Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition 2009 (Inaugural Edition)
1-12 June 2009
BULGARIAN STATE OPERA BURGAS (BULGARIA)
Photo: Opera Theater in Kiev, Ukraine
*First Prize: Engagements with 1) the Romanian National Opera in Bucharest (Opera Nationala Bucuresti); 2) the Serbian National Opera in Belgrade; and 3) Slovak State Opera Banska Bystrica 4) conducting a portion of the gala performance of La boheme at the conclusion of the Competition. The first prize in 2009 went to Mr. Marco Bons of the Netherlands.
*Second Prize: Engagements with 1) the Lviv National Theatre of Opera and Ballet (Ukraine) and 2) the Bulgarian State Opera Ruse; 3) conducting a portion of the gala performance of La boheme at the conclusion of the Competition. The second prize in 2009 went to Mr. Oleg Soldatov of the Russian Federation.
*Third Prize: Engagement with 1) the Bulgarian National Opera Burgas; 2) conducting a portion of the gala performance of La boheme and the conclusion of the Competition. The third prize in 2009 went to Mr. Koichiro Kanno of Japan.
The Jury's Special Prize and the Orchestra's Prize in 2009 went to Mr. Knud Jansen of Germany.
*The above engagements will take place during the 2009-2010 season. The above institutions offer their standard fees and conditions for guest conductors.
1) Send the BDMI Application Form (see menu) and your CV/Lebenslauf to the address below via fax, email or post as soon as possible.
2) Send a recent DVD or videotape of your conducting (any format) to the address below as soon as possible. The DVD/tape be either symphonic or operatic conducting. Conductors who have participated in our past productions...mastercourses or Competitions...do not need to send. Excerpts of your conducting online (YouTube, your website) are also acceptable.
3) Send EUR 200,00 immediately to the account below -- this sum includes the application fee of EUR 50,00 (non-refundable), and the deposit of EUR 150,00 (refundable if not accepted or if conductor withdraws before 1 March 2009). The balance of EUR 550,00 will be payable in cash and in EUR only on the conductor's first day at the Competition. Thus, the total Competiton fee is EUR 750,00.
Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition
c/o Blue Danube Musik Impresario GmbH
32-34 Strozzigasse
A-1080 Wien (Vienna)
Österreich (Austria/Europe)
Tel./Fax: +43 1 405 40 30; Mobil: +43 660 944 16 59
info@musikimpresario.com
Bank name: BAWAG P.S.K.
Bank Address: Josefstädter Strasse 28/A-1080 Wien (Vienna)
Name on account: Blue Danube Musik Impresario GmbH
Account number (Kontonummer): 02010 006 026
*BIC: BAWAATWW (*BAWAATWWXXX when wiring from the U.S.)
IBAN: AT221400002010006026
Reason for payment: Competition application and deposit fees (please send EUR only)
Please ask your bank to send without charges for the receiver (Spesenfrei fuer den Empfaenger) so we receive the full amount
The first 60 conductors who apply with a deposit 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 (Chefdirigent) or Erste Kapellmeister of a professional opera company.
The orchestra, chorus and soloists of the Bulgarian State Opera Burgas, one of that country's and the region's best professional opera companies, will be used for all rounds of the Competition. Up to 60 conductors will be accepted for the first round...18 will advance to the second...and six (6) to the third/final round. Since this is the inaugural edition of this Competition, winners from our previous opera competitions (Bartok 2005 and 2007) are eligible to compete. Prizes will be awarded to the top conductors selected by the jury. The first, second, and third prize winners will be offered operatic engagements with opera houses in Central and Eastern Europe and conduct in a gala peformance of La boheme before the public at the conclusion of the Competition. The following agents/managers will also be in attendance during a portion of the Competition: Ms. Giovanna Lomazzi, As.Li.Co. (Associazione Lirica e Concertistica/Milan); Mr. Giovanni Vegeto, As.Li.Co.; Ms. Danusa Luknisova, Arte Musica Italia; Mr. Grigor Palikarov, general manager of the Pazardjik (Bulgaria) Philharmonic; Mr. Georgi Lalov, opera and concert impresario/USA. The repertoire and sequence of events during the Competition will be as follows:
Round 1: Le nozze di Figaro (in Italian)...Sitzprobe/Italiana...soloists and chorus seated on stage, orchestra in the pit...and Cavalleria rusticana (in Italian)...without decor but with stage action. Each conductor will have 38' with the company's full forces: 19' with Le nozze di Figaro during a morning session; and 19' with Cavalleria rusticana (in Italian) 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 will be the conductor's ability to accomplish as much as artistically possible without pausing for verbal directives. The recitativo secco sections of Le nozze di Figaro will not be rehearsed, performed or conducted (in contrast to what was announced earlier).
Round 2: Carmen (in French/version with accompanied recitatives)...without decor but with stage action. Each conductor will have 60' of conducting time: 20' with the orchestra alone; 20' with the chorus and cast (with piano); and 20' in a Generalprobe situation.
Round 3: La boheme (in Italian). Each conductor will have 105' of conducting time: 30' with the orchestra alone; 30' with the chorus and cast (with piano); and 45' in a Generalprobe situation.
Jury members: Maestro Dejan Savic, opera director and chief conductor, Serbian National Opera/Belgrade); Maestro Larry Newland, former assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta and current free-lance conductor and conductor with the Slovak State Opera in Kosice; Mr. Michal Hudak, concertmaster of the Slovak State Opera Banska Bystrica; Maestro Ivan Kojuharov, opera conductor and chief conductor of the Burgas Philharmonic; the Burgas Opera Orchestra will also have one vote.
Optional video and audio taping of very high quality with graphics (professional material that can be used for applications, auditions, othe competitions, job searches, presentations to management etc.) will be made by the Competition organizers and will be available for purchase by participating conductors. Conductors will not be permitted to make their own video or audio tapes. Prices for these video/audio DVDs are as follows: Round 1 only: EUR 170,00; Rounds I and II: EUR 290,00; Rounds I, II & III: EUR 450,00; all Rounds & Gala, EUR 500,00
Accommodation -- Marina Holiday Club...this resort/hotel will be the headquarters of the Competition (in their conference room...which is booked for us). The hotel is located ca. 18 km from the opera theater and city center of Burgas and ca. 8 min. from the Burgas International Airport. We have arranged a special price for conductors and their families of EUR 25,00 per night (without breakfast)...this is for a fully-equiped and luxury apartment with private bedroom and bath but with shared kitchen and living room. A buffet breakfast is an additional EUR 3,00 per day for those who want it. BDMI will book all rooms for participants and transport conductors to and from the opera theater on the days they conduct. Please do not contact the hotel directly or book a room on your own. You can get an overview of this hotel/luxury resort at: www.marinaholidayclub.com. Apartments with private kitchen and living room are available for EUR 50,00 per night (without breakfast). There is a market within the resort complex for your food and other needs.
Transport details...Burgas, Bulgaria has an international airport serviced from many European cities. Burgas can also be reached by train or bus. Sofia, Bulgaria and Bucharest, Romania are the nearest major airports. It is up to you to arrive in Burgas on your own...we will provide logistical support, however, if you experience any problems upon your arrival. We recommend you arrive at least one day before your date for conducting in Round I. 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. www.sunny.bg; www.air.bg.
Orchestra seating in the pit: from the conductor's perspective, facing the orchestra...from left to right: first violins, second violins, violoncelli, violas. The first violins and violas sit a little higher than the rest of the orchestra, on a raised platform. Contrabassi are located behind the violas. The wind and percussion are seated as follows: back row from left to right: clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, tuba and percussion. Middle row from left to right: flutes, oboes...these sit in front of the clarinets and bassoons respectively.
The Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition is Biennial, that is, it will take place at intervals of two years -- 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, etc.
Editions: conductors will be able to copy the orchestra's rehearsal letters and numbers into their scores, as well as cuts, upon their arrival in Burgas. Please note that the version of Carmen used is the one with accompanied recitatives by Ernest Guirard...not the original version with dialogue.
Day-by-Day Schedule
Monday, 1 June (Round I, 60 conductors, 10 each day)
10.00-14.00…Le nozze di Figaro (Sitzprobe/Italiana)
17.00-21.00…Cavalleria rusticana (Generalprobe)
Tuesday, 2 June
same as 1 June
Wednesday, 3 June
same as 1 June
Thursday, 4 June
same as 1 June
Friday, 5 June
same as 1 June
Saturday, 6 June
same as 1 June
Sunday, 7 June (Round II, 18 conductors)
10.00-13.40…Carmen (chorus/cast rehearsal, group A, 9 conductors)
17.00-20.40…Carmen (orchestra rehearsal, group A)
Monday, 8 June
10.00-13.40…Carmen (Generalprobe, group A)
17.00-20.40…Carmen (chorus/cast rehearsal, group B, 9 conductors)
Tuesday, 9 June
10.00-13.40…Carmen (orchestra rehearsal, group B)
14.30-16.00...Audition of singers (all conductors invited)
17.00-20.40…Carmen (Generalprobe, group B)
Wednesday, 10 June (Round III, 6 conductors)
10.00-13.30…La boheme (orchestral rehearsal)
17.00-20.30…La boheme (chorus/cast rehearsal)
Thursday, 11 June
10.00-12.45…La boheme (Generalprobe, 3 conductors)
17.00-19.45…La boheme (Generalprobe, 3 conductors)
Friday, 12 June
19.00...Gala (public) performance of La boheme conducted by the winning conductors
*subject to confirmation