Let the competitions begin! The Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition for Singing and String Quartet starts on 15 January 2020
Press release from 01/15/2020
On 15 January 2020, the public competitions of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition will begin on 15 January 2020. subjects of singing and string quartet. To kick things off 15 January there will also be an espresso concert with the first prize winner of the competition 2019 will take place. The two concluding concerts on 18 and 19 January will take place. January 2020 will take place together with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin conducted by Daniel Cohen.
36 students from almost all German music academies will take part in the vocal competition. These will take place from 15 to 17 January in the concert hall of the UdK Berlin with free admission. On 16 and 17 January, twelve ensembles will compete in the string quartet category. Admission to these concerts in the UdK Berlin's Joseph Joachim Concert Hall is also free.
The young musicians will put their skills to the test in front of high-calibre juries. Prof Christine Schäfer will chair the jury for singing. Prof Oliver Wille from the Kuss Quartet will chair the jury for the string quartet category.
The participants in Germany's oldest classical music competition for young talent will compete for the coveted awards and prize money totalling over 20,000 euros, including the "Prize of the Federal President", the only cash prize awarded by the Federal President in the field of music. The first prize winners also receive a CD production.
On 18 January, the four best participants in the singing category will perform in a public final concert in the concert hall of the Berlin University of the Arts. Together with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under the direction of Daniel Cohen, they will each perform an aria from an oratorio and an opera as well as an orchestral song. The jury will then decide on the winners.
On 19 January, the prizewinners of both subjects will perform at the Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt, as on the previous day, with the Konzerthausorchester conducted by Daniel Cohen. In addition to an overture by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and works for string quartet and voice, the programme includes two world premieres: Konstantia Gourzi has written a work for voice with piano accompaniment for the competition and Sidney Corbett has written one for string quartet.
The commissioned work by Konstantia Gourzi was financed by the Mendelssohn-Gesellschaft e. V. Berlin. As part of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition, it is awarding the "Fanny Hensel Prize" for the first time this year. Until 2029, this prize will be awarded annually and independently of the current competition, preferably to renowned female composers. The Artistic Director of the competition will decide on the award.
The Artistic Director of the competition is Sebastian Nordmann, Artistic Director of the Konzerthaus Berlin. The patron of the competition is Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons. The competition is organised jointly by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the Rectors' Conference of German Music Universities and the Berlin University of the Arts.
In addition, the Friends of Young Musicians Germany will be awarding the "Prize for Piano Accompaniment" in the vocal category for the first time. It is endowed with 1,000 euros.
The participants can be viewed on the website of the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition.
Tickets
15.01.2020 and 19.01.2020:
Konzerthaus Berlin or phone (030) 2030 92101
18.01.2019 in the concert hall of the UdK:
reservix or phone (030) 3185 2374
Press enquiries and accreditations
Claudia Assmann
Tel. (030) 3185 2450
presse(at)fmb-hochschulwettbewerb(dot)de
Website of the FMBHW
The dates at a glance:
Espresso concert with the Stuttgart chamber duo
15 January at 2 pm
Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin
Admission: 8,- EUR
Public vocal auditions
15 to 17 January, from 10 a.m.
Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin
Hardenbergstraße / corner of Fasanenstraße, 10623 Berlin
Admission free
Public competition for string quartets
16 January from 11 am
17 January from 10 am
Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin, Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal,
Bundesallee 1-12, 10719 Berlin
Admission free
Final concert singing
18 January at 4 pm
Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin, Hardenbergstr./Ecke Fasanenstr., 10623 Berlin
Konzerthausorchester Berlin, conductor: Daniel Cohen
Admission: 12,- EUR, reduced 8,- EUR
Concert of the prizewinners
19 January at 7 pm
Konzerthaus Berlin
Konzerthausorchester Berlin, conductor: Daniel Cohen
Admission: 12,- EUR, reduced 8,- EUR