April 24, 2024
This year, 1,002 up-and-coming singers from 73 countries applied to take part in the 20th NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition. All applicants participated in the digital selection process, the first of three rounds. In addition to providing information on their age, voice, training and stage experience, the singers were required to submit two videos in which they perform an aria – also a challenge for the jury, who viewed over 2,000 videos. The result is that 627 performers now have the chance to audition live for the jury at one of 13 international locations. This second round will take place from April 11 to June 9 in Amsterdam, Berlin, Cape Town, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Vienna, Warsaw, Yerevan and Zurich.
“On the opera stage, we’re inspired not only by a fascinating voice, but also by an artist’s personality, stage presence and charisma,” says Liz Mohn, founder and chairwoman of the Executive Board of the Liz Mohn Foundation. “The auditions in 13 major cities around the world are therefore an important part of our competition. I’ll be very pleased if we can once again discover numerous promising young opera talents and pave the way for their international careers.”
Samuel Gelber joins the jury in New York and Gütersloh
Brian Dickie, former general director of Chicago Opera Theater, Sophie Joyce, casting director of Opéra National de Paris, and Evamaria Wieser, casting director of the Salzburg Festival, will serve as the jury for the live auditions. This year, the experienced trio will be joined by Samuel Gelber at the New York auditions and the final round in Gütersloh. A trained tenor and regular jury member at international singing competitions, the 34-year-old is Director of Artistic Planning at the Washington National Opera and, this year, will be contributing his extensive expertise to NEUE STIMMEN 2024.
Experience has shown that 40 to 45 young talents can expect an invitation to the final round in Gütersloh. That’s where, from October 5 to 11 in the city’s Stadthalle, they will demonstrate their skills to the entire NEUE STIMMEN jury and to opera world representatives. Once again, Dominique Meyer, director of Milan’s La Scala opera house, will serve as the jury’s chairman for the final round.
Prizes and access to the Creating Careers network
The Liz Mohn Foundation awards prizes worth a total of more than €60,000 to participants in the final round. At least as important are the contacts the contestants can make with opera house managers, festival directors and music agents. In keeping with the motto “Creating Careers,” NEUE STIMMEN also offers the singers ongoing advice and support from its own team and from a range of international opera experts.
Just last October, 12 young talents from the NEUE STIMMEN network were given the opportunity to continue developing their skills by working with experienced coaches at the NEUE STIMMEN International Masterclass in Gütersloh.
