Viva Classic live

Vocal competition and open-air concert for young opera talents

This summer, for the first 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 6, 2023 at the market square in Venlo. The candidates each present themselves with two arias, accompanied by the orchestra “The New Symphonics” conducted by Maurice Luttikhuis.

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!

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

Participation and selection

Candidates can register online for a first selection round based on a video presentation until July 22nd.

The second round consists of a live audition and two masterclasses for a selection of up to 20 participants on August 28./29 at the Mönchengladbach Theater.

These masterclasses are given by the world famous Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek (vocals) and/or by the artistic director of Opera Compact, Sybrand van der Werf (theatre).

Finally, a selection of 5 vocalists will advance to the final on Wednesday 6 September 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, the Mexican tenor Hector Sandoval and Detlef Soelter, Stage director-Set designer.

The chairman of the jury is Sef Thissen, baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live.

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 Vocal Competition is part of a Euregional collaboration between Viva Classic Live, Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, Theater De Maaspoort in Venlo, Opera Compact and a number of other partners in the region. Through this cross-border collaboration, they want to optimize and strengthen the regional dynamics and the regional production climate for classical music and dance. This competition gives young, classically trained talent a stage to present themselves on both sides of the border and to connect more strongly with the region.

The VCL Vocal Contest is made possible in part by the Interreg Program Deutschland-Nederland and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and program partners and contributions from the business community.