio Plzeň (in negotiation)
The Prize of the International Music Festival Prague Spring (in negotiation)
The Prize of Petr Čech, MgA. ArtD., Director of the Prague Conservatoire
The Prize of the Conductor František Drs
The Jarmila Novotná Prize
The Vilém Zítek Prize
The Prize of the Antonin Dvorak Society Prague
The Antonin Dvorak Prize
The Gustav Mahler Prize
The Prize of the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra
The Prize of Ing. Petr Kulhanek, the Governor of the Karlovy Vary Region
The Prize of Bärenreiter publishing house
The Prize of Mahler Music Association from Humpolec
The Prize of Prague-American Friends of the Karlovy Vary Singing Competition
The Beno Blachut Prize
The Josef Hercl Prize
The Carangelo Belcanto Academy Prize I. a II.
The Eva Randova Prize for the interpretation of an opera aria
The Voice Centre Prague Prize
The Prize for the best interpretation of aria by German composer of the 18th or 19th century awarded by Georg Fischer and Gerd Mädler from Germany
The Jan Lucembursky Prize awarded by Mr. Geoffrey Piper, founder of the Association MusicEnterprise
The Prize of the Director of Bohemia-Lazne a. s.
The Prize of the Audience Jury
Special interpretative prizes will be realized without the participation of the artistic agencies.
E. TIME-TABLE OF THE COMPETITION (CHANGES RESERVED! )
Friday 03. 11. 2023 / ELISABETH SPA / 09:00 – 16:30
I. and II. Round of the OPERA HOPES contest
Friday 03. 11. 2023 / Hotel KRIVÁŇ / 20:30
Opening of the 57th Competition with drawing lots of the JUNIOR and OPERA contests.
Results announcement of the competition OPERA HOPES
Saturday 04. 11. 2023 / ELISABETH SPA / 09:30 – 18:30
I.Round of the JUNIOR contest
Sunday 05. 11. 2023 / ELISABETH SPA/ 09:30 – 18:30
I.Round of the OPERA contest
Monday 06. 11. 2023 /ELISABETH SPA / 13:30 – 18:30
II. Round of the JUNIOR contest
Tuesday 07. 11. 2023 / ELISABETH SPA / 13:30 – 18:30
II.Round of the OPERA contest
Wednesday 08. 11. 2023 /ELISABETH SPA/ ALŽBĚTINY LÁZNĚ
I. and II. Round of the SONG contest / 09:30 – 18:30
Thursday 09. 11. 2023 / KARLOVY VARY MUNICIPAL THEATRE / 15:00 – 18:00
Final rounds of the JUNIOR and OPERA contests
Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jiří Štrunc
Thursday 09. 11. 2023 / Hotel KRIVÁŇ / 21:00
Festive results announcement
Friday 10. 11. 2023 / KARLOVY VARY MUNICIPAL THEATRE / 19:00
Festive opera concert of winners and laureates with orchestra and awarding ceremony
Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jiří Štrunc
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F. COMPULSORY COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTESTANTS
Enclosed to the competition conditions the organizer issues the repertory annex, which is a suggestion or orientation for choice of respective tasks.
The list of arias of repertory annex must be respected by contestants in the 3rd rounds of JUNIOR and OPERA CONTESTS.
We recommend contestants to give more care and pay extra attention to the pronunciation of original versions. A bad pronunciation affects the evaluation of a contestant´s performance.
Adherence to the required dramaturgy of individual competition tasks , correct choice of author, musical form and compositional style – is an integral part of the evaluation of the contestant´s performance.
Information about music notes of song cycles by Antonin Dvorak and of the Czech opera arias or orientation for preparation of your competetive repertoire using the works of authors in the composition style of the 20th and 21st centuries you can find at www.singingcompetition.eu
OPERA HOPES
The OPERA HOPES category is intended for future opera and concert singers, conservatory students, music grammar schools, etc. The category is evaluated by an independent jury.
This competition will take place in two rounds in one day and there will be elimination after the first round. Approximately half of the competitors from the first round will advance to the sekond round of the competition based on the jury´s point evaluation.
I. round – duration up to 9 minutes
II. round – duration up to 10 minutes
SONG
Contestants in the SONG-contest cannot repeat the same song in both rounds of the SONG-category. If a contestant chooses the song written by Antonin Dvork for the second task of the Second Round, this song must be from a different song cycle than the contestant will choose for the second task of the First Round.
Contestants in the SONG-contest with combination of JUNIOR or OPERA HOPES must choose a different song for the SONG contest!
Contestants with combination of OPERA, must choose a different vocal piece in the compositional style of the 20th and 21st century into each category.
As the compositional style of the 20th century is not considered a neo-romanticism based mostly onm the musical tradition of the 19th century (a. g. The songs of G. Mahler, R. Strauss, S. Rachmaninov, early song s of A. Berg etc. ).
You can find a range of suitable authors for the selection of works in compositional style of the 20th or 21st century on www. singingcompetition.eu
1st round – duration up to 12 minutes
or R. Strausse – in the printed edition for each voice field.
Soprano, tenor: Love songs, Op. 83 No. 4 „Já vím, že v sladké naději“
or No. 7 „V té sladké moci očí tvých“
Baritone: Evening songs, Op. 3 No. 2 „Mně zdálo se, žes umřela“
or No. 3 „Já jsem ten rytíř z pohádky“
Mezzo-soprano, alto, baritone, bass: Biblical Songs, Op. 99 No. 1 „Oblak a mrákota jest vůkol Něho“
or No. 5 „Bože, bože, píseň novou“
Final – 2nd Round – duration up to 12 minutes
a) Love Songs, Op. 83 – soprano, tenor
b) Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – mezzo-soprano, alto, baritone, bass
c) Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 – all voice categories
d) Evening Songs , Op. 3 (lyrics by V. Hálek) – baritone
e) Songs , Op. 2, (lyrics by G. Pfleger-Moravský – strano, tenor
f) In Folk Tone, Oop. 73 – for higher and Loir voice
or
A song of the contestant´s choice from song cycles by Bohuslav Martinu according to voice
categories in original version:
a) Three Songs to poems by G. Apollinaire, H 197 / middle voice
b) Two Songs on Negro Folk-Poetry, H 226 / middle voice
c) Nipponari - seven songs for female voice, H 68 / alto
JUNIOR
Contestants of the JUNIOR contest always choose a different song or aria for the first two rounds of the JUNIOR contest.
Contestants, who take part also in the SONG contest choose different songs for each category.
Contestants of the JUNIOR contzest can repeat the aria from the 1st or 2nd round in the 3rd round with orchestra. The Repertory Annex must be respected by contestants in the 3rd round of JUNIOR.
1st round - duration up to 12 minutes
Soprano: Love Songs, Op. 83 – No. 5 „Nad krajem vévodí“
or In Folk Tone, Op. 73 – No. 3 „Ach není, není tu“
Mezzo-soprano – alto: Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – No. 7 „Při řekách babylonských“
or In Folk Tone, Op. 73 – No. 4 „Ej, mám já koňa faku“
Tenor: Love Songs, Op. 83 – No. 3 „Kol domu se teď potácím“
or Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 – No. 6 „Široké rukávy“
Baritone: Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – No. 4 „Hospodin jest můj pastýř“
or Biblical.Songs, Op. 99 – No. 10 „Zpívejte Hospodine píseň novou“
Bass: Biblical Songs Op. 99 – No. 8 „Popatřiž na mne“
or Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – No.3 „Slyš, ó Bože, slyš modlitbu“
2nd round – duration up to 15 minutes
Upon request, the organizer provides information about Czech arias for different voice categories.
To fulfill the tasks determined in points 2 and 3, the candidate shall make his choice so that two arias by a composer of the same nationality are avoided.
Final – 3rd round – duration up to 6 minutes
One aria accompanied by orchestra selected from the Repertory Annex performed in original
printed edition.
OPERA
Contestants in the OPERA contest shall not repeat any aria in the tasks of all rounds of the OPERA category. The Repertory Annex must be respected by contestants in the 3rd round. .
Contestants with combination of the SONG, must choose a different vocal piece in the compositional style of the 20th and 21st century into each category. .
As the compositional style of the 20th century is not considered a neo-romanticism based mostly onm the musical tradition of the 19th century (e.g. The songs of G. Mahler, R. Strauss, S. Rachmaninov, early songs of A. Berg etc.).
You can find a range of suitable authors for the selection of works in compositional style of the 20th or 21st century on www. singingcompetition.eu
1st round – duration up to 12 minutes
2nd round – duration up to 15 minutes
Final – 3rd round – duration up to 6 minutes
One aria accompanied by orchestra selected from the Repertory Annex in original printed edition.
G. APPLICATION
Applications together with the portrait photo and the payment confirmation are to be sent to the e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at the latest untill September 30, 2023 (Saturday), with a portrait photo and fee payment confirmation.
Contestants and pianists and escorts of contestants , who need to apply for a visa to enter the Czech Republic must send their application at the latest untill September 18, 2023 together with a copy of personal data in their passport. Attached to the application should be a legible list of pieces selected for performance in accordance with the Competition conditions, stating the duration in minutes of each piece, written carefully in Latin characters. We recommend filling in the application form electronically.
With signature of the application form contestants irreversibly agree with the conditions of the Competition. By signing the application, the contestants give their consent to personal data processing.
In view of the limited number of participants in each category, we recommend sending the application as soon as possible.
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H. FEE
Participants in the contest shall pay an application fee.
OPERA HOPES: 130 €
SONG: 170 €
JUNIOR: 260 €
OperA: 330 €
In case of participation in two contests, a discount for the SONG contest will apply.
JUNIOR + SONG: 325 €
OPERA + SONG: 395 €
OPERA HOPES + SONG: 210 €
The contestant is obliged to pay the whole fee (including the fee for pianist, if applicable) untill September 30, 2023 at latest.
Payment must be made in full amount (with bank fees on the contestant´s side).
In the case the applicant cannot participate for serious reasons, the registration fee, after deduction of the 15% handling fee, will be returned to the account of the applicant.
!!! IMPORTANT NOTICE !!!
Participation and registration in the Competition will be confirmed only to those applicants, whoi will send a payment confirmation together with the application to the e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Bank details (payments in EUR):
UniCreditBank Czech Republic Karlovy Vary, Zeyerova ul., CZ- 360 01 Karlovy Vary
Account No: 5149130009 / 2700
IBAN CZ72 2700 0000 0051 4913 0009 SWIFT (BIC): BACX CZ PP
Owner of the account: Mezinarodni pevecke centrum Antonina Dvoraka
Address of the owner of the account: Smeralova 40, CZ - 360 05 Karlovy Vary
In case of electronic payment, please, enter contestant´s name and the chosen category, in which you compete, into the message to the recipient.
I. ARRIVAL, REGISTRATION (ENROLMENT) AND ACCOMMODATION
The organizer books accommodation upon request for contestants or if needed for their escorts in the complex of the Hotel Krivan for conveniant prices.
The contestant writes the data of his/her arrival into the application form, incl. his/her wishes to the accommodation.
FOR ALL CATEGORIES
Accommodation of contestants outside of the competition dates ( earlier arrival, later departure):
- Price: 600 CZK /per night / per person in fully occupied double room (without breakfast)
1200 CZK /per night/per person in single room (without breakfast),only in case of free hotel capacity.
Breakfast in form of a buffet
- can be bought in the Reception of the Hotel Krivan for the whole time of the stay for a conveniant price.
Piano accompanists, passive participants and escorts
- price: 600 CZK / per night / per person in fully occupied double room (without breakfast)
1200 CZK /per night/per person in single room (without breakfast), only in case of free hotel capacity
PAYMENT FOR ACCOMMODATION
- IN CASH ONLY (not by credit card!)
- ONLY at the organizer of the Competition, not at the hotel reception
- at the registration (accommodation for the duration of the first rounds ),
- during the stay – specially additional fee for single rooms, or own pianists and escorts
OPERA HOPES
Registration (arrival): Thursday November 2, 2023 (12:00 – 18:00) lobby of the Hotel Krivan
Drawing lots for the Competition sequence: at the registration
Accommodation:
- During the Competition of OPERA HOPES: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) ON THE COSTS OF THE ORGANIZER ( it means till Saturday Novemb. 4, 2023, check out till 12:00 o´clock)
- Extra supplement for a single room: 600 CZK /per night (without breakfast) the contestant pays for the whole time of his stay. Single room can be arranged in case of the free hotel capacity only!
JUNIOR
Registration (arrival): Friday, November 3, 2023 (12:00 – 18:00) lobby of the Hotel Krivan
Drawing lots of the Competition sequence: during the Festive Opening of the Competition on Friday, November 3, 2023 (at 20:30)
Accommodation:
- During the First Round – double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) PAYS the CONTESTANT untill Sunday November 5, 2023, check out till 12:00)
- Price: 600 CZK / per night/per person in fully occupied double room (without breakfast).
- Price for a single room: 1200 CZK /per night (without breakfast) only in the case of free capacity of the hotel.
- Advancing contestants to the 2nd round: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) -ON THE COSTS OF THE ORGANIZER! It means untill Tuesday November 7, 2023, check out till 12:00),
extra suplement for single room (it means 600 CZK per night) PAYS the CONTESTANT.
- Advancing contestants to the Final round: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) - ON THE COST OF THE ORGANIZER till the end of the Competition (it means till Saturday, November 11, 2023, check out till 12:00 o´clock), extra supplement for single room 600 CZK per night PAYS the CONTESTANT.
OPERA
Registration (arrival): Friday November 3, 2023 (12:00 – 18:00) lobby of the Hotel Krivan
or Saturday November 4, 2023 (12:00 – 18:00) lobby of the Hotel Krivan
Drawing lots of the Competition sequence: during the Festive Opening of the Competition on Friday, November 3, 2023 (at 20:30)
In case of the arrival on Saturday, the organizer will draw the lot instead of the contestant
Accommodation:
- During the First Round – double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) PAYS the CONTESTANT untill Monday November 6, 2023, check out till 12:00)
- Price: 600 CZK / per night/per person in fully occupied double room (without breakfast).
- Price for a single room: 1200 CZK /per night (without breakfast) only in the case of free capacity of the hotel.
- Advancing contestants to the 2nd round: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) -ON THE COSTS OF THE ORGANIZER! It means untill Wednesday November 8, 2023, check out till 12:00),
extra supplement for single room (it means 600 CZK per night) PAYS the CONTESTANT.
- Advancing contestants to the Final round: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) - ON THE COST OF THE ORGANIZER till the end of the Competition (it means till Saturday, November 11, 2023, check out till 12:00 o´clock), extra supplement for single room 600 CZK per night PAYS the CONTESTANT.
SONG
Registration (arrival): Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (12:00 – 18:00) lobby of the Hotel Krivan
Drawing lot sof the Competition sequence : at the registration
Accommodation :
- During the SONG Competition: double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) (it means till
Thursday November 9, 2023, check out till 12:00 o´clock) – ON THE COSTS OF THE ORGANIZER.
- Extra supplement for a single room: 600 CZK /per night (without breakfast) the contestant pays for the whole time of his stay. Single room can be arranged in case of the free hotel capacity only!
- Winners of the 1st till 3rd prize in the SONG contest can get accommodation in double room (occupied by two persons, without breakfast) ON THE COSTS OF THE ORGANIZER till the end of the Competition (till Saturday November 11, 2023, check out till 12:00 o´clock), extra supplement for the single room PAYS THE CONTESTANT.
J. PIANO ACCOMPANISTS
FOR ALL CATEGORIES
- Accompanists should be provided by the respective schools at their expense.
- Should a contestant be unable to provide an accompanist of his/her own, he/she will notify the organizer of the fact in his/her application, the organizer will provide upon request an accompanist for piano accompaniment for lower mentioned amounts.
- Places, where pianos will be situated, will be announced at the registration.
- Contestants can test the acoustics in the hall where the competition will take place outside the competition schedule before the start or after the end of the competition day, possibly on lunch break. We assume timeframe of about three minutes for each singer.
OPERA HOPES
- Charge 250 CZK (10 €)
- The contestant, who asks for our piano accompanist, will transfer the amount to the organizer´s account together with the registration fee.
- Contestants must send together with their application copies of music material of non-traditional music (especially works in the compositional style of the 20th and 21st century (for their assigned accompanist
- The Contestants bring all the music material to the Competition for his/her performances, in a readable form.
SONG
- Charge 400 CZK (16 €)
- The contestant, who asks for our piano accompanist, will transfer the amount to the organizer´s account together with the registration fee.
- Contestants must send together with their application copies of music material of non-traditional music (especially works in the compositional style of the 20th and 21st century) for their assigned accompanist
- The Contestants bring all the music material to the Competition for his/her performances, in a readable form.
JUNIOR and OPERA
- Charge 600 CZK (24 €)
- The contestant, who asks for our piano accompanist, will transfer the amount to the organizer´s account together with the registration fee.
- Contestants must send together with their application copies of music material of non-traditional music ( especially works in the compositional style of the 20th and 21st century) for their assigned accompanist
- The Contestants bring all the music material to the Competition for his/her performances, in a readable form.
- In case if the contestant does not advance to the 2nd round, a part of the lump-sum 300 CZK (12 €) on request will be refunded.
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K. CONCLUDING PROVISIONS
The regulations in this document shall be understood to be valid for the International Antonin Dvorak
Singing Competition in 2023.