Since its founding in 1987, the International Singing Competition NEUE STIMMEN has been one of the largest in the opera industry worldwide. Numerous talented singers have been able to draw attention to themselves in the opera world thanks to NEUE STIMMEN and lay the foundation for a successful career. In recent years, this has been particularly impressive for the French-Danish soprano Elsa Dreisig and the Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo. Those who wish to follow in their footsteps will have the opportunity to do so again starting tomorrow. The application phase for NEUE STIMMEN 2024 begins with the goal of finding and promoting the best young opera talents.
Liz Mohn, President of the Liz Mohn Center and initiator of the international competition NEUE STIMMEN, says: “For all of us, it is a great success story that the NEUE STIMMEN competition is now discovering and bringing together young opera singers worldwide for the 20th time. Through their participation in the NEUE STIMMEN competition, they experience the unifying power of music, make valuable contacts, and grow as individuals. NEUE STIMMEN is far more than a singing competition. I am sure that we will once again receive many international applications from first-class talents this time and I am very much looking forward to the grand final round in October 2024 in Gütersloh.”
Auditions in 13 cities worldwide
Even in its 20th edition, the International Singing Competition is divided into three rounds. Starting tomorrow and until January 31, 2024, all singers who aspire to a professional opera career can apply through the NEUE STIMMEN website in the first step. Applicants must not be older than 30 years at the end of the final round. In addition to the usual documents, they are asked to record and submit two opera arias via video. The applications will be reviewed by Brian Dickie, former General Director of the Chicago Opera Theatre, Sophie Joyce, Casting Director of the Opéra National de Paris, and Evamaria Wieser, Casting Director of the Salzburg Festival. This experienced trio will form the jury for the preliminary selections, as in previous years.
Those who convince the jurors with their application will receive an invitation to the so-called “Live Auditions.” In these auditions at several locations worldwide, the talents perform directly in front of the jury. Next year, this second application round will take place between April 11 and June 9 in 13 cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Yerevan, Cape Town, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Warsaw, Vienna, and Zurich.
Samuel Gelber strengthens the jury
Based on the on-site auditions, the preliminary selection jury will decide which singers qualify for the final round from October 5 to 12, 2024. Typically, 40 to 45 talents can expect an invitation to Gütersloh. There, they will showcase their skills in the Stadthalle in front of all NEUE STIMMEN jurors and industry representatives from the opera world. The jury for 2024 will once again be chaired by Dominique Meyer, Director of La Scala in Milan. The panel will be strengthened by Samuel Gelber. The Director of Artistic Planning at the Washington National Opera will bring his expertise to the competition for the first time and will join the jury for the preliminary selections in New York.
The talents who impress in the auditions in Gütersloh will advance to the semifinals with piano accompaniment. Only the best singers will reach the crowning conclusion of the competition: performing in the grand finale in front of an audience and accompanied by the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Prizes worth a total of 60,000 euros
For the participants of the final round, the Liz Mohn Center offers prizes worth a total of more than 60,000 euros. Equally important are the contacts made during the competition with directors, festival managers, and agents. Under the “Creating Careers” brand, NEUE STIMMEN also offers singers continuous career advice and support through its own team and international opera professionals. Just in October, twelve talents from the NEUE STIMMEN network had the opportunity to further improve their skills at the International Master Class in Gütersloh with experienced coaches.
In the 2021/2022 competition, almost 1,400 singers from 67 nations applied. The first two places were awarded to soprano Francesca Pia Vitale from Italy and baritone Carles Pachon from Spain.
