The Tibor Varga International Violin Competition aims to discover new talents, to enrich the experience and musical practice of the participants and to provide encouragement and support to the winners for the rest of their careers. To achieve these objectives, the International Jury, comprised of recognized violin specialists (performers and teachers) and other world-renowned musicians, will focus on showcasing the musical qualities of each candidate.
The Competition is organised by the Fondation Sion Violon Musique. The Competition is managed by the Foundation Board or a delegation of the latter.
Application rules:
The Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, Sion, Valais, is open, without distinction of sex or nationality, to all violinists born after 1 September 1997 (under 26 years of age).
Candidates who have already won first prize at the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in the past are not allowed to enter the competition.
The registration deadline is midnight on 17 April 2023 by midnight (UTC+1). Candidates must register online on the website www.sion-concours.ch. Registrations received by post will not be considered.
The registration will be confirmed only when the online registration process has been successfully completed (please ensure that high-quality copies of the following documents are uploaded with your application):
- An official document showing proof of age (photocopy of birth certificate or passport).
- A brief curriculum vitae (education, teachers, titles obtained, professional activities).
- Two recent royalty-free photographs of excellent quality: one portrait and one photo of the candidate playing the violin.
- Two high-quality, unedited video recordings of the performance of the aforementioned preselection programme, that also displays the date and place of recording.
All candidates are responsible for obtaining their own visa for Switzerland for the duration of the competition and are requested to take all necessary steps to obtain it. The Competition declines all responsibility regarding visas.
The choice of works indicated on the registration form is final, except in exceptional cases that have been approved by the organisers of the Competition.
Registered and selected candidates who are unable to take part in the Competition must inform the organisers immediately.
Only communications made by the administrative team of the Competition are official. Any information from any other source will not be considered valid.
Application fee:
The registration fee will be $ 150.- (one hundred and fifty dollars, approximately one hundred and fifty Swiss francs). This fee is to be paid in one go in accordance with the online payment procedure. The registration fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Awards:
First Prize: CHF 20000.
Second Prize: CHF 10000.
Third Prize: CHF 5000.
Prize for Best Interpretation of the piece by Silvia Colasanti (compulsory piece): CHF 3000.
Youth Jury Prize: CHF 500.
Audience Prize: CHF 500.
Repertoire:
Each candidate must select their Competition pieces from the lists below.
The pieces must be played from memory, except the work composed by Silvia Colasanti for the first round, all pieces mentioned in lists A and B for the second round and the Trios for the chamber music final.
For repeats: at the liberty of the candidate to choose but preferably without repeats (Sonatas and J. S. Bach).
Preselection by Video
Niccolò Paganini A Caprice of the candidate’s choice, Op. 1
Sonata The first movement of a Sonata from the 2nd round list A
First round: solo violin (maximum time of 30’)
A piece from each category: A, B and C.
The Jury reserves the right to choose the movements to be played.
J. S. Bach Two consecutive movements from a Partita or Sonata for solo violin, except the Chaconne from Partita for violin N°2
Eugène Ysaÿe One of the six Sonatas for solo violin, Op. 27
Piece by Silvia Colasanti commissioned for the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition 2023
Second round : solo violin with piano (maximum time of 45’)
A piece from each category: A, B and C.
The Jury reserves the right to choose the movements to be played..
A.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata No. 3, 5, 6 or 8
Johannes Brahms
Sonata No. 3, 5, 6 or 8
Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100
Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
Wolfgang A. Mozart
Sonata No. 30 in C major, K.403
Sonata No. 26 in B-flat major, K.378
Franz Schubert
Sonata in A major, D. 574
Robert Schumann
Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105
Sonata . 2 en D minor, Op. 121
B.
Claude Debussy Sonata for violin and piano
Leoš Janáček Sonata for violin and piano, JW VII/7
Sergueï Prokofiev Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 or No. 2
Georges Enesco Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 in A minor, Op. 25
Francis Poulenc Sonata for violin and piano
Béla Bartók Sonata for violin and piano No. 1, Sz. 75 or No. 2, Sz. 76
Maurice Ravel Sonata for violin and piano, M. 77
Arnold Schönberg Phantasy for violin and piano, Op. 47
Karol Szymanowski Sonata for violin and piano in D minor, Op. 9
C. Virtuosic piece of the candidate’s choice for solo violin or violin with piano
First part of the Final: Chamber Music with two members of the Jury who will play the piano and cello parts (maximum time of 45’)
A. Compulsory piece
Felix Mendelssohn Trio in D minor No. 1, Op. 49, Scherzo
B. Trio of your choice from the following list
Ludwig van Beethoven
Johannes Brahms
Dmitri Shostakovich
Frank Martin
Maurice Ravel
Second part of the Final : Concerto with Orchestra
A. Concerto of the candidate’s choice from the following list, to be played from memory
Ludwig van Beethoven Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Johannes Brahms Concerto in D major, Op. 77
Dmitri Shostakovich Concerto No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 129
Felix Mendelssohn Concerto No. 2 in E minor, Op. 64
Robert Schumann Concerto in D minor, WoO 23
Piotr Tchaikovsky Concerto in D major, Op. 35
B. BIS : Piece for solo violin, preferably composed after 1970, at the free choice of the finalist (max. 5′)
More information: https://sion-violon-musique.ch/en/homepage-concours-en-2/ .