Blue Danube Opera Conducting Competition 2011

The Slovak National Opera Theater Bratislava is a principal partner of the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition 2011

BLUE DANUBE INTERNATIONAL

OPERA CONDUCTING COMPETITION 2011

DON GIOVANNI, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, LA TRAVIATA

2 - 17 June 2011

with the Bulgarian State Opera Burgas

2011 Competition Prize Winners (pictured below from left to right)

First Prize -- Vinicius KATTAH (Brazil)

Second Prize -- Anthony GABRIELE (Italy/Australia)

Third Prize -- Valery KORUNOV (Russian Federation)

Jury's Special Prize -- Masanori MIKAWA (Japan)

The Blue Danube Opera International Opera Conducting Competition 2011 FINALISTS were (in alphabetical order): Anthony GABRIELE/Italy&Australia, Vinicius KATTAH/Brazil, Valery KORUNOV/Russian Federation, Masanori MIKAWA/Japan, Dominique SOURISSE/France, and Mauro VIDONI/Italy.

Photo Gallery:

http://www.musikimpresario.com/photo-gallery/category/2-opera-conducting-competition.html

First Prize: conducting engagements with 1) Slovak National Opera Bratislava 2) Dnepropetrovsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ukraine); 3) Bulgarian State Opera Plovdiv (possible outdoor performance/Roman amphitheatre), as well as conducting a portion of a fully-staged performance of La traviata at the conclusion of the Competition.

Second prize: conducting engagements with 1) National Theater of Opera and Ballet Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina); 2) Bulgarian State Opera Ruse, as well as conducting a portion of a fully-staged performance of La traviata at the conclusion of the Competition.

Third prize: conducting engagements with the Bulgarian State Opera Burgas, as well as conducting a portion of a fully-staged performance of La traviata at the conclusion of the Competition.

Jury's Special prize: conducting engagement with the Pazardjik (Bulgaria) Philharmonic Orchestra during its 2011-2012 season.

These engagements will take place during the 2011-2012 season; the respective institutions will offer their standard fees and conditions for guest conductors.

There is no minimum or maximum age limit for acceptance to this Competition.

HOW TO APPLY:

1. Send the BDMI Application Form and your CV via fax, E-mail or post.

2. Send a recent DVD/videotape of your conducting (any format) to the address below. The DVD/tape may be of either symphonic or operatic conducting. Excerpts of your conducting online (on YouTube or a website) are also acceptable. Conductors who have participated in our previous mastercourses or competitions do not need to send a DVD/video.

3. Pay the non-refundable application fee of €60 via bank wire transfer (bank account details are below), Western Union transfer or with a Visa or MasterCard. Please let us know beforehand if you wish to make payment with Visa or MasterCard or through Western Union. We will then send instructions.

Bank name: BAWAG P.S.K.

Bank Address: Lerchenfelder Strasse 43, 1070 Vienna

Name on account: Blue Danube Musikimpresario GmbH

Account number: 02010 006 026

BIC: BAWAATWW (BAWAATWWXXX when wiring from the U.S. & Canada)

IBAN: AT221400002010006026

Reason for payment: Competition application and deposit fees (please send EUR only).

Conductors will be notified if they are accepted immediately after we receive everything requested in nos. 1, 2 & 3 above. Upon acceptance, conductors secure a competition place by sending a deposit of €180. The balance of €590, payable in cash and in € only, will be due on the conductor's first day at the Competition. Thus, the total for the Opera Conducting Competition is €830 - €60 application fee; €180 deposit and €590 balance fee.

The first 60 conductors who apply and are accepted, will receive the Competition slots. We urge conductors to apply as soon as possible. Conductors may not compete if they are currently, or have ever been, a chief conductor or Erste Kapellmeister of a professional opera company.

The orchestra, choir and soloists of the Bulgarian State Opera Burgas will be used for all rounds of the Conducting Competition. Up to 60 conductors will be accepted for the Round I; 18 conductors will advance to Round II and 6 conductors to Round III. Winners from our previous opera conducting competition (Bartok 2005 and 2007) ARE eligible to compete; winners from the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition 2009 ARE NOT eligible.

ROUND I. Verdi's La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) - soloists and choir seated on stage, orchestra in the pit and W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni- without decor but with stage action. Each conductor will have 40' with the company's full forces: 20' with La traviata during a morning session and 20' with Don Giovanni (Generalprobe/dress rehearsal) during the evening of the same day. The goal during the morning session will be the effectiveness of a conductor's verbal rehearsal technique and capabilities. In contrast, the goal during the evening rehearsal will be the conductor's ability to accomplish as much as artistically possible without pausing for verbal directives. The Mozart will be performed with secco recitatives played by the orchestra's keyboard player on an electronic instrument from the pit. Conductors do not have to conduct or play the secco recitatives.

ROUND II. Puccini's Madama Butterfly/La traviata. Each conductor will have 80' of conducting time: 20' with the orchestra alone (Madama Butterfly); 20' with the choir (Madama Butterfly and La traviata), 20' for Madama Butterfly with the cast and piano; and 20' with Madama Butterfly in a Generalprobe/dress rehearsal situation.

ROUND III. Verdi's La traviata; each conductor will have ca. 105' of conducting time: 25' in a cast rehearsal; 35' in a Sitzprobe situation; and ca. 45' in a Generalprobe/dress rehearsal situation. Conductors will not be allowed in the performance area of the opera theater until after they have conducted in a particular round; those who violate this policy run the risk of disqualification from the Competition.

Editions: Ricordi (or reprints) for La traviata and Madama Butterfly. Any edition for Don Giovanni. Burgas Opera performs the Prague version of Don Giovanni. Burgas Opera's cuts for all three operas will be sent to conductors in advance. Conductors will also be able to copy the orchestra's rehearsal letters and numbers into their scores, as well as to confirm the cuts, upon arrival in Burgas. All works will be sung, rehearsed and performed in Italian. Conductors may rehearse in English, Italian, German, French, Bulgarian or Russian.

Jury members:

Maestro Larry Newland/USA (President of the Jury)

Dr. Anton Steinecker, Slovak Republic

Maestro Emmanuel Siffert/Switzerland

Maestro Vladimir Garkusha/Ukraine

Orchestra seating: when in the opera pit, the orchestra is placed in this manner:

(from conductor's left to right facing the orchestra) first violins, second violins, violoncelli, violas

harp sits behind the first violins; contrabassi are behind the violas; timpani and percussion behind the violoncelli. NB...the cembalo player sits behind the violas and in front of the contrabassi for Don Giovanni (electronic keyboard sounding as a harpsichord)

Second row (left to right): flutes and oboes (not centered...but on the left-hand side)

Back row (left to right): clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trumbones, tuba

When in the Philharmonic Hall (on 9 and 10 June):

(from conductor's left to right facing the orchestra): first violins, second violins, violas, violoncelli.

Second row (left to right): flutes, oboes, horns

Third row (left to right): clarinets, bassoons, trumpets

Back row (left to right): Timpani and percussion, trombones, tuba

Video and Audio recordings: high-quality video and audio taping with graphics (professional material that can be used for applications, auditions, other competitions, job searchs, presentations to management, etc.) will be made by the Competition organizers and available for purchase by participating conductors. Prices for this optional service are 120 EUR for Round I, 180 EUR for Rounds I and II; and 200 EUR for Rounds I, II, III and the Gala. The Gala is included only if a conductor is selected to conduct La traviata on 17 June (top three or four conductors). Payment for this video/audio is in cash only, please, in EUR or Bulgarian leva, paid directly to our Bulgarian partner in Burgas. Official receipts/invoices will be issued by this company. Conductors will NOT be permitted to make their own video or audio tapes during the Competition.

Accommodation: We have negotiated a (high season/June) rate of 33 EUR per night (including breakfast) for single rooms at the Hotel Bulgaria -- the Competition headquarters and information center. The hotel is about seven minutes away by foot from the opera house. The normal rate charged by the hotel is 50 EUR. The 33 EUR rate is available only if booked through us and paid in cash (EUR or Bulgarian leva) to our Bulgarian partner in Burgas; otherwise, credit card payment is possible for 50 EUR per night (paid directly to the hotel). Our Bulgarian partner will issue an official invoice/receipt for hotel payment at the cash rate.

Transport: Burgas, Bulgaria has an international airport serviced by a number of European and other cities. Burgas can also be reached by train or bus. Sofia, Bulgaria and Bucharest, Romania are the nearest major airports. There are several flights a day to Burgas (Bourgas) from Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. It is the responsibility of each conductor to arrive in Burgas on his/her own; however, the organizers can provide ground transport within Bulgaria if you wish. Conductors are urged to arrive at least one day before your date for conducting in Round I. Some flight information is available online at www.sunny.bg and www.air.bg. The normal price for taxis from the Burgas Airport to the Hotel Bulgaria is about 20 EUR (nearly 40 leva). We offer this taxi service with our Competition drivers to conductors for 7 EUR (each direction) if they let us know in advance and provide us with complete arrival information. For those conductors arriving in Sofia and wishing to make the journey of six hours to Burgas by bus, we offer pick-up at the Sofia International Airport and transport by car to the Sofia bus station. Once at the bus station, we will buy the bus ticket for you, meet you upon your arrival in Burgas, and bring you to the Hotel Bulgaria. The cost for this service is 33 EUR (each direction, including the price of the bus ticket). Please let us know if you wish this option.

DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE

Round I, 60 conductors, 10 each day

Thursday, 02 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe)
Friday, 03 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe)
Saturday, 04 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe)
Sunday, 05 June	Day off -- Welcome dinner/meal at 19.00h in the Compass Room of the Hotel Bulgaria for all conductors, jury members, Competition team, and press. Gratis for all conductors
Monday, 06 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe)
Tuesday, 07 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe)
Wednesday, 08 June	10.00 - 14.00 La traviata (Sitzprobe/Italiana) 11.00 - 14.30 exhibition of Bulgarian violin makers...foyer of opera house 17.00 - 21.00 Don Giovanni (Generalprobe) 19.00 - no-host buffet snacks and drinks at the Hotel Bulgaria (Compass Room) prior to announcement of Round II conductors (announcement expected at about 22.15h; exhibition of Bulgarian violin makers in the Compass Room from 19.00 until 21.30h.

Round II, 18 conductors

Thursday, 09 June	10.00 - 13.30 Madama Butterfly, orchestra rehearsal, 9 conductors, Group A, 20' each (Philharmonic Hall) 17.00 - 20.30 La traviata and Madama Butterfly, choir rehearsal, 9 conductors, Group A, 20' each (Philharmonic Hall)
Friday, 10 June	10.00 - 13.30 Madama Butterfly, orchestra rehearsal, 9 conductors, Group B, 20' each (Philharmonic Hall) 17.00 - 20.30 La traviata and Madama Butterfly, choir rehearsal, 9 conductors, Group B, 20' each (Philharmonic Hall)
Saturday, 11 June	14.00 - 17.30 Madama Butterfly, cast rehearsal 9 conductors, Group A, 20' each
Sunday, 12 June	14.00 - 17.30 Madama Butterfly, cast rehearsal, 9 conductors, Group B, 20' each
Monday, 13 June	11.00 - 14.30 Madama Butterfly, Generalprobe 9 conductors, Group A, 20' each
Tuesday, 14 June	11.00 - 14.30 Madama Butterfly, Generalprobe 9 conductors, Group B, 20' each; announcement of Round III conductors; Round III begins: 17.30 - 20.30 La traviata, cast rehearsal 6 conductors, 25' each

Round III, 6 conductors

Wednesday, 15 June	11.00 - 15.10, La traviata, Sitzprobe, 6 conductors, 35' each
Thursday, 16 June	11.00 - 14.00, La traviata, Generalprobe, 3 conductors, ca. 45' each 17.00 - 20.00, La traviata, Generalprobe, 3 conductors, ca. 45' each; announcement of the winning conductors

Gala performance

Friday, 17 June

19.00 - Awards ceremony followed by a Gala performance of La traviata conducted by the winning conductors. Champagne reception for all Competition conductors, jury members and the Competition team and guests after the performance.

*All rehearsals will take place in the opera house unless otherwise noted