The Gran Teatre del Liceu kicks off the 63rd edition of the Tenor Viñas International Singing Competition with the inaugural event at the Saló de Cent of the Barcelona City Council. The competition, a global benchmark in operatic singing, has set a record for applications for the second consecutive year, with 712 entries from 64 countries. Nearly a hundred young singers will compete in the different rounds leading up to the final at the Liceu, solidifying the competition as an international platform for operatic careers.
Tomorrow marks the start of the 63rd edition of the Tenor Viñas International Singing Competition with the inauguration at the Saló de Cent of the Barcelona City Council. The competition, part of the Gran Teatre del Liceu season program and considered a global benchmark for opera and operatic singing, has received 712 applications from 64 countries in this edition, of which nearly a hundred singers have been selected to compete in the different stages of the contest. This edition sets a record for applications for the second consecutive year, consolidating a decade of sustained growth and reaffirming itself as an international reference platform for young operatic singers.
Inauguration
The inauguration will take place tomorrow, Saturday, January 10, at the Saló de Cent of the Barcelona City Council, with Valentí Oviedo -General Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu- as the announcer. The evening will feature an opera aria recital by soprano Sara Blanch, winner of the 53rd edition of the competition ten years ago and now with a fully established career at the leading European theaters.
Competition dates
The international preliminary auditions took place during November at the main theaters with which the Gran Teatre del Liceu has collaboration agreements, thus ensuring the competition’s global reach and accessibility: the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Staatsoper in Berlin, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Opéra national de Paris, the San Francisco Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Meanwhile, the Liceu auditions took place on January 7, 8, and 9 at the Liceu Conservatory.
The selected singers will compete in the official competition stages, which are:
- SECOND ROUND: January 11 and 12 at the Liceu Higher Conservatory of Music
- SEMIFINAL: January 13 and 14, also at the Liceu Higher Conservatory of Music
- FINAL ROUND: Friday, January 16 at the Gran Teatre del Liceu
- WINNERS’ CONCERT: Sunday, January 18 at the Gran Teatre del Liceu
Additionally, as a non-competitive activity, the competition presents “An Afternoon with Luciana Serra”, a meeting with one of the leading international figures in the opera world, recognized both for her high-level artistic career and her decisive role in training new generations of singers linked to prominent opera institutions and international programs. Hosted by Pol Avinyó, assistant to the Artistic Direction of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, in an event open to the public to be held on Saturday, January 17 at the Liceu Foyer.
Oratorio-Lied: new dedicated category
As a notable innovation, the competition takes a step forward in its commitment to vocal diversity and promotes the oratorio-lied specialty as a separate category. This discipline, which until now was part of the general category, will be developed in parallel and will feature its own official prize and a specialized jury, dedicated exclusively to evaluating this style. With this decision, the competition stands out by focusing on a genre for which many young singers express that there are few professional opportunities. This initiative is supported by the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation and the Schubertíada.
Renewed stage design and awards as a new feature of this edition
This year, for the first time, the competition has commissioned the creation of its own originally designed trophy, crafted by the young scenographer Llorenç Corbella Burgués -under the artistic name “Passerell”-, which will be awarded to the winners of the Official Prizes of this edition. With this initiative, the competition highlights its identity and recognition, offering the winners an exclusive artistic piece that becomes a distinctive symbol of the Tenor Viñas Competition and a lasting memento of their participation. The award is inspired by the storm of sheet music scenography that Passerell designed in the previous edition to reference the power of the voice, the foundation and essence of the competition.
Additionally, both the Final and the Winners’ Concert will be presented with a renewed stage design. Following last year’s focus on enhancing the artistic value of the staging, this year continues that approach to offer the audience a complete experience that integrates space, talent, and music. The scenic design –also by Llorenç Corbella–, which was very well received in the previous edition, remains conceptually, but features a refreshed look that updates and enriches the competition’s visual presentation.
The Final will be hosted by journalist Marta Polo, while the Winners’ Concert will be presented by journalist and TV collaborator Ana Boadas.
Awards
More than €150,000 in prizes will be awarded, distributed across different categories: Official Prizes —from first to sixth place—, Special Prizes, and Extraordinary Prizes. In total, 32 prizes will be granted, a clear demonstration of the competition’s commitment to talent promotion and the intention to recognize a broad range of artistic excellence beyond the top winners.
In addition to the monetary awards, many of these prizes include contracts at opera houses and institutions, recitals at national and international festivals, and various scholarships, offering participants real opportunities for professional development and continuity in their artistic training.
An international jury of excellence
The competition stands out for its strong commitment to artistic excellence, featuring personalities of great international relevance who decisively contribute to shaping operatic talent worldwide. The Opera category jury is composed of the artistic and casting directors of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Staatsoper in Berlin, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, as well as singers Olaf Bär and Luciana Serra, and pianist James Baillieu.
The Oratorio-Lied category jury consists of the artistic directors of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation, and L’Auditori de Barcelona, as well as the aforementioned Olaf Bär and James Baillieu.