The 60th competition Concorso Internazionale Voci Verdiane Città di Busseto
In honor and memory of Carlo Bergonzi.
The 60th competition Concorso Internazionale Voci Verdiane Città di Busseto will take place in Busseto at Teatro Verdi, from September 2 to 7, 2024. The Competition is open to candidates who, by 31 December 2024, are between: 18-35 years of age for sopranos and tenors; 18-38 years of age for mezzo-sopranos, contraltos, baritones and basses.
Applications for the Preliminary Phase of the Competition will be admitted from May 27 until 2.00 pm (UTC+1) of June 28, 2024. The Application for the Preliminary Phase must be done by creating an online profile at the following links also on teatroregioparma.it:
In order to be admissable, the profile must include 2 audio-video recordings of opera arias in mp4 format and the candidate’s documentation, available on teatroregioparma.it and vociverdiane.com.
PRELIMINARY PHASE
Selection commission will evaluate the registered candidates on the basis of the presented audiovisual material and the documentation.
The commission includes:
Alessio Vlad, Artistic Director of Teatro Regio di Parma;
Francesco Izzo, Educational Director of Accademia Verdiana, Corso di alto perfezionamento in repertorio verdiano of Teatro Regio di Parma;
A further component will be identified in agreement between the Municipality of Busseto and Fondazione Teatro Regio.
The Selection commission will define a maximum of 50 candidates who will be admitted to the competition phase, which will be held in Busseto.
Each candidate must participate to the Competition by attaching 2 audio-video recordings, each containing 1 opera aria with recitatives and cabalettas, where applicable.
Such recordings must present the following characteristics:
– at least one of the two arias must be composed by Giuseppe Verdi;
– the total duration of the two recordings must not exceed 15 minutes;
– the accompaniment must be performed live, with piano or orchestra (recordings on pre-recorded backing tracks will not be accepted);
– the candidate must be photographed from the front side, clearly showing their entire figure;
– the 2 audio-video files must be submitted in mp4 format and must include the candidate’s full name in the file name.
Applications for the Preliminary Phase of the Competition will be admitted from May 27 until 2.00 pm (UTC+1) of June 28, 2024.
COMPETITION PHASE
The Competition Phase will take place in Busseto according to the following calendar:
September 2 and 3, 2024: Qualifying rounds and announcement of the semi-finalists;
September 4, 2024: Semi-final and announcement of the finalists;
September 5, 2024: Vocal Coaching of the finalists;
September 6, 2024: Finalists’ musical rehearsals with pianist and orchestra;
September 7, 2024: Final-Concert with orchestra open to the public and announcement of the winners.
JURY
The Jury of the Competition Phase for the Preliminary and Semi-finals is composed of:
Carlo Fontana, President
Jonathan Friend, Metropolitan Opera, New York
Francesco Izzo, Teatro Regio di Parma
Ernesto Palacio, Rossini Opera Festival
Karen Stone, Opera Europa
On the occasion of the Finale-Concert, the 5 members of the Jury will be joined by:
Alessandro Galoppini, Teatro alla Scala, Milano
Cristiano Sandri, Teatro Regio di Torino
Ilias Tzempetonidis, Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli
On the occasion of the 60th International Voci Verdiana Competition, on the centenary of the birth of Carlo Bergonzi, a second Jury of professionals and enthusiasts chosen by the Municipality of Busseto will be present only at the Final Concert, Martino Faggiani, Dino Rizzo, Luciana Dallari, Antonio Giovati, Patrizia Cappuccilli, Beatrice Benzi, Giuliana Biagiotti Buonocore, and it will assign a special prize: the official award of the sixtieth edition.
PRIZES
The Jury will award the following prizes:
1st Prize – € 5.000
2nd Prize – € 3.000
3rd Prize – € 2.000
The prizes are indicated as their gross amount (prior any legal withholding). In case of a tie, the prize will be divided among the winners.
Artistic writings: Teatro Regio di Parma will provide a contract for at least one of the finalists to perform its artistic activities in the 2025 calendar, regardless of the final ranking. Similarly, the representatives of other theaters on the jury will be able to reward any finalist with artistic writings, regardless of the final ranking. According to the unquestionable decision of the Jury, the prizes may not be awarded at all.
The jury of professionals and enthusiasts chosen by the Municipality of Busseto will award its own special prize.
