The International Singing Competition for Young Opera Singers
Final Rounds: June 20 through June 27, 2021 in Erfurt (Germany)

>>> Live Stream of the Finals <<<

Congratulations to the Winners 2021

Verity Wingate (2nd prize), Elena Villalón (2nd prize), Joshua Lovell (1st prize), Kangyoon Lee (3rd prize)

Singers in the Finals

Joshua Lovell

Tenor

1st Prize Opera
Media Prize

Canada

Margarita Polonskaia

Soprano

Russia

Verity Wingate

Soprano

2nd Prize Opera
Awarded Engagement:
Konzert Theater Bern

United Kingdom

Ilya Silchuk

Baritone / Bass

Awarded Engagement:
Sächsische Staatsoper - Semperoper

Russia

Ilia Kazakov

Baritone / Bass

Russia

Jaesung Park

Baritone / Bass

Korea South

Ketevan Chuntishvili. Photo: Marlies Kross

Elena Villalón

Soprano

2nd Prize Opera
Audience Prize
CS Rising Stars
Wil Keune Prize
Awarded Engagements:
Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Seattle Opera

USA

Fleuranne Brockway

Mezzo-Soprano / Alt

Australia

Kangyoon Lee

Tenor

3rd Prize Opera
Awarded Engagement:
Deutsche Oper Berlin

Korea South

Many winners at the 39th Belvedere Singing Competition in Erfurt

First prize of the 39th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition was awarded to Joshua Lovell form Canada. The tenor also won the prize of the international media jury. Elena Villalón from the US was also one of the big winners of the night. She received four prizes and two engagements. Second prize went to two participants this year. Despite difficult travelling conditions due to the pandemic, 97 singers made it to the Finale in Erfurt, Germany.

This year, a total of nine prizes and seven engagements at opera houses and festivals have been awarded. Most participants, namely 21, came from South Korea; 16 singers came from Germany, followed by Russia with seven participants. Israel and Ukraine were represented by six singers each.

“The fact that despite the difficult conditions so many young artists travelled to the final rounds in Germany is a testament to the significance of the International Belvedere Singing Competition. However, it also shows the global importance of opera and that many young people are striving for an international opera career” say the general managers of the Competition, Isabella Gabor and Holger Bleck. “We would like to thank Guy Montavon, general director of the Erfurt Theatre, for organising the finale week on relatively short notice and for making sure that everything went well.” The festival managers are very sorry that many young talents, who had qualified for the finale, could not make the journey to Erfurt due to travel restrictions. This year, the Competition was missing all participants from South Africa. Many singers from Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom had to cancel as well. The Belvedere Singing Competition is not only popular for its prizes, but young singers also appreciate the opportunity to perform in front of a jury of international opera and casting directors and the possibility to maybe be discovered.

Due to the pandemic, the finals of the 39th Belvedere Singing Competition had to be postponed from 2020 to 2021. All singers who had already qualified in 2020 did not have to do so again this year and could join the Competition in Erfurt. In both years, a total of 1246 artists attended 52 qualifying rounds worldwide. 146 singers qualified, however, 49 of them had to cancel because of the travel restrictions.

1st prize: Joshua Lovell, Can
2nd prize: Elena Villalón, USA / Verity Wingate, GB
3rd prize: Kangyoon Lee, KR
Prize of the International Media Jury: Joshua Lovell
Prize of the Audience: Elena Villalón
CS Rising Star 2021: Elena Villalón
Special Prize: Ilia Kazakov, RU
Wil Keune Prize: Elena Villalón

Engagements:
Deutsche Oper Berlin (D): Kangyoon Lee, KR
Theater Erfurt (D): Changdai Park, KR
Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala (LV): Dorothee Bienert, D
Konzert Theater Bern (CH). Verity Wingate, UK
Sächsische Staatsoper – Semperoper: Ilya Silchuk, RU
Deutsche Oper am Rhein – Düsseldorf: Elena Villalón
Seattle Opera: Elena Villalón

Monika Unegg
Press Officer
International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition

Why Participate?

1110 Singers

The Belvedere Competition is one of the largest competitions for young opera singers in the world. 1,110 singers participated in 2019. In 2020, the competition took place only on a very restricted basis due to the pandemic. Become now part of the global singing elite and start your international opera career in 2021!

67% Engagement Ratio

10 engagements were awarded by the Opera Jury in 2019 to the 15 finalists. This makes a commitment rate of 66.67%.

Finalists from previous year

17 Jury Members

The Opera Jury in the final rounds is composed exclusively with opera and casting directors of the most prestigious opera houses, who award additional engagements to the participants. The international Media Jury in the final rounds awards the additional Media Prize.

List of all jury members

24 Professional Observers

Numerous singers’ agents and representatives – 45 in 2019 – of international opera and concert houses visit the final rounds as observers. They have made the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition into a veritable “Wall Street of Voices”. It’s your “springboard” to a career in opera.

List of registered observers

24 Qualification Cities

The international qualifying rounds are held each year on all continents and gives young, highly talented opera singers the best access to the professional opera world.

List of all cities