Neue Stimmen (New Voices) is an international singing competition.[1][2] It was established in 1987 on the initiative of Liz Mohn with the support of August Everding to promote operas young talent.[3] It is considered an important forum for new talent,[4] one that has marked the beginning of international careers for many participants.[5][6] The singing competition was hosted every two years by the Bertelsmann Stiftung in Gütersloh,[7] most recently in June 2022.[8]

International Singing Competition Neue Stimmen
LocationGütersloh,
North Rhine-Westphalia
CountryGermany
Presented byBertelsmann Stiftung
First awarded1987
Websiteneue-stimmen.de

History

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Maria Celeng during the final concert in 2011

In 1985, the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Herbert von Karajan gave a concert at the Gütersloh Community Center [de] to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Bertelsmann media group.[9] During the event, Karajan spoke with Liz Mohn about the lack of programs for promoting new opera talent, saying that, compared to other countries, it was difficult to find suitable young singers in Germany.[10] As a result, Mohn, who became a member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung's advisory board in 1986, organized an international singing competition. August Everding, general manager of the Bavarian State Theaters, played a key role by providing the specialized knowledge required to hold the event.[3][11]

Organized together with the managers' committee of the Deutscher Bühnenverein, the association representing Germany's theaters and orchestras, the first competition took place at the Gütersloh Community Center in October 1987.[12] In contrast to other events designed to promote new talent, the Neue Stimmen participants performed on a large stage in a concert hall, which they had to fill vocally.[9][10] They were also accompanied by a symphony orchestra. In conjunction with the competition, the Bertelsmann Stiftung organized a symposium at which experts debated cultural policy issues. The symposium was also held in subsequent years.[13]

Neue Stimmen was initially a European singing contest since only artists who trained in Europe qualified to participate.[14] One noteworthy aspect is that singers from Eastern Europe competed right from the start.[15] Beginning in the 1990s, artists from other countries also participated,[16] for example from China, Israel, Japan, Korea and the United States.[17] Neue Stimmen thus took on its current international form.[18] The number of participants has grown steadily through the years. Approximately 1,500 applications are now submitted for each competition.[19]

After events in 1987, 1988 and 1989, the organizers began holding competitions every two years.[12] The first master class took place in 1997 and has been held ever since in the years between the competitions.[15] It supports the development of particularly talented singers who have previously competed in Neue Stimmen.[20] In 2012, a lied master class was added,[21] which was also held in 2013 and 2014.[22][23] The organizers want to use this event to maintain the lied as an art form.[21]

Due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 master class was held entirely digitally for the first time. Participants were given the opportunity to develop both their artistic and career skills in individual and group training sessions via video.[24] In 2022, the New Voices will return to Gütersloh as a presence event. The final concert was accompanied by the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Darlington.[25]

Competition

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The International Singing Competition New Voices has existed for over 30 years.[26] In 2022, around 1400 applicants from over 60 nations took part.[27] Among the requirements was that they were enrolled at a conservatory and had already rehearsed or performed roles. Singers were equally subject to an age limit of 31.[28]

The jury first sifts through the best talents in preliminary selections. The process takes place worldwide under fair and professional conditions, for example in New York City or Cape Town.[29] After the pre-selection, selected participants are invited to Gütersloh and accompanied by repetiteurs.[30][31] There, the prize winners are determined in a final concert with an orchestra.[32]

Since 2013, there has been a female and male first, second, and third place respectively, which allows for a fairer evaluation of the participants.[33] Sometimes it can happen that two prize winners take the same place if they prove to be equal in front of the jury. There are also promotional, audience, and other special prizes.[34]

The New Voices prize winners receive prize money depending on their placement.[35] In 2022, it was 15,000, 10,000 and 5,000 euros. They are accompanied in the further course of their career, for example in accepting further engagements.[36] Artistic directors and agents use the singing competition as a talent exchange to sign up promising singers.

Jury

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The New Voices jury consists of experienced practitioners from the world of opera and music. Currently, there are five women and four men under the chairmanship of Dominique Meyer.[37]

From 1987 to 1997, August Everding headed the committee. From 1999 to 2001, René Kollo took his place.[38] In 2003, 2005 and 2007, Gérard Mortier was at the helm.[39] Patrons of the singing competition have been Richard von Weizsäcker (1993), Roman Herzog (1995), Rita Süssmuth (1997), Wolfgang Clement (1999) and Peter Ustinov (2001).[40][41]

Winners

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1987
1988
  • First place: Izabela Labuda (soprano)[43]
  • Second place: Heike Theresa Terjung (lyric mezzo-soprano)[15]
  • Third place: Ingrid Kertesi [hu] (coloratura soprano)[15]
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
  • First place: Tina Schlenker (lyric coloratura soprano)[45]
  • Second place: Andrei Dounaev (tenor)[45]
  • Third place: Paul Gay (bass baritone)[45]
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
  • First place: Eunju Kwon (soprano)[50]
  • Second place: Kihwan Sim (bass baritone)[50]
  • Third place: JunHo You (tenor)[50]
2011
2013
  • First place: Nicole Car (soprano), Nadine Sierra (soprano), Myong-Hyun Lee (tenor)[52]
  • Second place: Oleg Tibulco (bass)[52]
  • Third place: Kristina Mkhitaryan (soprano), Oleksandr Kyreiev (baritone)[52]
2015
2017
  • First place: Svetlina Stoyanova (mezzo-soprano), Cho ChanHee (bass)[54]
  • Second place: Emily D'Angelo (mezzo-soprano), Johannes Kammler (baritone)[55]
  • Third place: Zlata Khershberg (mezzo-soprano), Mingjie Lei (tenor)[55]
2019
2022
  • First place: Francesca Pia Vitale (soprano), Carles Pachon (baritone)[57]
  • Second: Eugénie Joneau (mezzo-soprano), Sakhiwe Mkosana (baritone)
  • Third place: Yewon Han (soprano), Dumitru Mitu (tenor)

References

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  1. ^ August Everding (March 23, 1997). "Neue Stimmen: Viele singen um ihr Lebensglück". Welt am Sonntag (in German). p. 27.
  2. ^ Neue Stimmen 1999, a TV documentary by Anette Kanzler und Konstanze Brill for ARD.
  3. ^ a b "Die Idee hatte Herbert von Karajan". Westfalen-Blatt (in German). November 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Talentschmiede gewährt Blick hinter die Kulissen". Die Glocke (in German). September 29, 2016. p. 21.
  5. ^ "Mit ganzem Herzen". Westfalen-Blatt [de] (in German). June 18, 2011.
  6. ^ "Ein wahrer Jungbrunnen für die künftige Opernszene". Sächsische Zeitung (in German). October 20, 2005. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Bertelsmann-Stiftung sucht Neue Stimmen". Rhein-Zeitung (in German). January 10, 2011. p. 26.
  8. ^ "Neue Stimmen 2022: Italienerin und Spanier gewinnen Gesangswettbewerb". Zeit Online (in German). July 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Liz Mohn (2008). Liebe öffnet Herzen (in German). München: Goldmann Verlag. pp. 105–110. ISBN 978-3-641-02988-3.
  10. ^ a b Liz Mohn (2011). Schlüsselmomente: Erfahrungen eines engagierten Lebens (in German). München: C. Bertelsmann Verlag. pp. 69–76. ISBN 978-3-641-07123-3.
  11. ^ Harald Stazol (1999). "Die Meistersinger von Gütersloh". Stern (in German). No. 42.
  12. ^ a b "Neue Stimmen – Internationaler Gesangswettbewerb im Portrait" (in German). Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "Zwischen Kunst und Kommerz: Symposium widmet sich Musikkultur in der Zukunft". Lausitzer Rundschau (in German). May 30, 1997. p. 19.
  14. ^ "Bertelsmann-Stiftung: Ausgaben steigen auf 16,4 Millionen D-Mark. Durch Verbesserung staatlicher Strukturen soll Gemeinwohl-Beitrag geleistet werden". Handelsblatt (in German). April 5, 1990. p. 6.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Neue Stimmen 1987–2016 (Chronologie)" (in German). Bertelsmann Stiftung. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  16. ^ "Olympiade für Nachwuchskünstler: Neue Stimmen mit internationalen Talenten". Neue Westfälische [de] (in German). May 7, 2003.
  17. ^ a b c d Carl H. Hiller (October 31, 1991). "Neue Stimmen im Wettstreit: 4. Sängerwettstreit der Bertelsmann-Stiftung". Bonner General-Anzeiger (in German). p. 17.
  18. ^ "Chance für den Opernnachwuchs: Internationaler Gesangswettbewerb der Bertelsmann-Stiftung". Neue Westfälische (in German). January 22, 2009.
  19. ^ "Neue Stimmen gefragt". Neue Westfälische (in German). May 10, 2005.
  20. ^ "Meisterkurs und Galakonzert: Neue Stimmen zum ersten Mal im neuen Theater". Neue Westfälische (in German). October 16, 2010.
  21. ^ a b "Das Lied als Kunstform". Westfalen-Blatt (in German). October 3, 2012.
  22. ^ Stefan Lind (October 5, 2013). "Ein Fest der Klassik". Westfalen-Blatt (in German).
  23. ^ "Feuer und Alarm: Neue Stimmen im Konzerthaus". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). November 18, 2014. p. 25.
  24. ^ "Neue Stimmen: Meisterkurs nur digital: Bertelsmann Stiftung geht neue Wege.", Neue Westfälische (in German), p. 8, October 27, 2020
  25. ^ "Internationaler Gesangswettbewerb Neue Stimmen". Duisburger Philharmoniker. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  26. ^ "Gütersloh: Runder Geburtstag". Gala (in German). No. 20. 2017. p. 101.
  27. ^ "1.430 Bewerbungen bei Neue Stimmen". Bielefelder Tageblatt (in German). April 28, 2017. p. 30.
  28. ^ "Gesangswettbewerb Neue Stimmen ausgeschrieben – Altersgrenze gesenkt". Musik Heute. January 30, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  29. ^ "Neue Stimmen so international wie nie". Die Glocke (in German). April 28, 2017. p. 21.
  30. ^ Stefan Lind (October 7, 2013), ""Neue Stimmen": Heute geht's los: 40 junge Operntalente sind in Gütersloh eingetroffen", Westfalen-Blatt (in German)
  31. ^ "19 Sänger im Semifinale", Westfalen-Blatt (in German), October 10, 2013
  32. ^ Stefan Lind (October 17, 2011), "Finale ist längst ausverkauft", Westfalen-Blatt (in German)
  33. ^ "Soprane und Tenöre künftig getrennt: "Neue Stimmen" mit veränderter Preisstruktur", Neue Westfälische (in German), January 17, 2013
  34. ^ Matthias Gans (October 29, 2007), "Sängerpersönlichkeiten mit großer Perspektive", Neue Westfälische (in German)
  35. ^ ""Neue Stimmen" zeichnen Sieger aus", Rhein-Zeitung (in German), p. 31, October 26, 2015
  36. ^ Christian Horwedel (December 2, 1999), ""Neue Stimmen 1999": Die Meistersinger von Gütersloh im Wettbewerb", Berliner Morgenpost (in German), p. 31
  37. ^ "Jubiläumskonzert zu "25 Jahre Neue Stimmen 2012" am 1. Dezember im Theater der Stadt Gütersloh". Gütersloh TV. November 28, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  38. ^ "René Kollo Jury-Chef bei Neue Stimmen". Sächsische Zeitung (in German). August 20, 1999. p. 14.
  39. ^ "Gerard Mortier sucht "Neue Stimmen"", Der Tagesspiegel (in German), p. 25, January 10, 2002
  40. ^ "Peter Ustinov übernimmt Gesangsjury-Ehrenvorsitz". Berliner Zeitung (in German). March 27, 2001. p. 10.
  41. ^ "Telegramm: Jury-Ehrenvorsitz für Peter Ustinov". Hamburger Morgenpost (in German). March 27, 2001.
  42. ^ Matthias Gans (December 3, 2012). "Feine Öhrchen in Gütersloh – 25 Jahre Neue Stimmen: Geburtstagsgala mit Gewinnern des Wettbewerbs" (in German).
  43. ^ "Zum Angedenken an Urzula Mitrenga". Südwest Presse (in German). November 7, 2012. p. 20.
  44. ^ "Eine Entdeckung von Gustav Kuhn". Kronen Zeitung (in German). May 21, 2015. p. 46.
  45. ^ a b c "Als Zerlina zum Sieg: Deutsche gewinnt internationalen Preis". Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). October 14, 1999.
  46. ^ a b c "Türkischer Bassist gewinnt Wettbewerb". Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German). May 21, 2001. p. 15.
  47. ^ a b c "Counter-Tenor errang ersten Preis im Wettbewerb Neue Stimmen". Die Welt (in German). October 27, 2003. p. 27.
  48. ^ a b c "Argentinierin gewinnt bei Neue Stimmen". Berliner Zeitung (in German). October 24, 2005. p. 25.
  49. ^ a b c "Lettin gewinnt Neue Stimmen". Nürnberger Nachrichten (in German). October 29, 2007.
  50. ^ a b c Jeanette Salzmann (November 2, 2009). "Diese Stimmen treffen ins Herz". Neue Westfälische (in German).
  51. ^ a b c Stefan Lind (October 24, 2011). "Ein Sopran überstrahlt alles". Westfalen-Blatt (in German).
  52. ^ a b c Barbara Brunnert (October 14, 2013). "Ausnahmsweise drei Sieger". Westfalen-Blatt (in German).
  53. ^ a b c "Gewinner stehen fest". Göttinger Tageblatt (in German). October 27, 2015. p. 13.
  54. ^ "Neue Stimmen für die Opernwelt". Rhein-Zeitung (in German). October 16, 2017. p. 31.
  55. ^ a b "Neue Stimmen aus Bulgarien und Südkorea". Die Glocke (in German). October 15, 2017. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  56. ^ "Neue Stimmen aus Russland und Südafrika". Die Glocke Online. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  57. ^ "Neue Stimmen 2022: Italienerin und Spanier gewinnen Gesangswettbewerb". Die Zeit. July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
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51°54′30″N 08°25′07″E / 51.90833°N 8.41861°E / 51.90833; 8.41861