The Viotti International Music Competition is one of the most important vocal competitions in Italy. It takes place every two years in Vercelli, alternating with the Viotti Piano competition, and is open to singers from all over the world. The Viotti Music Competition is addressed to those young artists who aim at starting up in an international music career.

The 69th Gian Battista Viotti International Music Competition 2018 is open to singers of all nationalities were born after 6 October 1987 (women) and born after 6 October 1985 (men).

RULES

APPLICATION

Application Deadline

The application form completed in all its parts must be sent no later than 22 July 2018.

How to apply

– Application online

Candidates can apply for the Viotti Competition 2018 via the Internet. They only need to register to the Viotti Internet site http://www.concorsoviotti.it and they will receive an email confirming the successful registration and containing a link to their personal page. Here the candidates can fill in the application form and attach documents and files.

– Application submitted by post

It is also possible to send the application form by courier or by registered post to:

Segreteria del Concorso Internazionale di Musica Gian Battista Viotti
via Monte di Pietà n.39 – 13100 Vercelli, Italy

The postmark will be proof of posting.

Materials required

The application form must be sent together with:

1. The application form filled in all its parts.

2. Copy of the applicant’s passport or equivalent document that contains their name, nationality and birthday.

Application online. Upload formats: .jpeg or .pdf.

3. A typewritten curriculum vitae written in Italian or English (max. 800 characters) containing details of musical and artistic education, performances and of prizes won at other Competitions.

4. One or more recent artistic photographs free of copyright.

Application online: upload formats .jpeg files 300 dpi, longest side 10 cm.

5. The musical program for the competition including the title of the Opera, author, the full title of the Aria, the act.

6. The digital recording for the preliminary selection.

7. The entrance fee *.

The entrance fee for the Competition, amounting to EUR 70, must be paid by bank transfer (all bank charges shall be borne by the applicant) to:

SOCIETÀ DEL QUARTETTO DI VERCELLI
Bank: BIVERBANCA, Cassa di Risparmio di Biella e Vercelli
Agenzia 2 di Vercelli, Piazza Cavour n. 1 – 13100 VERCELLI (Italia)
BIC: CRBIIT2B
IBAN: IT 08 J 06090 10005 000056363073

Very important: in the case of bank transfer from abroad please indicate the BIC code together with the IBAN code.

* The applicants shall send to the Competition’s Office a copy of the proof of payment of the application fee. Failure to enclose such a receipt will invalidate the application. Under no circumstances will the entrance fee be refunded.

Those candidates whose application form is incomplete and whose entrance fee is unpaid within the set time limit should not be allowed to compete.

PRELIMINARY SELECTION

The preliminary selection to the Viotti Competition 2018 will be made by way of documents and a digital recording submitted by the applicants.

Recording for the preliminary selection

An unmodified digital recording must be submitted by all applicants as follow:

Recordings for the preliminary selection must contain two Opera Arias chosen by the applicant.

Please note that the music chosen for the preliminary selection can be used for the program of the competition.

Modality. The digital recording must be sent as:

By post: DVD

Application online: uploading the video to YouTube (in the settings you can select “Unlisted” to allow viewing only to those who will be in possession of the internet address of the video). In the description of the / videos must indicate “Preselection Viotti Competition 2018″. When the upload of video is necessary to indicate the Internet address in the box of the form online.

The recording must be of excellent technical quality and preferably recorded professionally.

The applicants details must be clearly stated on the disk cover. In addition, the following data must be specified: recording date and complete program (application sent by post) or in the form of the videos uploaded on YouTube (application online).

They must also be indicated: the date of registration and program.

All pieces must be recorded on separate tracks (application sent by post).

The application package from foreign nations (except the European Union’s internal market) shall be sent as a material with no monetary value.

The first prize winners of a Competition registered in the World Federation of International Music Competition of Geneva (WFIMC) will be admitted to the Competition without preliminary selection. In this case, the applicant should attach documentation.

PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION

1. All applicants will be informed of their acceptance or rejection not later than August 20th 2018.

2. All music must be performed from memory. All the music performed must be published.

3. First prize winners in former Vercelli International Competitions are not allowed to compete in the section for which they were awarded for the prize.

4. All competitors must arrive at the Secretary of the Competition in Vercelli by 3:00pm on the day of convocation to attend the registration at the Competition and the drawing ceremony.

5. The performing order of contestants determined by drawing before the first round will be maintained throughout the Competition except for the final round in which the order will be established by the members of the Jury.

6. Candidates are advised to remain in Vercelli, and must be available at all times during the whole period when they are competing.

7. The decisions of the Jury are final; in case of differences of interpretation of the Competition Regulations, the Italian text will be held as definitive.

8. The Viotti Competition organization reserves the right to use any recording or video made or photograph taken during the Viotti Competition 2018 and have the unlimited rights to broadcast competition performances on TV, Radio, the Internet and other data networks without any payment to the competitors. Participation in the Viotti Competition 2018 implies a tacit agreement of this above-mentioned rule.

9. The first prize is indivisible. The second and third prize can be awarded ex-aequo. The Jury can decide not to award any prize.

10. Prize-winners of the International Music Competition G.B. Viotti of Vercelli agree to make use in future of the exact title conferred by the Jury. Any misuse will be prosecuted.

11. The Prize-winners are committed to perform at the Prize-winners’ Concert of the Competition without fee.

REPERTOIRE

Candidates must present six Opera Arias of a leading role. One Aria shall be chosen among the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart* and five Arias chosen by the candidate.

* Mezzo-soprano and contralto voices can sing in the semi-final an Aria by Franz Joseph Haydn rather than Mozart.

FIRST ROUND

with piano accompaniment

The contestant is required to sing two Arias of their choice among the six presented for the Competition.

SEMIFINAL

with piano accompaniment

The contestant is required to sing one Aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart* and one Aria of their choice among the six presented for the Competition, other than the ones performed in the First Round.

FINAL WITH ORCHESTRA

Contestants admitted to the final round are required to sing two Arias selected by the Jury among the six presented for the Competition.

All the Arias must be sung in the original language and have to be performed with the relative recitative and/or “cabaletta”.

THE PRIZES

First Prize
€ 15.000

Second Prize
€   7.000

Third Prize
€   5.000

Audience Prize
€   1.000

Soroptimist Club of Vercelli Prize
€   1.000

Rotary Club of Vercelli Prize
€   1.000

THE JURY

The Jury is composed of Italian and foreign prominent musicians, musicologist, critics and artists. Members of the Jury who currently have, or have had any teaching relationship with one or more contestants whithin the two years preceding the starting date of the Competition, must abstain from taking part in the discussion and the vote on the performance of the contestants who have been their pupils. Their abstaining must be clearly reported in the minutes. During the first meeting, each member of the Jury must sign a statement on their personal situation regarding the contestants with respect to the above.

Dates to remember

› Sunday, July 22, 2018
Application Deadline

› Monday, August 20, 2018
Results of the preliminary selection of the Opera Singing Competition 2018

The Competition

› Saturday, September 29, 2018
University of Eastern Piedmont  (via Duomo 6, Vercelli)
h. 5:00 pm: Welcome Ceremony
Registration of the candidates and draw

Museo Borgogna
h. 6:45 pm: Opening concert

First Round

Teatro Civico di Vercelli

› Sunday,  September 30, 2018
starting at h. 10:00 am | with audience

› Monday, October 1, 2018
starting at h. 10:00 am | with audience

Semifinal

› Tuesday, October 2, 2018
starting at h. 3:00 pm | with audience

› Wednesday, October 3, 2018
starting at h. 3:00 pm | with audience

Final

› Saturday, October 6, 2018
h. 8:30 pm
Final with orchestra
Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova

GENERAL INFORMATION

HOW TO REACH VERCELLI

The city of Vercelli is located in the north west, the plain that stretches between Turin and Milan.

Its geographical position between these two great centers makes it easily accessible by rail and road. In addition, the proximity of the airports of Malpensa, Linate and Milan-Turin-Caselle, facilitates communication over long distances.

VISA

Any applicants requiring a visa must indicate this on the application form. The Competition’s Office will send the Italian diplomatic representation in their Country a letter of invitation.

VENUES

Teatro Civico di Vercelli
Address: via Monte di Pietà 15- Vercelli
Capacity: 746
Opened: 1815

PRACTICE FACILITIES

Rehearsal on stage
The rehearsal on stage of the Civic Theatre will be possible from 28 September 2018.
Please refer to the Secretary’s office at your arrival to fix your rehearsal on stage before the first round.

Practice facilities
During the Competition candidates can practice in rooms with piano at the Teatro Civico.

PRIZE CEREMONY, October 6th 2018
The prize ceremony will be held on the stage of the Civic Theatre at the end of the Jury’s decision.