Vocal competition for young opera talents, project choir and open-air concert
This summer, for the second time, Viva Classic Live is organizing a vocal competition with an open-air concert as the final for young operatalents up to the age of 30 from Limburg or North Rhine-Westphalia. The grand finale will take place on September 11, 2024 at the market square in Venlo. The candidates each present themselves with two arias, accompanied by the orchestra “The New Symphonics” conducted by Federico Santi..
A passionate battle between five young opera talents from Limburg and North Rhine-Westphalia in a dazzling open-air concert with the most beautiful arias.
VCL Vocal Competition - Grand Final
On Wednesday, 6 September, Viva Classic Live will commence the inaugural edition of the VCL Vocal Competition. The venue is located on the iconic market square of Venlo.
Five finalists compete for the title of most promising opera talent of Limburg and North-Rhine Westphalia. The candidates present themselves with two arias, accompanied by the orchestra “The New Symphonics” conducted by Maurice Luttikhuis. The jury consists of experts from the world of opera. At the conclusion of the evening, various cash and development prizes are presented. The first-place winner will receive the Willy Caron award. The audience determines the winner of the audience award. The public can relax on the terrace of one of the surrounding restaurants and enjoy the concert. Entry is free. You can decide for yourself whether you order something delicious to eat or drink. Even if you are not yet a passionate opera lover, this evening promises to be an unforgettable evening. Through this cross-border initiative and collaboration, the organizers want to improve the regional dynamics and production climate for a new generation of performing artists and the public, interested in classical music and dance.
Enjoy!
Participation and selection
Candidates can register online for a first selection round based on a video presentation until June 20th.
The second round consists of a live audition and two masterclasses for a selection of up to 20 participants on July 1/2 at the Mönchengladbach Theater.
Finally, a selection of 5 vocalists will advance to the final on Wednesday September 11, in Venlo.
The finalists each sing 2 arias during a special open-air concert with the 'The New Symphonics' orchestra at the stage in front of the historic city hall of Venlo.
The jury consists of experts from the opera world, namely Andreas Wendholz, Opera Director of Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, Fenna Ograjensek, soprano and business leader of Opera Compact and Detlef Soelter, Stage director-Set designer.
The chairman of the jury is Sef Thissen, baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live.
Project Choir
This year the VCL singing competition will be expanded with a project choir for trained amateur singers from both sides of the border. The choir will study and perform three choral works:
- The choir of hope from The Sold Bride by Smetana
- The slave choir from Verdi's Nabucco
- A contemporary choral work from Ukraine.
With the choice of choral works we want to reflect on the current war suffering in the world and in Ukraine in particular. This is in the context of 40 years of city link between the cities of Krefeld and Venlo and more recently the Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi.
You can register until May 20. The first of six rehearsals starts on June 1.
The "Willy Caron Trophy" is associated with the 1st prize, named after the famous opera singer from Venlo.
Prizes and development opportunities
There are various cash prizes and development opportunities for the finalists.
The first three places receive cash prizes.
The "Willy Caron Trophy" is associated with the 1st prize, named after the famous opera singer from Venlo.
In addition, there are several development awards, including a role in a future Opera Compact production and participation as a singer in the festive opera gala "Homage to Maria Callas" in the Krefeld and Mönchengladbach Theaters in November 2023.
Euregional cooperation
The opera competition and project choir is an initiative of the Viva Classic Live Foundation in collaboration with the Theaters Maaspoort and Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, Opera Compact and Sidera. It is made possible by the municipality of Venlo, Cultuurfonds Limburg, De Scheuten Foundation, Systemec and the Interreg program of the Euregio RMN
The project is also part of the 'Unlimited Talent' programme, an initiative of Theater Maaspoort, aimed at cultural crossovers in the Euregio. This project gives young, classically trained talent a platform to present themselves on both sides of the border and to connect more strongly with the region.
Six Finalists at Viva Cassic Live Opera Competition in Venlo
On Wednesday 6 September, Viva Classic Live organizes the first edition of the Viva Classic Live Vocal Competition, on the Viva Classic Live stage on the Markt in Venlo.
Start time is 20:00hrs.
Not five, but six-finalists then compete for the title of most promising operatic talent in Limburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. The jury has chosen the following finalists (in alphabetical order):
- Soprano Antonia Busse from Cologne
- Baritone Yancheng Chen from Essen
- Contra alto Sandra Gerlach from Cologne
- Soprano Maaike Hupperetz from Heerlen
- Mezzo Soprano Hyejun Kwon from Dortmund
- Counter tenor Luca Segger from Cologne.
You can follow the finalists via @vocalcompetition2023.
Inspiring semifinals
The six finalists were chosen from a group of eighteen highly inspiring talents, six out Netherlands and twelve from Germany, who took part in the last Monday and Tuesday semifinals in Theater Mönchengladbach. In addition to individual auditions, they also participated with great pleasure and passion in two masterclasses by the renowned soprano Eva- Maria Westbroek and the artistic director of Opera Compact Sybrand van der Werf. The inspiring gathering of this new generation of performing artists shows once again how much talent the region has to offer and what extra opportunities cross-border cooperation can offer them. That tastes to more!
Open air concert with grande finale
The six finalists will present themselves on September 6 with two arias, accompanied by the orchestra “The New Symphonics” conducted by Maurice Luttikhuis. The jury consists of Andreas Wendholz, Director of Operations of Theater Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, Hector Sandoval, renowned Tenor, Detlef Soelter, Stage director and Set designer from Berlin and Chairman of the jury Sef Thissen, Baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live. At the end of the evening, various money and development awards. The first place winner receives the Willy Caron Award. It audience determines the winner of the audience award. The public can relax on a terrace from the surrounding restaurants and enjoy the concert. Entrance is free. Even if you don't yet passionate opera lover, this promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Euregional cooperation
With this cross-border initiative and this cooperation, the organizers want the regional improve dynamics and the production climate for a new generation of performing artists and audience, interested in classical music and dance. This first edition is made possible made by the Interreg Program Deutschland-Nederland and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and program partners and industry contributions.
The semi-finalists have been announced!
The Jury selected 17 candidates to participate in the semi-finals.
We will soon introduce our semi-finalists to you!
Follow us on Instagram for this as well.
- Maaike Huppertz (NL)
- Sandra Gerlach (DE)
- Johann Kalvelage (DE
- Elena Plaza Cebrian (DE)
- Rosalie Ardts (NL)
- Yancheng Chen (DE
- Marija Grinevska (DE)
- Hansje van Welbergen (NL)
- Neele Jacobsen (DE)
- Hyejun Kwon (DE)
- Eline Meijs (NL)
- Luca Segger (DE)
- Amy Schillings (NL)
- Miriam Rippel (DE)
- Juliane Bogner (DE)
- Rahel Erki (NL)
- Antonia Busse (DE
Vocal competition is made possible by
