56th INTERNATIONAL ANTONIN DVORAK
SINGING COMPETITION
Karlovy Vary * November 4 - 11, 2022
A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1) The Antonin Dvorak International Singing Competition (hereinafter “the Competition”) is an international interpretative Competition for young vocalists and is declared and managed by the International Antonin Dvorak Vocal Centre), office at: Smeralova 40, CZ - 360 05 Karlovy Vary, (hereinafter “the Vocal Centre”)
2) The executive body of the Competition is the Secretariat, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3) The competition is announced in these categories with these age limits:
OPERA HOPES - women and men from 16 to 20 years of age, incl. (born between the years 2006 and 2002) Two-round competition taking place in one day
JUNIOR - women and men both up to 24 years of age, incl. (born in 1998 and younger)
Three-round competition, final round with Orchestra
OPERA - women and men both up to 35 years of age, incl. (born 1987 and younger)
Three-round competition, final round with Orchestra
SONG - women and men both up to 35 years of age, incl. (born 1987 and younger)
Two-round competition taking place in one day
Contestants can perform in one of the contests or in two of them maximum, but only in following combinations:
JUNIOR + SONG or OPERA + SONG or OPERA HOPES + SONG
The competition is not open in 2022 in the field of countertenor.
B. EXPERT JURY
C. RULES OF THE COMPETITION
By signing the application, the contestants confirm their consent and compliance with competition regulations and conditions of the competition in 2021. By signing the application, the contestants give their consent to personal data processing.
D. AWARDS AND PRIZES OF THE COMPETITION
Regarding the point’s results of the second and third rounds the Jury decides about awards and diplomas. The Jury may decide to divide or fuse awards, excluding the first prizes. The first prizes cannot be divided. The prizes may be divided regarding the financial conditions of the organizer. The Jury may also decide not to award a prize if the performances do not reach a desirable level.
OPERA HOPES - WOMEN
1. Prize 6.000 CZK
2. Prize 4.000 CZK
3. Prize 3.000 CZK
OPERA HOPES - MEN
1. Prize 6.000 CZK
2. Prize 4.000 CZK
3. Prize 3.000 CZK
SONG in absolute order of women and men
1. Prize 20.000 CZK
2. Prize 10.000 CZK
3. Prize 6.000 CZK
JUNIOR - WOMEN
1. Prize 20.000 CZK
2. Prize 10.000 CZK
3. Prize 6.000 CZK
JUNIOR - MEN
1. Prize 20.000 CZK
2. Prize 10.000 CZK
3. Prize 6.000 CZK
OPERA - WOMEN
1. Prize 25.000 CZK
2. Prize 15.000 CZK
3. Prize 8.000 CZK
OPERA - MEN
1. Prize 25.000 CZK
2. Prize 15.000 CZK
3. Prize 8.000 CZK
Prices in the amount of CZK 10,000 or more (also in the case of price cumulating) will be taxed with 15% according to the tax law.
Special Prizes for 2022
The Prizes of the Czech and Slovak opera stages are defined when awarded usually as guest appearance in an opera role in next two seasons. In 2022 will be awarded:
Other awards and prizes are in negotiation.
Special interpretative prizes will be realized without the participation of the artistic agencies.
E. TIME-TABLE OF THE COMPETITION
Friday 04. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA / 09:00 – 16:30
I. and II. Round of the OPERA HOPES contest
Friday 04. 11. 2022 / Hotel KRIVÁŇ / 20.30
Opening of the Competition with drawing lots of the JUNIOR and OPERA contests
Results announcement of the competition OPERA HOPES
Saturday 05. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA / 09:30 – 18:30
I. Round of the JUNIOR contest
Sunday 06. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA / 09:30 – 18:30
I. Round of the OPERA contest
Monday 07. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA / 13:00 – 18:30
II. Round of the JUNIOR contest
Tuesday 08. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA / 13:00 – 18:30
II. Round of the OPERA contest
Wednesday 09. 11. 2022 / ELISABETH SPA
I. and II. Round of the SONG contest / 09:30 – 18:30
Thursday 10. 11. 2022 / KARLOVY VARY MUNICIPAL THEATRE / 15:00 – 18:00
Final rounds of the JUNIOR and OPERA contests
Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jiří Štrunc
Thursday 11. 11. 2022 / Hotel KRIVÁŇ / 21:00
Festive results announcement
Friday 11. 11. 2022 / KARLOVY VARY MUNICIPAL THEATRE / 19:00
Festive opera concert of winners and laureates with orchestra and awarding ceremony
Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jiří Štrunc
CHANGES in time-schedule of the beginning and closing of each contest round reserved!
F. COMPULSORY COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTESTANTS
Enclosed to the competition conditions the organizer issues the repertory annex, which is a suggestion or orientation for choice of respective tasks.
This list must be respected by contestants in the 3rd rounds of JUNIOR and OPERA contests.
OPERA HOPES
The OPERA HOPES category is intended for future opera and concert singers, conservatory students, music grammar schools, etc. The category is evaluated by an independent jury. The OPERA HOPES category will take place in two rounds in one day and there will be elimination after the first round.
Approximately half of the competitors from the first round will advance to the second round of the competition based on the jury's point evaluation. The announcement of the results of individual competition rounds will take place approximately one hour after the end of the competition performances of the given day at the place of the competition.
I. round – duration up to 9 minutes
II. round – duration up to 10 minutes
SONG
Contestants in the SONG-contest cannot repeat the same song in both rounds of the SONG-category. If a contestant chooses the song written by Antonin Dvorak for the second task of the second round, this song must be from a different song cycle than the contestant will choose for the second task of the first round.
Contestants with combination JUNIOR + SONG must for the SONG contest choose a different song from the one they choose for the JUNIOR contest.
1st round – duration up to 12 minutes
1. A song written by F. Schubert, J. Brahms, R. Schumann, C. Loewe, H. Wolf, G. Mahler, or R. Strauss - in the printed edition for each voice field.
2. A song from song cycles composed by Antonin Dvorak from following possibilities in the printed edition for the voice field sung in the Czech language:
3. A song of the contestant’s choice composed by a Czech composer or a composer of contestant’s nationality from the 19th or the 20th Century.
Final - 2nd round - duration up to 12 minutes
1. A song by a Russian or French or Polish composer in the compositional style of romantics of the 19th or the 20th century - in the printed edition.
2. A song by Antonin Dvorak – from following possibilities in the printed edition for the given voice field sung in the Czech language:
a) Love Songs, Op. 83 – soprano, tenor
b) Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – mezzo-soprano, alto, baritone, bass
c) Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 – all voice categories
d) Evening Songs, Op. 3 (lyrics by V. Hálek) – baritone
e) Songs, op. 2 (lyrics by G. Pfleger-Moravský) – soprano, tenor
f) In Folk Tone, Op. 73 - for higher and lower voice
or
a song of the contestant’s choice from song cycles by Bohuslav Martinů according to voice categories in original version:
a) Three Songs to poems by G. Apollinaire, H. 197/ middle voice
b) Two Songs on Negro Folk-Poetry, H. 226/ middle voice
c) Nipponari - seven songs for female voice, H. 68 / alt
3. A song or part of a cycle in the 20th or 21st century compositional style of the contestant's choice (duration minimum 4 minutes and maximum 6 minutes).
As the compositional style of the 20th century is not considered a neo-romanticism based mostly on the musical tradition of the 19th century (e. g. the songs of G. Mahler, R. Strauss, S. Rachmaninov, early songs by A. Berg, etc.).
You can find a range of suitable authors for the selection of works in the 20th or 21st century compositional style on www. singingcompetition.eu.
JUNIOR
Contestants of the JUNIOR contest always choose a different song or aria for the first two rounds of the JUNIOR contest. Contestants of the JUNIOR contest can repeat the aria from the 1st or 2nd round in the 3rd round with orchestra. The Repertory Annex must be respected by contestants in the 3rd round of JUNIOR. Contestants, who take part also in the SONG contest, choose different songs for each category.
1st round - duration up to 12 minutes
1) Mandatory song from the Antonín Dvořák cycle in the original key and in the Czech language
Soprano: Love Songs, Op. 83 – No. 2 „V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest“
or In Folk Tone, Op. 73 – No. 1 „Dobrú noc“
Mezzo-soprano, alto: Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – No. 10 „Zpívejte Hospodinu píseň novou”
or , Op. 73 – „Ach není, není tu“
Tenor: Love Songs, Op. 83 – No. 3 „Kol domu se teď potácím“
or Gypsy Melodies, Op. 83 – „Aj kterak trojhranec můj“
Baritone: Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55 – No. 6 „Široké rukávy“
or Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – „Popatřiž na mne a Smiluj se nade mnou“
Bass: Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – No. 1 „Oblak a mrákota“
or Biblical Songs, Op. 99 – „Popatřiž na mne a smiluj se nade mnou“
2) A vocal piece from the baroque or classicism period. In case of baroque aria, the chosen piece will be performed without Da Capo al Fine.
3) An opera aria of the competitor's choice.
Semi-final - 2nd round - duration up to 15 minutes
1. A song written in a romantic or new-romantic compositional style of the 19th century in the original printed edition with a possibility of unique style overlap of the piece creation in the first half of the 20th century.
2. An opera aria by a Czech composer or a composer of contestant’s nationality.
Upon request, the organizer provides information about Czech arias for different voice categories.
3. An opera aria of the contestant's choice.
To fulfill the tasks determined in points 2 and 3, the candidate shall make his/her choice so that two arias by a composer of the same nationality are avoided.
Final - 3rd round - duration up to 6 minutes
One aria accompanied by orchestra selected from the Repertory Annex performed in original printed edition.
OPERA
Contestants in the OPERA contest shall not repeat any aria in the tasks of all rounds of the OPERA category. The Repertory Annex must be respected by contestants in the 3rd round.
1st round - duration up to 12 minutes
1. An opera aria from the baroque or classicism period. In case of baroque aria, the chosen piece will be performed without Da Capo al Fine.
2. An aria from any opera, cantata, mass, or oratorio written by Antonin Dvorak performed in original printed edition.
3. An opera aria of the contestant’s choice performed in original printed edition.
Semi-final – 2nd round - duration up to 15 minutes
1. A vocal piece in the compositional style of the 20th or 21st century.
As the compositional style of the 20th century is not considered a neo-romanticism based mostly on the musical tradition of the 19th century (e.g. the songs of G. Mahler, R. Strauss, S. Rachmaninov, early songs by A. Berg, L. Janáček, etc.).
2. An opera aria by a 19th century composer of the contestant’s choice, performed in original printed edition.
3. An opera aria of the contestant’s choice performed in original printed edition.
Final – 3rd round - duration up to 6 minutes
One aria accompanied by orchestra selected from the Repertory Annex in original printed edition.
G. APPLICATION
Applications together with a portrait photo and the payment confirmation are to be posted to the address of the Secretariat by October 1, 2022. Contestants and pianists and escorts of contestants who need to apply for a visa to enter the Czech Republic must send their application to the address of the Secretariat by September 16, 2022 together with a copy of personal data in their passport.
Attached to the application should be a legible list of pieces selected for performance in accordance with the Competition conditions, stating the duration in minutes of each piece, written carefully in Latin characters.
With signature of the application form contestants irreversibly agree with the conditions of the Competition. By signing the application, the contestants give their consent to personal data processing.
In view of the limited number of participants in each category, we recommend sending the application as soon as possible.
H. FEE
Participants in the contest shall pay an application fee.
OPERA HOPES: 130 €
song: 170 €
JUNIOR: 260 €
OperA: 330 €
In case of participation in two contests, a discount for the SONG contest will apply.
Combination JUNIOR + SONG: 325 €
Combination OPERA + SONG: 395 €
Combination OPERA HOPES + SONG: 210 €
The contestant is obliged to pay the whole fee by October 1, 2022.
Payment must be made in full amount (with bank fees on the competitor's side).
In the case the applicant cannot participate for serious reasons, the registration fee, after deduction of the 15% handling fee, will be returned to the account of the applicant.
!!! IMPORTANT NOTICE !!!
Participation in the Competition will be confirmed only to those applicants, who will send a payment confirmation together with the application to the e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bank details (payments in EUR):
UniCreditBank Czech Republic Karlovy Vary, Zeyerova street, 360 01 Karlovy Vary
Account No: 5149130009 / 2700
IBAN CZ7227000000005149130009
SWIFT (BIC): BACX CZ PP
Please, write down the full name of the organizer and owner of the account:
Mezinarodni pevecke centrum Antonina Dvoraka to the beneficiary address on your payment order.
Address of the owner of our account is: Šmeralova 40, CZ-360 05 Karlovy Vary
In case of electronic payment please enter contestant´s name and the chosen category into the message to the recipient.
I. ACCOMMODATION
For all categories – If a competitor requests a reservation for accommodation outside of the competition dates (e. g. she/he arrives early or departs later), the organizer will arrange accommodation at the cost of the participant for a symbolic price of 500 CZK per person / night in a double room without breakfast. In the case the request for accommodation in a single room, the organizer can arrange this according to the free capacity of the hotel for CZK 900 per night. Accommodation in a single room can be arranged only in case of free hotel capacity.
Accommodation fees can only be paid in cash upon registration (not by credit card).
The hotel breakfasts in form of a buffet for the whole time of the stay can be bought in the Reception of the Hotel Kriváň for a convenient price.
The arrival of the OPERA HOPES contest competitors is expected on Thursday, November 3, 2022. The draw of lots will take place during the enrollment. Competitors of this category will have a hotel accommodation without breakfast from Thursday 3.11.2022 to Friday 4.11.2022 (until 12:00) in a double room with another competitor at the expense of the organizer. In case of an earlier arrival or stay in Karlovy Vary after the end of the OPERA HOPES category, the participants will pay the accommodation themselves. Those interested in this possibility will inform the competition secretariat about their arrival (departure) and the secretariat will book a hotel accommodation with other competitors in a double room without breakfast for 500 CZK per person per night. This amount will be paid at the enrollment.
If participants in the competition require accommodation in single rooms, the extra supplement 400 CZK for each night (including the night of Thursday 3.11.2022 to Friday 4.11.2022) will be paid cash during the enrollment. Accommodation in a single room can only be arranged in case of free hotel capacity.
The arrival of the JUNIOR contest competitors is expected on Friday, November 4, 2022 if possible until
18:00 o´clock. For the duration of the first round, they pay the accommodation themselves, that means until Sunday 06.11.2022 till 12:00 o´clock. The competition secretariat will reserve the hotel accommodation with another competitor in a double room without breakfast for the first round for a total amount of CZK 1000 per person and two nights. The amount will be paid cash only at the enrolment, not by a credit card!
If participants in the competition require accommodation in single rooms, they will pay extra supplement 400 CZK for each night and room (regardless of the procedure in the competition) cash during the enrolment. The organizer will provide the accommodation without breakfast for contestants who advanced to II. round of the JUNIOR contest from Sunday 06.11.2022 till one night after their last performance in the competition, except for the supplement for a single room.
The organizer will provide the accommodation without breakfast for contestants who advanced to the final round until the end of the Competition (till Saturday 12.11.2022 in the morning) except the single room supplement (CZK 400/night). Accommodation in a single room can only be arranged in case of free hotel capacity.
The arrival of the OPERA contest competitors is expected on Friday, November 4, 2022, eventually on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
For the duration of the first round, they pay the accommodation themselves, that means until Monday 07.11.2022 till 12:00 o´clock. The competition secretariat will reserve the hotel accommodation with another competitor in the double room without breakfast for the first round for a total amount of CZK 500 per person and night regarding the exact arrival date. The amount will be paid at the enrolment in cash.
If participants in the competition require accommodation in single rooms, they will pay extra supplement 400 CZK for each night and room (regardless of the procedure in the competition) cash during the enrolment.The organizer will provide the accommodation without breakfast for contestants who advanced to II. round of the OPERA contest from 7.11.2022 till one night after their last performance in the competition, except for the supplement for a single room.
The organizer will provide the accommodation without breakfast for contestants who advanced to the final round until the end of the Competition (till Saturday 12.11.2022 in the morning) except the single room supplement (CZK 400/night). Accommodation in a single room can only be arranged in case of free hotel capacity.
The arrival of the SONG contest competitors is expected on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
The organizer will provide the accommodation without breakfast in a double bedroom with another participant for al contestants in the SONG category from Tuesday November 8, 2022, until Thursday November 10, 2022.
Winners of the first, the second and the third prize of the SONG contest will have accommodation till Saturday 12.11.2022 (morning) provided by organizer on his costs, except for the supplement for a single room.
If participants in the competition require accommodation in single rooms, they will pay extra supplement 400 CZK for each night and room (regardless of the procedure in the competition) during the enrolment. Accommodation in a single room can only be arranged in case of free hotel capacity.
The organizer does not cover any accommodation costs for accompanists, for guides or family members of the contestants. The organizer shall reserve rooms for them upon request at their own costs, the price for one person without breakfast being 600 CZK in a double room for each night, in case of a single room the price is 900 CZK for each night without breakfast. Accommodation in a single room can only be arranged in case of free hotel capacity.
J. PIANO ACCOMPANISTS
We recommend contestants to give more care and pay extra attention to the pronunciation of original versions. A bad pronunciation affects the evaluation of a contestant's performance.
Adherence to the required dramaturgy of individual competition tasks - correct choice of author, musical form and compositional style - is an integral part of the evaluation of the competitor's performance.
K. CONCLUDING PROVISIONS
The regulations in this document shall be understood to be valid for the International Antonin Dvorak Singing Competition in 2022.
Information about music notes of song cycles by Antonin Dvorak and of the Czech opera arias or orientation for preparation of your competitive repertoire using the works of authors in the composition-style of the 20th and 21st centuries you can find at www.singingcompetition.eu