There are 150 applicants from 37 countries in the I. International Eva Marton Singing Competition. More than 60 young singers – 9 Hungarians among them – could compete after the preliminary audition. The quarterfinals are on Monday and on Tuesday, the semi-finals start on Thursday and the final is on Saturday in the Great Hall of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with the MÁV Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ádám Medveczky.
The competition permits unusually wide repertory for the singers, from the baroque to the 20th century. In this way the future Mozart-singers and the future Wagner-specialists could compete together. One Liszt-song is required for each participant. This isn’t a practice in other singing competitions, but the Franz Liszt Academy of Music recalls its eponym founder in this manner.
A festive gala concert closes the competition at the Hungarian State Opera. The winners, who get bursary beside the prizes, could sing also with the MÁV Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ádám Medveczky.
The 1st prize is 12.000 Euro, the 2nd is 9.000 Euro and the 3rd is 6.000 Euro and there is a Grand Prize with 15.000 Euro, which could be judged for the very best. There are numerous special prizes for concert invitations and the present audience can vote about the audience award.
The president of the jury is Eva Marton. The members of the jury are Vittorio Terranova, Sabino Lenoci, Miguel Lerín, Pal C. Moe, Peter Mario Katona, Szilveszter Ókovács and Balázs Kocsár. The chief patron is János Áder, President of the republic of Hungary.
The Hungarian Television (MTVA) shoots a film about the competition and the final will be broadcast live in the official homepage of the I. International Eva Marton Singing Competition.
Source: Magyar Nemzet Online