After the previous singing competition, I asked myself whether it still made sense to keep this competition. I won't go into the reasons again, but I will say that the level of this competition has improved considerably and thus elevates the whole to that of the better competitions such as piano and violin, which can determine the (world) career of the participants.
The singing competition has finally landed where it should be. It took years of searching for the right formula, approach, and concept. This had the disadvantage that not always the requirements could be met. Today this competition discipline of the KEW has landed on both feet in a strong balance, also thanks to the variety in the broad repertoire. It now stands at the same level as piano and violin (the cello competition is still too young to speak of an established place in the world). This competition edition, the tenth already for singing, is the first with finalists who are each almost worthy of a first prize. Art for art's sake, no fuss. May this competition continue to evolve like this!
Results
Given the high performances, we refrain from 'our' candidate winner and think that the place, wherever the laureate may be placed, first six or not, really doesn't matter now. If tied prizes had been allowed, we might have had no unselected laureates. Well, that is simply part of a competition, every place must be filled. The prizes:
1st prize
Taehan Kim
baritone | Korea, °2000
2nd prize
Jasmin White
contralto | United States of America, °1993
3rd prize
Julia Muzychenko-Greenhalgh
soprano | Russia (Federation), Germany, °1994
4th prize
Floriane Hasler
mezzo-soprano | France, °1994
5th prize
Inho Jeong
bass | Korea, °1991
6th prize
Juliette Mey
mezzo-soprano | France, °2000
The next 6 laureates
Fleuranne Brockway
mezzo-soprano | Australia, °1992
Daniel Gwon
baritone | Korea, °1992
Anna-Sophie Neher
soprano | Canada, Germany, °1990
Carole-Anne Roussel
soprano | Canada, °1994
Sílvia Sequeira
soprano | Portugal, °1992
Maria Warenberg
mezzo-soprano | Netherlands, °1995
The Klara audience prize goes to Portuguese soprano Sílvia Sequeira. Who can't agree with that?
If you missed the competition in whole or in part, you can still relive everything.
Watch the semi-final and final on the Queen Elisabeth Competition website. Enjoy all that beauty that enriches life.