Leyla Gencer Voice Competition seeks young talents

ISTANBUL

The winner of the 7th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition in 2012 was 21 year-old-Egyptian soprano Fatma Said (center).

The 8th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and Accademia Teatro alla Scala, will hold its final auditions in Istanbul between Sept. 6 and 11, after its preliminary auditions in six European cities all through June.

This year’s preliminary auditions of the competition will be held in Paris on June 10, London June 11, Berlin on June 14, Milan on June 18 and 19, Warsaw on June 23 and in Istanbul on June 29 and 30. The juries in each center will be specially-tailored and lead by the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. The results will be announced on July 13 via the official website.

The competition’s final tryout will bring 40 contestants from around the world to Istanbul between Sept. 6 and 11. The eight finalists to come out of the semi-final will perform with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Antonio Pirolli before a jury and audience on Sept. 11, the competition’s final night.

The Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is distinguished for its international jury, which includes some of the most influential figures from various fields of the profession and its previous winners who have subsequently launched truly international careers.

Luciana Serra will preside over this year’s jury. After having performed in all major opera houses throughout Italy in the 80s, Serra launched a successful career that has encompassed the world’s most prestigious opera houses, from the Metropolitan to Covent Garden and leading concert stages such as the Salzburg Festival and the Berliner Philharmonie. 

The jury already includes other significant figures such as casting director of the Polish National Theater Izabella Klosinska and director of the Rennes Opera Alain Surrans. Other jury members will be announced soon.

The 8th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition will award 12,500 euros to its 1st place winner, 7,500 euros to 2nd place and 3,500 euros to 3rd place. 

Also this year, for the second time, Accademia Teatro alla Scala will grant a three-month scholarship to one of the finalists. Furthermore, the winner of the Special Award of Polish National Opera will be performing in a production of the Polish National Opera. The winner of this year’s Audience Award (whose winner is chosen by the audience) will get the opportunity to perform at the 44th Istanbul Music Festival in 2016. 

Shining Stars at the competition 

The winner of the 7th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition in 2012, 21 year-old-Egyptian soprano Fatma Said has already made a name for herself, performing most recently in the Human Rights Day Concert held for the first time at the United Nations in Geneva. 

After winning the 6th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, South African soprano Pretty Yende went on to collect major awards at Operalia, the world opera competition, and launched a dazzling career, preforming at major opera houses such as the Metropolitan and La Scala. 

The Leyla Gencer Voice Competition’s previous winners (the Georgian sopranos Nino Machaidze and Anita Rachvelishvili, Argentinean tenor Marcello Alvarez and Yugoslavian baritone Nikola Mijailovic) are now counted among the brightest stars of the opera world.

The deadline for the applications to the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is June 1. 

For further info, please visit www.leylagencer.org.