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Rules
Rules for competitors in the 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. |
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Venue and date
The 2005 Competition will take place in Cardiff from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 June.
Rehearsals will be scheduled from Wednesday 8 June 2005.
All contestants are obliged to stay until 1pm on Monday 20 June 2005 for press coverage purposes.
Age range for competitors
The Competition is open to people aged 18-36 on 1 June 2005.
Background
Founded in 1983, this biennial event is now an essential part of the operatic and television calendar. Organised by BBC Wales, the Competition offers those entering an unrivalled opportunity to take part in a competitive event supported by caring staff and using the services of experienced conductors and accompanists.
India, the People's Republic of China and the United States of America may be represented by two singers each but only one singer may be selected from any other country.
The 25 singers - selected from world-wide auditions - are invited to take part in two sections of this competition, the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize and the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
Contestants are brought to Cardiff and accommodated at the Competition's expense.
The Competition also includes an education programme.
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World
Each singer will take part in one of five concerts in the preliminary round. These will be held between 12 and 16 June at St David's Hall, Cardiff, in which they perform a programme of music of their own choice between 15 and 17 minutes music duration. They will be accompanied by one of the Competition's two resident orchestras, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Grant Llewellyn or Ralf Weikert, or the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
The five concerts will be broadcast on BBC Four, the BBC's digital television channel for the arts. After the fifth concert the five finalists will be announced - these are not necessarily the winners of each concert, but the five singers whom the Jury consider to be those who have given the best performances all week.
The organising committee will determine the placing of competitors in the concerts.
The Final on Sunday 19 June is broadcast live on BBC Two, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Cymru. Only items accompanied by orchestra will be performed and contestants may choose their own programme of between 15 and 17 minutes of music. The winner receives £10,000 as well as possible engagements with the BBC and Welsh National Opera. The other four finalists will receive £2,000.
Song Prize
It is not compulsory to compete in the Song Prize.
In a new development for 2003 this became a separate event taking place at the New Theatre, Cardiff, Saturday 11-Tuesday 14 June inclusive.
Each concert will be broadcast during the week on BBC Radio 3. The singers will perform a programme of between 14 and 18 minutes which they have chosen and which can include folk or national songs. The Competition provides official accompanists although contestants may bring their own accompanists at their own expense.
The Song Prize final will be held on Friday 17 June 2005. For this it is necessary to prepare 15 to 20 minutes of music. It is possible to repeat material performed in the first concert but it will be necessary to include at least one item not performed in the preliminary round.
The name of the winner of the Song Prize will be announced at the end of the Song Prize Final. The winner will receive £5,000 and in addition will be selected for the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme which offers a series of high profile broadcasts and engagements. These include lunchtime concerts at London's Wigmore Hall, appearances and recordings with BBC Orchestras, special studio recordings, and last but not least, appearances at the BBC Proms.
It is not possible to compete in the Song Prize only.
Repertoire
The programmes for the preliminary and final rounds of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World should be between 15 and 17 minutes music duration.
The programme for the preliminary round of the Song Prize should be 14 to 18 minutes of material and the Song Prize final 15 to 20 minutes. It is possible to repeat songs but the final must include at least one item not performed in the preliminary round.
A vocal score of each item to be performed must be supplied in the edition stated and in the key in which it will be sung.
Programmes should be submitted in the competitor's preferred order of performance. The organising committee reserves the right to make changes to programmes in consultation with the competitor, following submission.
Song is defined as Lieder and art song from all countries and all periods and includes less familiar works from competitors' own national repertory. Arrangements of folk songs are also eligible for consideration in the Song Prize category. Items may be performed unaccompanied or with piano.
Participants must undertake to supply all the orchestral and/or piano scores required if the BBC has difficulty in obtaining them. It is advisable not to include items that substantially exceed the instrumentation of a large symphony orchestra.
No changes of programme will be accepted after 17 March 2005.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be scheduled in Cardiff from Wednesday 8 June 2005. The Competition organisers will be responsible for determining the rehearsal schedule.
Orchestras
The orchestras are the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Grant Llewellyn and Ralf Weikert, and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Piano accompanists
Official piano accompanists will be available for rehearsal and Competition for singers who do not bring their own accompanists. The allocation of these official accompanists will be made by the organiser of the Competition. In the event that competitors wish to bring their own accompanists, they do so at their own expense. The BBC will own all accompanists' television, video cassette, CD, DVD, internet and radio world rights without payment for the contribution.
The jury
The Jury will be a mixture of internationally recognised opera and Lieder experts. Anthony Freud, General Director of Welsh National Opera, is Chairman.
Voting system
The finalists in the Song Prize at the New Theatre will be the singers whom the Jury consider to have given the best performance throughout the five days of the competition.
At the end of each concert in the preliminary round of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World at St. David's Hall, the jury will place the competitors in order of merit. The winner of each concert in the preliminary round will be the singer with the lowest marks.
After the fifth concert the five finalists will be announced - these are not necessarily the winners of each concert, but the five singers whom the Jury consider to be those who have given the best performances all week.
In the event of a tie, the chairman of the jury shall have the casting vote. The voting shall be supervised by the Competition organisers.
At the end of each concert in the preliminary round of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World at St David's Hall, the jury will place the competitors in order of merit according to the marks awarded. The winner of each concert in the preliminary round will be the singer with the lowest marks.
After the fifth concert the five finalists will be announced. These are not necessarily the winners of each concert, but the five singers whom the Jury consider to be those who have given the best performances all week.
In the event of a tie, the chairman of the jury shall have the casting vote. The voting shall be supervised by the Competition organisers.
Dress
Dress for the concert rounds and final should be formal (tails, white shirt and tie for men and long dresses for ladies.)
Masterclasses
On Saturday 18 June a series of Masterclasses will be given by members of the jury to some of the contestants who have not been selected for the Final.
Prizes
All prize money is subject to UK tax regulations.
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World will receive a cash prize of £10,000 plus a trophy and possible appearances with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.
Finalists: each of the other finalists will receive a prize of £2,000
Song Prize: a cash prize of £5,000 and selection for the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme.
Expenses
The following will be arranged for each competitor, free of charge:
For non-United Kingdom based competitors: tourist rate return air ticket from competitors country to either London Heathrow Airport (plus second-class return railfare Heathrow-Cardiff) or Cardiff Airport. If travel arrangements are changed after the airline tickets have been issued, any additional cost incurred is the responsibility of the competitor.
For United Kingdom-based competitors: second-class return rail fare.
For all competitors: hotel accommodation. All costs for room, bed and breakfast and daily allowance in Cardiff for the entire duration of the Competition and rehearsals.
All necessary transport costs within Cardiff will be met by the Competition.
Any additional expenses must be covered by the competitor.
Photographs
We require two colour portrait photographs 7 x 5 inches (not in costume).
Key Dates
24 February 2005: 25 selected singers to submit completed entry forms and full programme details for the competition.
17 March 2005: Vocal scores to arrive of all items to be performed, in the correct key and from the chosen edition. No change of programme after this date.
6-8 June 2005: Competitors arrive in Cardiff.
8 June 2003: Rehearsals start.
11-17 June 2005: Song Prize Competition.
12-19 June 2003: BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.
20 June 2003: 25 competitors leave Cardiff at 1300.
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