Adam Walasek from Poland is the winner of the International Competition for Young Tenors "Kamen's Voice"
News публикувана на: 28.08.2024
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The singer became the winner of the Stara Zagora audience award "The Artist and the City "
On 27 August 2024 in the hall of the State Opera Stara Zagora took place the gala concert of the finalists of the Second International Competition for Young Tenors "Kamen's Voice". "This competition is a mission for all those who, in some way, participate in its organization, to testify their love for Kamen, respect for the great personality he left on the stage."
"As in "Turandot", one of the operas in which Kamen often sang, the young artists have already been put in front of their three riddles: two performances in front of a jury and one in front of the public in the open air in the city centre. And everyone gave their answers. But the jury decided to put them to one more, fourth test, at the gala concert. The seven finalists had to perform one aria with the accompaniment of the opera orchestra, after which the jury would make its final decision."
Conducted by the world-renowned maestro José Cura, the concert began with an overture to Giuseppe Verdi's opera Nabucco. Indeed, the orchestra of the Stara Zagora Opera is perfect. The instrumentalists did not play but lived the introduction to one of the most beloved Italian operas.
Adrian Dimitru from Romania performed Riccardo's aria from Verdi's opera "Masked Ball". Vasco de Gama's aria from Meyerbeer's opera La Africaine actually brought Adam Valasek first place. Rodolfo's aria from Puccini's "La Boheme" was the number of Dongyang Kim from South Korea. The aria of Nemorino from Donizetti's "Elixir of Love" was performed by Lithuania's Tautvydas Sližauskas. Oleg Lanovyi from Ukraine had preferred Macduff's aria from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Macbeth. Tonio's aria from Gaetano Donizetti's opera The Daughter of the Regiment was performed by Andriy Vozyan from Ukraine. Chi Sima from China closed the competition programme with an aria by Cavaradossi from Puccini's opera Tosca.
While the jury retired to make their final decisions on the ranking and awarding of prizes, the organizers presented two scenes from Verdi's Otello: a recording of the duet between Otello and Desdemona from the first act of the opera performed by Tania Ivanova and Kamen Chanev, and a performance of Otello's coronation aria.
Days before he left us forever , on the stage of the Stara Zagora Opera Kamen Chanev sang his dream role of the jealous. His performance aroused unprecedented interest among the audience and his fellow singers. The performance was broadcast online and thus seen by thousands of viewers around the world.
Before the awards ceremony began, the orchestra performed the overture to Verdi's opera The Power of Destiny, which was met with thunderous applause and cheers. The host of the event was Miglena Stoycheva, journalist at Bulgarian National Television and author of the programme "Behind the Scenes" on BNT 2.
Before the sublime moment, the respected international jury with chairman Jose Cura and members Tanya Ivanova - soprano, founder of the Kamen Chanev Foundation, Ognyan Draganov - director, director of the State Opera - Stara Zagora, Kaludi Kaludov - tenor, vocal pedagogue, Daniel Borovsky - bass, presented themselves on stage, casting advisor, vocal pedagogue, Vladimir Kiradjiev - conductor, professor of conducting at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts, Luca Cereta - managing director of WORLD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HUNGARY Kft and Luciano Di Martino - conductor, artistic director of State Opera Plovdiv.
The final decision of the jury is :
The winner of the First Prize is ADAM VALASEK from Poland
Second prize goes to OLEG LANOVY from Ukraine
Third prize goes to DONGYUN KIM from South Korea
The Audience Award of Stara Zagora goes to ADAM WALASEK. The award and an honorary plaque of the Municipality of Stara Zagora were presented by Milena Zheleva - Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism.
Special awards:
The Sofia Opera and Ballet Award for participation in a concert or opera production in the 2025/26 season goes to OLEG LANOVY from Ukraine.
ADAM VALASEK wins two of the special awards.
Award of the State Opera - Stara Zagora - participation in an opera production for the season 2024-2025 went to ADRIAN DUMITRU from Romania
Symphony Orchestra - Razgrad Award - Concert with the participation of the finalist of the competition ANDREY WHOYAN from Ukraine.
All finalists also received a certificate of participation in the competition.
"Holding the competition is an extremely dear moment for me, because the name of Kamen Chanev was connected with a large part of my career as a director" -said Ognyan Draganov. "For the past 10 days, during which the competition was held, I received the biggest reward - meeting friends and supporters. People who think about the future of opera. People who have worked and continue to work to bring the art of opera through this difficult period of the twenty-first century, for the future.
All of these young singers, with their wings of success, will hopefully continue not only their upwardly mobile careers, but also carry on the name of the competition dedicated to Kamen Chanev. Because this is the most important thing. A competition dedicated to a man like Kamen Chanev must have a future. Thank you to everyone who worked for this competition for more than a year.
In the person of Jose Cura I met a great friend and supporter, so this first meeting will not be our last" - said Ognyan Draganov.
"I would like to give a special prize," said maestro Cura. "I met a great group of people who have a very great desire to work. With one day of cooperation, we were able to achieve very good results. I had the opportunity to observe all of you in person and I can make a biography of each of you. This is the great advantage of orchestra conductors. 99% of you deserve my applause! Thank you Stara Zagora Opera Orchestra!"
The Maestro addressed those who were left without awards in a fatherly manner saying:
"I have adjudicated many competitions in my life. I have participated in many competitions and lost almost all of them. So guys, to lose one contest means nothing. The great Renato Bruzon once judged a contest I sang in, but I didn't win. He came to me and said, 'Dear young man, don't enter any more contests!' Go straight to the stage and sing!
A contest doesn't mean you're not better than the winners. It only means that at that very moment, one sang a little better than the other. Judging by the beautiful voice alone, everyone has a beautiful voice. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here. You are all young and elegant. What we are judging is the possibility of the future development of these people. You guys are all ready for your future. You are all wonderful young men with very beautiful voices...I was the best tenor until recently...But now, I have competitors. The whole future is in front of you"- said the maestro.
The finale itself was unique.All these vocal young tenors performed Calaf's crown aria "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot". First, one verse each, and at the end, all together. The ecstatic audience encored them. Then something else happened for the first time. At the intermezzo during the aria, since there was no chorus, the audience from the hall performed this part of the magnificence brilliantly. Thrilling! Unforgettable!
Rositsa Rancheva
The competition is held with the assistance of the National Culture Fund.
Photos Rad Dimitrov