More than 15,000 singers have participated in the Tenor Viñas international singing competition, in its 61-year history. And in this edition, there are 524 singers from 56 countries registered to show their talent in a competition positioned as one of the most important for young lyrical talents in the world, and through which great exponents of opera such as the baritone have passed. Vicente Sardinero, the mezzo-soprano Yelena Obraztsova and the tenor Freddie de Tommaso. The competition, which this year has among its juries the New Zealand soprano Kiri Te Kanawa and the Belgian bass-baritone José Van Dam, will end with a concert by the winners and the awards ceremony on the stage of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, on the 21st. from January. The award was born in 1963, as a tribute to the tenor Francisco Viñas, on behalf of the Barcelona native Jacint Vilardell.
As is tradition, the contest will begin with the proclamation by Manel Gasch, the Abbot of Montserrat, on January 13, the same day as the recital by the Italian tenor Francesco Meli. Much of the competition will take place between December 14 and 17, with the second test and the semifinal at the Liceu conservatory, where the juries will determine who will advance to the final on January 19. This year, the jury is made up of big names in world opera and representatives of prestigious theaters. In addition to Kiri Te Kanawa and José van Dam, there will also be Víctor García de Gomar (Teatre del Liceu), Damià Carbonell (Dutch National Opera), Alessandro Galoppsini (Teatro alla Scala in Milan), Tobias Hasan (Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin ), Peter Mario Kantona (Royal Opera of London), Bernd Loebe (Oper Frankfurt), Joan Matabosch (Teatro Real de Madrid), Brian Speck (Metropolitan Opera of New York) and the British pianist Roger Vignoles.
In this edition, the sum of the prizes reaches 116,000 euros, in addition to 15 contracts and 16 study scholarships. The one who stands out the most with his talent will win the Grand Prize, which this year will be 25,000 euros and a contract offered by the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation for the coming seasons. On January 19, while the judges determine the winners, soprano Gemma Summerfield, winner of the 2022 Grand Prix, will give a recital, along with pianist Soojeong Joo. Kiri Te Kanawa has highlighted the bravery of those who participate in a competition of such importance and from which exceptional singers have emerged. “Singers go big and go through areas where they are not always prepared and it does not suit their voices,” recalled the New Zealand soprano, who urges us to take into account each person’s capabilities.
Among the activities that will take place during the days of the contest, the talk “An Afternoon with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa” also stands out, moderated by García de Gomar, artistic director of the Liceu.
Likewise, the publication of an English translation of The Art of Singing, by Francisco Viñas, has also been announced, something important to continue the legacy of the Catalan tenor who died in 1933.
