Competition rules
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The official rules for competitors in the 2003 BBC Singer of the World competition
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Venue and date
The 2003 Competition will take place at the New Theatre and St David's Hall, Cardiff from Sunday 22 to Sunday 29 June.
Rehearsals will be scheduled from Wednesday 18 June 2003.
All contestants are obliged to stay until 1pm on Monday 30 June 2003 for press coverage purposes.
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.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of this event some changes have been made to the format so, for this feast of opera and art song, the 25 singers selected from worldwide auditions are invited to take part in two sections of this competition, the BBC Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize and the BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff Competition.
Contestants are brought to Cardiff and accommodated at the Competition's expense.
The Competition also includes an education programme.
BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize
In a new development for 2003 this will become a separate event taking place at 4pm on Sunday 22 June then daily at 1pm from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 June at the New Theatre, Cardiff. Each concert will be broadcast the following day on BBC Radio 3's Morning Performance.
The singers will perform a programme of up to 20 minutes which they have chosen and which can include folk or national songs. The Competition's official accompanists are Phillip Thomas, Simon Lepper and Llyr Williams although contestants may bring their own accompanists at their own expense.
There will be up to five singers competing each day and the name of the winner of the Song Prize will be announced during the Final of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. 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 a lunchtime concert at London's Wigmore Hall, an appearance with one of the BBC Orchestras, special studio recordings, and a possible appearance at the BBC Proms.
It is not possible to compete in the Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize only.
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition
Each singer will take part in one of five concerts in the preliminary round. These will be held between 22 and 26 June at St. David's Hall, Cardiff, in which they perform an 18 minute programme of music of their own choice. They will be accompanied by one of the Competition's two resident orchestras, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Richard Hickox, 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 29 June is broadcast live on BBC Two - one of the BBC's main television channels - and BBC Radio 3. Only orchestral items will be performed and contestants choose their own programme of up to 18 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.
Repertoire
Each competitor is required to submit three programmes, one for the Song Prize (if competing), one for the preliminary round and one for the final round.
The programme for the Song Prize should not exceed 20 minutes of material and the programmes for the preliminary and final rounds should be between 15 and 18 minutes music duration.
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 the competitor's own national repertory. Arrangements of folk tunes 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 the standard symphony orchestra.
No changes of programme will be accepted after 17 March 2003.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be scheduled from Wednesday 18 June 2003 at St. David's Hall, at BBC Broadcasting House and at Welsh National Opera. The Competition organisers will be responsible for determining the rehearsal schedule.
Orchestras
The orchestras are the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Richard Hickox and Ralf Weikert, and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Piano accompanists
Official piano accompanists Phillip Thomas, Simon Lepper and Llyr Williams will be available 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 juries
These will be a mixture of internationally recognised opera and Lieder experts - including the renowned singers Gundula Janowitz, Galina Vishnevskaya, Dennis O'Neill, Christoph Prégardien and Sherrill Milnes; the accompanist Graham Johnson; Hugues Gall, Director, Opéra National de Paris Opéra Bastille; the Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Brian McMaster and the BBC's Head of Music Policy, Dr John Evans. Anthony Freud, General Director of Welsh National Opera, is Chairman.
Voting system
The winner of the Song Prize at the New Theatre will be the singer 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 the BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff 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 Friday 27 June it is hoped that a series of Masterclasses will be given by members of the jury to some of the contestants who have not made it to the Final.
Prizes
BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff will receive a cash prize of £10,000 plus a trophy and 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
Audience prize: a cash prize of £2,500
Using BBCi's digital technology, viewers of BBC Four and the Competition website's extensive coverage will be able to vote from home, whilst a ballot of the St. David's Hall audience will also be held. The Audience Prize will be based on performances during the five evening concerts that make up the preliminary round only.
All prize money is subject to UK tax regulations.
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.
Number of programmes to be prepared
- Up to twenty minutes of music for the Song Prize, if competing
- Up to 18 minutes of music duration for the preliminary round
- Up to 18 minutes of music duration for the final
Photographs
We require two colour portrait photographs 7 x 5 inches (not in costume).
Key Dates
24 February 2003: Twenty-five selected singers to submit completed entry forms and full programme details for the competition.
17 March 2003: 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.
16-18 June 2003: Competitors arrive in Cardiff.
18 June 2003: Rehearsals start.
22-26 June 2003: Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize.
22-29 June 2003: BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff Competition.
30 June 2003: 25 competitors leave Cardiff at 1300.
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