Viva Classic Live

Registration and selection

Candidates can register online for a first selection round based on a video presentation until July 21st.

The second round consists of a live audition and two master classes for a selection of up to 20 participants on August 28th or 29th at Theater Mönchengladbach.

These masterclasses are led by world-renowned soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek (vocals) and/or Opera Compact's artistic director Sybrand van der Werf (theatre).

Finally, a selection of five singers will reach the final on Wednesday September 6th in Venlo.

The finalists will each sing two arias during a special open-air concert with the orchestra "The New Symphonics" in the historic town hall of Venlo.

The jury consists of renowned experts from the world of opera, including Andreas Wendholz, opera director of the theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, and the Mexican tenor Hector Sandoval.
The jury is chaired by Sef Thissen, baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live.

Criteria for participation

The Vocal Competition in 2023 has one category: Opera. The competition is open to singers of all
nationalities who:
 are born on 7 september 1994 or later (max. 29 years);
 are not younger than 18 years;
 have completed their professional education or are currently student of a conservatory an
equivalent level of training;
 are from Limburg or North Rhine-Westphalia (relationship with the region through origin,
residence, study or work, actual or in the past).

Singers wishing to enter the Competition must take part in the VCLVC First Round by submitting
video registrations of two arias of own choice in two different languages and two different style
periods, accompanied by piano (YouTube or Vevo weblinks).

Deadline: Friday July 21, 2023 (midnight)

Please check the rules and regulations below for more information about the conditions for
participation.

Please register here

If you want to apply, please fill in the form below:

Participation costs € 25 registration fee. After submitting your online application you will receive a payment link.

Online Application

Registration is possible until July 21 2023! (until midnight)

Name:*

Address*

PHONE:*

EMAIL:*

Geboortedatum/Date of Birth/Geburtsdatum*

Professionele Opleiding/Education/Training*

Binding met de regio/Regional Connection/Regionales Bezug*

Video weblink 1:*

Video weblink 2:*

Remarks:*

Deelname kost €25 registratiekosten | Participation costs a €25 registration fee | Die Teilnahme kostet 25 € Anmeldegebühr

Na het indienen van uw online aanvraag ontvangt u een betalingslink | After submitting your online application you will receive a payment link | Nach dem Absenden Ihrer Online-Bewerbung erhalten Sie eine Zahlungslink

Additional

Competition Schedule

Viva Classic Live – Vocal Competition
August 28/29 & September 6, 2023
Euregio RMN: Mönchengladbach & Venlo

Participants wishing to enter the Competition must take part in the online First Round selections via YouTube. The second round / semi-final consists of a live audition and two masterclasses at Theater Mönchengladbach. The Final is at Viva Classic Live / Theater De Maaspoort, Venlo.

Mönchengladbach. The Grand Final is at Viva Classic Live / Theater De Maaspoort, Venlo.

Friday July 21, 2023 - Application deadline (until midnight)
Application via the registration form above or by email to: concoursvcl@gmail.com After registration you will receive further details.

Monday August 28 or Tuesday August 29,,2023
Second Round: live audition and two masterclasses in Theater Mönchengladbach
Monday 28 | 14:00 - 21:30 hrs
Tuesday 29 | 11:30 - 17:30 hrs
Masterclasses by Eva Maria Westbroek (vocal) and/or Sybrand van der Werf (scenic)

Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Grand Final at Viva Classic Live / Theater De Maaspoort, Venlo.
10:00 - 12:00 hrs | Individual rehearsal with pianist
15:00 - 17:00 hrs | Joint rehearsal with orchestra
20:00 - 22:00 hrs | Final: Live performance with Orchestra by finalists at Viva Classic Live Grand Final

Schedule subject to change

Repertoire

The Competition is divided into three Rounds: First Round, SEcond Round and Grand Final.
The assignments for the participants are as follows:

Repertoire First Round (submission of two videos):

Video registration of two Arias of own choice in two different languages and two different style periods, accompanied by piano;
Short motivation letter explaining the relation of the candidate with Limburg or or North Rhine-Westphalia through origin, residence, study or work, actual or in the past.

Repertoire Second Round (Live at Theatre Monchengladbach)

Live performance of three Arias accompanied by piano;
Candidates make a program of six arias, at least three different languages and three different style periods, of which at least one aria by Mozart;
During the Second Round, the candidate may start with an aria of their choice and the jury will then select 2 more arias.
Participation in one or two Masterclasses will be an integral part of the Second Round

Repertoire Grand Final (Live at Viva Classic Live Open-Air-Concert)

Live performance of two Aria’s accompanied by orchestra
Candidates who are admitted to the Viva Classic Live Grand Final may choose one aria from their Second Round program, the second aria from the Second Round program will be chosen by the jury.

Additional Conditions

The arias must be performed in the original language and for the various voice types authorized key.
The arias must be sung from memory.

Jury

The Jury consists of the following Opera experts:

Sef Thissen - Bariton ánd Initiator of Viva Classic Live - Chairman of the Jury

Hector Sandoval - Tenor

Andreas Wendholz - Operndirektor van Theater Krefeld en Mönchengladbach

In the short term, a lady is presented as a member of the Jury

Bariton and initiator of Viva Classic Live- Chairman of the jury

Sef Thissen

Thissen is a cultural entrepreneur - entrepreneurship is in his blood - and so the baritone is active before, on and behind the screens. Thissen follows a different route in his musical career than many of his musical colleagues. This unusual route trajectory leads him continuously to the desired horizons. Once arrived, Thissen looks ahead, looking forward to new challenges and prospects.

At the beginning of his musical career, Sef started a collaboration with the Dutch composer HAN KOORENEEF who produced L'amore Vincera for Thissen: an album of work written especially for Thissen, recorded with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir. Thissen presents this debut album in the Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

In 2013 Sef continues his studies with other masters such as singing pedagogue Gemma Visser in Eijsden. In addition, he follows masterclasses with, among others, Ed Spanjaard, with whom he mainly specializes in the repertoire of Mozart and Wagner and with Rudolf Jansen, where Thissen deepens and broadens in the interpretation of song art.

In 2017, Thissen and Egbert Derix present the song cycle Wandern. The cycle is largely based on texts by journalist/writer Jan Derix (1936-2009), Egbert's father.

In 2019 Sef (Wotan and Wanderer) will sing the world premiere of Ring des Feuers together with soprano Annemarie Kremer (Brünhilde) and tenor Frank van Aken (Siegfried). He performs this role several times, with the Live performance in March 2023 on the Spanish national TV channel, together with Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid, at the Teatro Monumental in the Spanish capital. For Sef this as a personal highlight.

Sef plays various roles at Opera Compact, including the role of Waterman in the opera Rusalka (Per-Otto Johansson), Don Pizarro in the opera Fidelio (Ludwig von Beethoven) and various roles with Toneelgroep Maastricht, performances with the Marinierskapel het Metropoleorkest, philharmonie zuidnederland and The New Symphonics.

In addition to Baritone, Sef is a cultural entrepreneur and is therefore able to realize his dream: Since 2012 he produces Viva Classic Live and the Kurhaus Christmas concerts that are broadcast annually at AvroTros. An important part of these successes is his close friendship with conductor Maurice Luttikhuis.

Tenor, Mexico

Hector Sandoval

Hector Sandoval started his career in his native city Mexico. Fascinated by the world of theater and opera he took lessons at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City from 1987-1993. His teacher was the well-known professor Enrique Jaso.

He has also performed: Andrea Chenier at Bregenzer Festspiele, a concert at Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Riccardo/Un Ballo in Maschera at Theater St. Gallen, Radames/Aida in Modena, Reggio Emilia, Italy, and Weiner Staatsoper (with great success), Riccardo in Modena, Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly at Teatro La Maestranza de Sevilla and Copenhagen Royal Opera and Luigi/Il tabarro at Cologne Opera.

Mr. Sandoval travelled to Europe in 1994, where he studied at Hochschule für darstellende Kunst in Vienna. He also completed many master classes and took the opportunity to study his repertoire with several famous celebrities like Placido Domingo, Ileana Cotrubas, Walter Berry, Luigi Alva, Christ Merrit, Ghena Dimitrova, G. Hornik, Toma Popescu, Nico Castel, J. Dornemann, Istvan Serjan and Julius Kalmar. Additionally he worked on his vocal technique with Francisco Araiza.

As a result of positive reviews and several awards, Hector Sandoval became the Singer of The Year in the year of 2001 and 2003. In 2001 he also won the international Singing competition of Kammeroper Rheinsberg. Hector Sandoval was also successful in musical recordings. In 1998 he won a special prize at Festival Victoria Reggia during a radio- and television recording.

Mr. Sandovals engagements has taken him to all the important operas in Europe, the United States and Latin America such as Wiener Staatsoper, Semperoper, Washington Opera, and Opera Mexico.

Operndirektor van Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach

Andreas Wendholz

Andreas Wendholz was born in Bremen and, after graduating from high school, studied German language and literature, history and art-history at the universities of Göttingen and Bremen.

He started his carreer as a music theatre dramaturge in the theatres in Bremen, Hildesheim and Osnabrück. In 1994 he received a scholarship from the Richard Wagner Association. From 1996 to 1998 he was chief dramaturge at the Aalto Music Theatre in Essen. Subsequently, he took over the opera direction at the then Vereinigte Städtische Bühnen Krefeld and Mönchengladbach for three seasons. From 2001 to 2008 he was Artistic Director and Deputy State Director at the Nuremberg State Theatre.

In 2009 he spent time abroad in Israel.

He has worked as a guest dramaturge for the Komische Oper Berlin, the Aalto Music Theatre in Essen, the Regensburg Theatre and the Music of the Centuries Festival in Stuttgart, among others.

Since 2010, Andreas Wendholz has been opera director and deputy general director at the Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, and in 2012 he founded the Opernstudio Niederrhein, which he directs.

Prizes

The Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in cash:

1st Prize € 1,500
2nd Prize € 1,000
3rd Prize € 500

In addition the Vocal Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in kind:

Willy Caron Trophy
Special Award for the 1ste place: The "Willy Caron Trophy", named after the famous opera singer from Venlo.
Willy Caron (1934-2010) was born in Venlo and became one of the most beautiful opera voices of the Netherlands. In February 1964, the Tenor won the first prize at the international Verdi Competition in Venice. This was the beginning of a great singing career. Willy was for more than ten years associated with the 'Städtische Oper' in Cologne and worked for many years as a soloist in Salzburg under Maestro Herbert von Karajan. He made furore on many European stages such as in London, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Paris, Bern and Munich. The countless successful performances have been described in appreciative reviews in domestic and foreign media.

Opera Compact Award
Development prize for the 1ste place: a role in a future Opera Compact production
Opera Compact is an opera company from Limburg that works in, with and from the region and its cultural possibilities. Opera Compact stands for high-quality, approachable and accessible productions, talent development, young audiences and cultural participation. Opera Compact focuses on special locations and halls where little opera is played.

Opernstudio Niederrhein Award
Development prize for the 2nd place: participation as a singer in the festive opera gala "Homage to Maria Callas" in the Krefeld and Mönchengladbach Theaters on November 25 and 26, 2023.
For more than ten years now, the Opernstudio Niederrhein has become an indispensable part of the music theatre ensemble of the community theatre to offer young talented singers the chance to gain their first stage experience and to support them in their development as singers. The young singers are used in small and medium-sized roles in new productions and repertoire performances of the community theatre and with their own studio production, staged concerts, song recitals and other projects they are given the forum to present themselves to the audience in an individual way.

Incentive awards
Incentive awards for the 3nd – 5th place: free tickets for classical music and dance performances in the Maaspoort and Krefeld-Monchengladbach Theatres. Invitation for Masterclasses with the participants of the Opernstudio Niederrhein. Both in cultural season 2023-’24.

Follow-up for Laureates
Following the competition, an exploratory interview will be held with each finalist to explore opportunities for further talent development, performances and engagements in the Euregio RMN.

Venues

Theater Mönchengladbach
Odenkirchener Str. 78, 41236 Mönchengladbach, Germany
www.theater-kr-mg.de

Theater De Maaspoort
Oude Markt 30, 5911 HH Venlo
www.maaspoort.nl

Viva Classic Live
Markt 2, 5911 HD Venlo
www.vivaclassiclive.nl

Viva Classic Live - Vocal Competition

Rules and Regulations

Viva Classic Live - Vocal Competition
Category: Opera

1. General Conditions
2. Application
3. The Competition
4. Programme & Repertoire
5. Prizes
6. Facilities
7. Liability
8. Juridical

1. General Conditions

1.1. The 2023 Viva Classic Live Vocal Competition (VCLVC or “the Competition”) will take place in Mönchengladbach and Venlo, between 28 Augustus to 6 September 2023 inclusive.

1.1a. The Vocal Competition in 2023 has one category: Opera

1.2. The Competition is open to singers of all nationalities who:
a. are born on 7 september 1994 or later (max. 29 years);
b. are not younger than 18 years;
c. have completed their professional education or are currently student of a conservatory an equivalent level of training;
d. are from Limburg or North Rhine-Westphalia (relationship with the region through origin, residence, study or work, actual or in the past).

1.3. Singers wishing to enter the Competition must take part in the VCLVC First Round by submitting video registrations of two arias of own choice in two different languages and two different style periods, accompanied by piano (YouTube or Vevo weblinks).

Deadline: Friday July 21, 2023 (midnight)

1.4. All decisions of the jury shall be final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding its decisions.

1.5. The timetable of the competition is the following:

Friday July 21, 2023
Application deadline First Round (until midnight)

Monday 28 or Tuesday 29, August 2023
Second Round: live audition and two masterclasses in Theater Mönchengladbach
Monday 28 | 14.00 – 21.30 hrs
Tuesday 29 | 11.30 – 17.30 hrs
Masterclasses by Eva Maria Westbroek (vocal) and/or Sybrand van der Werf (scenic)

Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Grand Final at Viva Classic Live / Theater De Maaspoort, Venlo.
10.00 – 12.00 hrs | Individual rehearsal with pianist
15.00 – 17.00 hrs | Joint rehearsal with orchestra
20.00 – 22.00 hrs | Final: Live performance with Orchestra by finalists at Viva Classic Live Grand Final

Competition schedule subject to change

2. Application

2.1. Applications can only be made via the online registration form of the VCL Vocal Competition. The application is only definite after the Participant has paid the application fee and submitted all required information and documentation correctly.

2.2. Application and entry fee:

Payment and inscription deadlines for the first rounds are announced on our website.
Application fee is € 25 (incl. free entry at the Viva Classic Live Grand Finale)

The entry fee will not be refunded to Participants who withdraw from the Competition after acceptance.

3. The Competition

3.1. If the applicant gets through to the next rounds of the Competition, he/she will be informed about the exact schedule in due course.

3.2. The sequence of performances by the participants will be decided by the Competition.

3.3. The masterclasses in the second round are an integral and compulsory part of the Competition.

3.4. The members of the Jury of the Competition are the following:

Sef Thissen, Baritone and initiator of Viva Classic Live (chairman of the jury)
Hector Sandoval, Internationally renowed tenor
Andreas Wendholz, Opera director of Theater Krefeld-Mönchengladbach
Shortly, we will present a fourth, female, member of the jury

3.5. Participants shall not communicate with jury members during the Competition, nor shall any other person communicate with the jury members on behalf of any competitor. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the Competition.

3.6. Following the Semi-finals, each candidate not selected to go through to the Finals, may request a jury report.

3.7. Should a participant be a regular student of one of the members of the jury, the latter will abstain from the jury deliberations in his or her respect.

3.8. The jury has the right not to grant a prize.

3.9. The Finals are open to the public. Therefore, appropriate evening dress is advised for the Grand Final.

3.10. All participants entering the Competition proper shall provide the organisation with legible (not annotated) copies of the sheet music of their complete repertoire before 11 August 2023 via the online application portal.

3.12. The organisation cannot provide photocopying facilities during the Competition.

4. Programme & Repertoire

4.1. The Competition is divided into three Rounds: First Round, Second Round and the Grand Final.

4.2. Repertoire First Round:

Video registration of two Arias of own choice in two different languages and two different style periods, accompanied by piano;

Short motivation letter explaining the relation of the candidate with Limburg or or North Rhine-Westphalia through origin, residence, study or work, actual or in the past.

4.3. Repertoire Second Round:

Live performance of three Arias accompanied by piano;

Candidates make a program of six arias, at least three different languages and three different style periods, of which at least one aria by Mozart;

During the semi-final, the candidate may start with an aria of their choice and the jury will then select 2 more arias.

4.4. Masterclasses Second Round:

Participation in one or two Masterclasses will be an integral part of the semi-finals

4.5. Repertoire Grand Final:

Live performance of two Aria’s accompanied by orchestra

Candidates who are admitted to the Viva Classic Live Grand Finale may choose one aria from their Semi-Final program, the second aria from the Semi-Final program will be chosen by the jury.

4.6. The arias must be performed in the original language and for the various voice types authorized key.

4.7. The arias must be sung from memory.

5. Prizes

The Competition awards the following prizes:

The Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in cash:

1st Prize € 1,500
2nd Prize € 1,000
3rd Prize € 500

In addition the Competition 2023 awards the following prizes in kind:

Willy Caron Trophy
Special Award for the 1ste place: The "Willy Caron Trophy", named after the famous opera singer from Venlo.

Opera Compact Award
Development prize for the 1ste place: a role in a future Opera Compact production

Opernstudio Niederrhein Award
Development prize for the 2nd place: participation as a singer in the festive opera gala "Homage to Maria Callas" in the Krefeld and Mönchengladbach Theaters on November 25 and 26, 2023.

Incentive awards
Incentive awards for the 3nd – 5th place: free tickets for classical music and dance performances in the Maaspoort and Krefeld-Monchengladbach Theatres. Invitation for Masterclasses with the participants of the Opernstudio Niederrhein. Both in cultural season 2023-’24.

6. Facilities

6.1. The Competition will supply the following:

a) Free lunch and refreshments during the semi-finals (live auditions and two masterclasses)

b) Free lunch, dinner and refreshments during the finals at the Open-Air-Concert. Participants who prefer hotel accommodations must make their own arrangements and cover the costs themselves. A list of hotels can be mailed upon request

6.2. Candidates participating in the semi-finals can practice with the pianist for 30 minutes prior to the audition. Prior to the grand finale, there is also a rehearsal with orchestra.

6.3. Participants of the Second Round not selected to proceed to the Grand Final are welcome to attend and to participate as audience for the Grand Final and the Open-Air-Concert. Ticket reservation can be done at the VCL secretariat until 4 pm on 1 september. Only finalists receive 2 free tickets for their family / friends to attend the Open-Air-Concert.

6.4. Following the competition, an exploratory interview will be held with each finalist to explore opportunities for further talent development, performances and engagements in the Euregio RMN.

7. Liability

7.1. The obtaining of appropriate travel documents, visas and insurance is the sole responsibility of each competitor. The Competition accepts no liability of any kind whatsoever for any personal illness or injury sustained by the competitor, nor for loss or damage to a competitor’s belongings during transit or while at the competition. Medical costs, of whatever nature, will not be reimbursed by VCL. A doctor will be on call for the duration of the Competition in case of any medical emergency.

7.2. Participants must refrain from all professional engagements or duties during the Competition. Exceptions can only be made at the discretion of the IVC directorate.

8. Juridical

8.1. By submitting the application form through the website, applicants state their agreement:

a) with all articles in the regulations;

b) with all ensuing engagements as part of any prize.

c) that all concert and recording engagements obtained by the Competition or its designates as part of the prizes will not be subject to any fee payable to the prize-winner’s current or future artist management;

d) that the competition is authorized to record, videotape, film, broadcast, or photograph any Competition concerts or events for any purpose, without payment of any fee. All rights, including copyright in such media shall vest in and be owned by the Competition in perpetuity. Photographs or video recordings cannot be made by any other parties without prior written permission of the IVC.