Popular opinion would have it that opera is a dying art, but not in Germany where classical music in general, and opera in particular, are thriving. The most famous opera singer in the world today is German tenor, Jonas Kaufmann, a versatile performer who is as proficient in Italian opera as he is in Wagner. Diana Damrau, Kammersängerin of the Bavarian State Opera, is arguably the world's best coloratura soprano. Extraordinary performance venues such as the recently restored Staatsoper Unter den Linden and the Frank Gehry designed Pierre Boulez Saal, speak to the country’s commitment to culture and appreciation for fine music.
For the aspiring opera singer, Germany offers a unique environment in which they are able to develop their talents. Germany punches well above its weight in terms of opera houses, in fact, German-speaking regions feature a higher opera-stage density than any other region in the world. Germany supports 83 publicly-funded opera houses as well as 130 orchestras, 200 privately-funded theatres, and more than 70 music festivals. In a single year, Germany boasts a third of the opera performances staged worldwide; over 7,000 in an average year. This extraordinarily rich cultural environment is also unforgiving: only the best singers will get a chance to perform. Many people therefore view a singer's time in Germany as a seal of approval, a mark that a singer has the talent to succeed at home. As a result, hundreds of foreign singers travel to Germany each year to audition for German opera houses and young artist programs. Germany has become responsible for supplying the world with many of the best well-trained and experienced singers.
But it is not only the visiting singers who benefit from this cultural exchange; German opera houses benefit too - large, popular works like Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen, would be impossible to stage without the annual influx of foreign singers. And singers return with a new understanding of German life and culture, and gratitude for the gift of experience so generously given. They become ambassadors for German culture around the world.
Australian opera singers face unique challenges as they approach a career on the international stage. Australia's isolation from European and North American opera networks means that young singers have fewer opportunities to practice their art than their colleagues in the Northern hemisphere. Language too, is often a barrier to Australian singers obtaining work overseas. Even with years of German study, nothing can compare to the level of language proficiency one obtains through immersion in the language, music and culture of a particular country.
Opportunity
The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition (aussing.org), administered by Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST), has been offered the chance to develop a new and significant opportunity for a singer under the age of 26, in collaboration with the respected German Opera House, the State Opera House of Saarbrücken (Saarländisches Staatstheater).
The current Saarbrücken Opera House Prize was established in 2016 through a long-standing connection between the Australian Singing Competition and acclaimed Australian conductor, Dr. Nicholas Milton, who was Chief Conductor at Saarbrücken at the time. The winner currently attends a three-week program at the State Opera House of Saarbrücken.
The Generalintendant of the Saarbrücken Opera House, Bodo Busse, recently proposed an expansion of the program to create a career-launching experience where the singer's participation would cover a whole season. The recipient will receive language coaching, full access to the company, orchestra, rehearsals, performances, auditions, and unique cultural experiences. The winner may also be able to join the ensemble of the Saarbrücken Opera House
What's Needed
The winner of the Saarbücken Opera House Prize will need approximately €1000 per month for accommodation, food and general living expenses while in Saarbrücken, as well as return flights. We hope to raise $20,000 to cover these expenses and related administrative costs. Should you be interested in discussing how you might join the ASC send a singer to Germany to participate in this extraordinary opportunity, and how the Australian Singing Competition can acknowledge your support, please contact:
Roland Gridiger CEO of MOST Ph: 02 9231 4888 E: roland(at)mostlyopera.org
About the Australian Singing Competition
The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition is one of the longest-running and most respected events of its kind, offering a range of scholarships, prizes, career and network opportunities. This also makes the competition one of the richest in terms of financial and career opportunities available to opera and classical singers in Australasia. This year, our National Adjudicator, Noëmi Nadelmann, along with local Adjudicators, will hear 81 entrants. They will select 11 Semi-Finalists who will perform with piano accompaniment. Five Finalists will then be selected to perform with the Opera Australia Orchestra on 19 September 2019 at the Concert Hall at The Concourse in Chatswood.
Thousands of young singers from Australia and New Zealand have participated in the Competition since 1982. Many participants have gone on to pursue successful careers in Australia and overseas.