Admission: Singers (female/male/diverse) of all nationalities are invited to enter the competition.
Age Limits: Singers, born between 1993 and 2007.
Rounds of the competition: The competition is divided into a qualifying round and three final rounds (subdivided into “1st Round”, “Semi-finals” and “Finals”).
Registration: The registration has to be addressed no later than the deadline for the respective venue of qualification (see Locations & Dates). The number of participants is limited: we recommend early and complete registration. The time slots for the auditions will be emailed to the candidates after the registration deadline. For application deadlines, the Central European Time (CET) applies. Participation in the qualifying rounds without registration is not possible.
These General Standard Terms and Conditions have been acknowledged and approved by the candidate by completion of online registration.
Arias: For the qualifying rounds candidates have to prepare two opera arias of their choice, to be sung from memory in the original key and original language. The jury will listen to one or both arias.
Registration Fee: A registration fee of € 59.00 (incl. bank and/or credit card charges and VAT) for the qualifying round has to be paid after online registration. Available method of payment: PayPal. Singers from certain countries are exempted from the fee, see Fee Exemption
Withdrawal of participation: Please find all information at the end of this document.
Data exchange for jurors and observers in the Qualifying Rounds: Candidates agree that their data (Name, Voice Type, Nationality, Birthday, Languages, Arias, Education, Engagements, Studied Parts) will be made available to judges and professional observers in the qualifying rounds. Please find information to Data exchange and protection under General Conditions on this page.
Registration confirmation: The registration will only be valid when the Competition Management has confirmed by e-mail that it has accepted the candidate.
Singers’ Login: After the registration candidates will get a personal access to the online database (Singers’ Login) to change e.g. their arias or the venue of qualification and their contacts.
Pianist: There will be an official accompanist, but you are free to bring a coach of your choice at your own expense. Exceptions: Theaters where you have to bring your own pianist
Gdansk: Akademia Muzyczna im. Stanislawa Moniuszki
Kassel: Staatstheater Kassel
Kraków: Akademia Muzyczna
Melbourne: Studio 1
Pretoria: WS Pianos Showroom
Stockholm: Royal Swedish Opera
Tokyo: Studio B-Tech Japan
Toronto: Canadian Opera Company Theatre
Udine: Teatro della Fondazione Luigi Bon
Vancouver: University of British Columbia
Warsaw: Österreichisches Kulturforum
Zagreb: Academy of Music - Musicka akademija Sveuciliste Stamcoc Hall
Zurich: Zurich Opernhaus-Studiobühne
Cape Town: Artscape
Bern: Bühnen Bern
Seattle: Opera Seattle
Novi Sad: Serbian National Theatre
Warm-up: Please warm-up before you come to the audition venues.
Results of the qualifying round: All singers who have participated in the qualifying rounds will be notified within 5 days of the audition if they have been accepted to take part in the competition in Bern, Switzerland.
After qualifying rounds: To take part in the final rounds in Bern, applicants must have been selected at one of the qualifying rounds in 2025. Candidates can only take part in one of the qualifying rounds in 2025.
Final Rounds
Admission: Only singers who have been selected in one of the qualifying rounds are entitled to take part in the final rounds.
Finals Fee: The fee for singers participating in the 1st Round of the final rounds is € 179.00 (incl. bank and/or credit card charges and VAT).
The participation in the Semi-finals and Finals is free of charge. The fee for the 1st Round has to be paid through the competition website before participation. Available methods of payment: PayPal, to be paid until the Singers Login closes on June 2, 2025, Central European Time (CET). Singers from certain countries are exempted from the fee, see Fee Exemption
Withdrawal of participation and refund of final fees: Please find all information at the end of this document.
Data exchange for jurors and observers in the Final Rounds: Candidates agree that their data (Name, Voice Type, Nationality, Birthday, Languages, Arias, Education, Engagements, Studied Parts) will be made available to judges and professional observers in the final rounds and the finals concert. Please find information to Data exchange and protection under General Conditions on this page.
Arias: Each singer must prepare five opera arias in the original key and original language to be sung from memory. These arias must include: Two compulsory opera arias and three opera arias of the singer’s own choice (these may be taken from the list of compulsory arias as well). Compulsory Arias:Soprano
Bizet: Carmen: C’est des contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire/ Je dis
Charpentier: Louise: Depuis le jour
Donizetti: Don Pasquale: Quel guardo il cavaliere (without recitative)
Donizetti: L´élisir d`Amore: Prendi, per me sei libero
Dvořák: Rusalka: Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém
Gounod: Faust: O Dieu! Que de bijoux! Ah! Je ris de me voir
Gounod: Roméo et Juliette: Ah! Je veux vivre
Mozart: Così fan tutte: Temerari/Come scoglio
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Ach, ich liebte
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Durch Zärtlichkeit
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Martern aller Arten
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: Ach, ich fühl’s
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: Der Hölle Rache
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: O zittre nicht
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Crudele/Non mi dir
Mozart: Don Giovanni: In quali eccessi/Mi tradì quell’alma ingrata (S)
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Or sai chi l’onore
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: E Susanna non vien/Dove sono
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento/Deh vieni, non tardar
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Porgi amor
Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber v. Windsor: Nun eilt herbei
Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Elle a fui la tourterelle
Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Les oiseaux dans la charmille
Puccini: La Bohème: Addio senza rancor
Puccini: La Bohème: Quando m’en vò
Puccini: La Bohème: Si, mi chiamano Mimi
Puccini: Madama Butterfly: Un bel di vedremo
Puccini: Tosca: Vissi d´arte...
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fà (F-Dur/F-major))
Verdi: Ernani: Ernani, involami
Verdi: Falstaff: Sul fil d’un soffio etesio
Verdi: Il Trovatore: Tacea la notte (with usual cut)
Verdi: La Forza del Destino: Pace, pace
Verdi: La Traviata: È strano
Verdi: Rigoletto: Caro nome
Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera: Morrò
Wagner: Tannhäuser: Dich, teure Halle
Weber: Der Freischütz: Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen
Weber: Der Freischütz: Und ob die Wolke sie verhülle
Mezzo-Soprano / Alt
Bizet: Carmen: En vain pour éviter les réponses amères
Bizet: Carmen: Habanera (L’amour est un oiseau rebelle)
Bizet: Carmen: Seguidilla (Près des remparts de Seville)
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farò senz’Euridice (without rezitativo) (M/A)
Händel: Rinaldo: Cara sposa (D minor) (M/A)
Mozart: Così fan tutte: Ah, scostati/Smanie implacabili
Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito: Parto, parto (M/A)
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Non sò più
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas: When I am laid in earth
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fà (E-Dur/E-major)
Rossini: L’Italiana in Algeri: Cruda sorte
Tschaikowsky: Evgenij Onjegin: Ja ne sposobna k grusti tomnoi
Verdi: Don Carlo: O don fatale
Verdi: Il Trovatore: Condotta ell’era in ceppi
Tenor
Bizet: Carmen: La fleur que tu m’avais jetée
Donizetti: Don Pasquale: Com´è gentil
Donizetti: Don Pasquale: Povero Ernesto/Cercherò lontana terra
Donizetti: L’Elisir d’Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Gounod: Faust: Salut, demeure chaste et pure
Mozart: Così fan tutte: Un’aura amorosa
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Dalla sua pace
Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber v. Windsor: Horch, die Lerche singt im Hain
Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Il était une fois à la cour d’Eisenach
Puccini: La Bohème: Che gelida manina
Puccini: Tosca: Recondita armonia
Puccini: Turandot: Nessun dorma
Rossini: L’Italiana in Algeri: Languir per una bella
Tschaikowsky: Evgenij Onjegin: Kuda, kuda vi udaljilis
Verdi: La Traviata: Lunge da lei
Verdi: Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita
Verdi: Rigoletto: La donna è mobile
Weber: Der Freischütz: Nein, länger trag’ ich nicht die Qualen ... Durch di Wälder, durch die Auen
Baritone / Bass
Bizet: Carmen: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre
Donizetti: Don Pasquale: Bella siccome un angelo
Giordano: Andrea Chénier: Nemico della patria
Gounod: Faust: Avant de quitter ces lieux
Gounod: Faust: Vous qui faites l’endormie
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte: In diesen heil´gen Hallen
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Fin ch´han del vino
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Madamina, il catalogo
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Hai già vinta la causa/Vedrò mentr’io sospiro
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: La vendetta, o, la vendetta
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Non più andrai
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Se vuol ballare
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro: Tutto è disposto/Aprite un po’quegl’occhi
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia: La calunnia (in c major)
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Largo al Factotum
Tschaikowsky: Evgenij Onjegin: Ljubvi vse vozrasti pokorni
Tschaikowsky: Pique Dame: Ja vas ljublju
Verdi: Don Carlo: Oh Carlo ascolta/Io morrò
Verdi: Don Carlo: Per me giunto è il dì supremo
Verdi: Don Carlo: Per me giunto è il dì supremo...O Carlo ascolta...Io morrò
Verdi: Don Carlos (Don Carlo): Ella giammai m'amò (Elle ne m'aime pas)
Verdi: Macbeth: Come dal ciel precipita
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra: Il lacerato spirito
Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera: Alzati, là tuo figlio
Wagner: Tannhäuser: Wie Todesahnung / Oh, du mein holder Abendstern
Weber: Der Freischütz: Schweig, damit dich niemand warnt
Countertenor
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice: Che farò senz’Euridice (without rezitativo) (CT)
Händel: Ariodante: Dopo notte (CT)
Händel: Giulio Cesare: Svegliatevi nel core
Händel: Giulio Cesare: Va tacito e nascosto
Händel: Rinaldo: Cara sposa (D minor) (CT)
Händel: Serse: Frondi tenere - Ombra mai fu
Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito: Parto, parto (CT)
Singers’ Login: The five arias are to be indicated after the qualifying round in Singers’ Login until at the latest June 02, 2025, Central European Time (CET). Until June 02, 2025 participants can always change the arias in their accounts.
Pianist: There will be an official accompanist, but you are free to bring a coach of your choice at your own expense.
Piano reduction (Klavierauszug): Please bring your piano reduction with you for the pianist, since there will be no material provided.
Pitch of the piano: The pitch of the piano is 440-443 Hz.
Warm-up: Please warm-up before you come to the audition venues.
Dress code: We recommend: For the final rounds, be dressed with respect to the audience. For the finals, ladies: evening dress and gentlemen: suit/tuxedo/tailcoat.
Accommodations: We will soon publish affordable accommodation options in Bern here. In the meantime, we recommend checking popular booking platforms like Booking.com, Airbnb, and others to plan ahead.
Bernese citizens provide free accommodation to participants of the final rounds. These accommodations are primarily available to finalists from countries where no fees apply (see: Registration Fee/Fee Exemption). Selection will take place continuously from mid/end of February 2025 among singers who qualify for the finals, depending on the availability of accommodations. Singers from the relevant countries do not need to apply for these free private accommodations, as the selection is made by lottery/random draw, and they will be contacted by us.
Jury: The jury reserves the right to refrain from awarding a prize altogether or to divide a prize. The decision of the jury is final and incontestable. The General Management cannot guarantee that all rounds of the competition will be held in front of the complete and entire jury. The jury reserves the right to listen to excerpts of the presented arias only.
Schedule of the final rounds and the finals - choice of the five arias: Singers´ Enrolment on 14 June 2025 at 11am to 2pm Enrolment Address: Bühnen Bern, Kornhauspl. 20, 3011 Bern, Switzerland.
It´s necessary for candidates of the Final Rounds to be present at the Singers´ Enrolment on 14 June 2025. Alternatively, the singer may be substituted by a representative. The representative must present a passport copy of the singer and choose the rehearsal and audition times for the singer. Participation in the final rounds is not allowed without the successful enrolment.
Please note that rehearsals and auditions in front of the jury have to be performed in the given order without exception. Rehearsal and audition slots cannot be exchanged.
Rehearsal address: will be announced in time.
Audition address: will be announced in time
1st Rounds
The aria for the first round is chosen from the five arias by the singer.
Rehearsals on 15 June for audition on 16 June
Rehearsals on 16 June for audition on 17 June
Semi-finals
The aria for the semi-finals is chosen by the jury. In the semi-finals a second aria may be chosen by the jury. Therefore, please bring the piano scores for all 5 arias to the audition.
Rehearsals on 17 June for audition on 18 June
Rehearsals on 18 June for audition on 19 June
Orchestra rehearsals: will be announced in time.
Orchestra rehearsal (OHP): will be announced in time.
Dress rehearsal (GP): will be announced in time.
Finals on 21 June at 7:30pm (public concert)
The aria for the finals with orchestra is chosen by the jury. This aria can be an aria already presented in the final rounds or an aria not yet presented in the final rounds. In any case, this aria will be a compulsory aria . If the five arias chosen by the singer include more than two compulsory arias, the jury may also choose one of the other compulsory arias for the finals concert.
Finals Programme: The programme of the finals will be determined by the opera jury.
Prize Money: The prizes awarded in terms of money will be paid after the finals concert on 21 June 2025 by bank transfer. The money prizes are gross amounts less the applicable withholding taxes in the host country. Should a main prize (1st, 2nd or 3rd prize) as well as the audience and the media prize be awarded by the jury to more than one singer, the associated prize money will be shared.
Participation of former winners of main prizes: Winners of the main prizes (1st, 2nd and 3rd prize opera) of all past Belvedere Singing Competitions are excluded from participation.
General
Pandemic: When planning your travel to the qualifying venues and the final rounds, please take into account any legal entry requirements, in particular possible pandemic regulations. Participants will be informed in time about the possible requirements of the venues.
VISA: Please note that you perhaps need a VISA for the country of your qualification or the final rounds.
Journey and accommodation: Please note that you have to organize the journey and accommodation to the qualifications and to the final rounds on your own, and come up for the expenses.
Fee Exemption: Singers from the following developing countries are exempted from the Registration Fee and Finals Fee:
List of exempted countries
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Bangladesh
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Comoros
Congo Dem. Rep.
Costa Rica
Côte d´Ivoire
Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea Dem. Rep. (Korea North)
Kosovo
Kyrgyz Rep.
Laos
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Micronesia, Fed.States
Moldova
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Philippines
Rwanda
Samoa
Sao Tomé and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Swaziland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
West Bank and Gaza Strip
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Conditions for fee exemption will be considered on the registration process. The General Management reserves the right to stop this offer or decide in individual cases.
Public auditions: The international qualifying rounds may be occasionally available to the public, the final rounds and the finals are in any case with audience.
Media: The General Management reserves the right to allow radio and television stations to record and broadcast excerpts or all of the competition and the finals. The same applies for film, audio and video (stream) recordings in all known and future media. The participants will receive no remuneration for this.
Cooperation with sponsor activities: Without sponsors, the organization of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition is not possible. Therefore we kindly ask our competition participants to stand for any possible marketing activities of our sponsors. Agreements regarding time, payment, activities will be made directly in coordination between the singer and the sponsor.
Data exchange and protection: Participants agree to the disclosure of their data (name, contact details) to agencies, opera and concert houses, festivals etc. only for professional contact purposes. If participants do not agree with this, they have the right at any time to prohibit the disclosure of their contact details to representatives of the music industry. The data protection guideline of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition informs about how we treat personal data when you visit and/or use the services of the competition and its website.
Place of general jurisdiction: The competent Vienna Court assumes jurisdiction over legal disputes. The competition rules are governed by Austrian Law. The English version of the text, published on this official competition website, is exclusively regarded as legally binding.
Right of withdrawal: Participants of the Belvedere Singing Competition have the right to withdraw from the participation at the qualifying rounds or final rounds within 14 days from the day of payment of fees without giving any reason.To exercise the right of withdrawal, you must inform us (International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, Seidengasse 32/3/52, A-1070 Vienna, Phone: +43-681-110400572, Email: office@belvedere-competition.com) of your decision to withdraw from this contract by an unequivocal statement (e.g. a letter sent by post or e-mail). You may use the model withdrawal form below, but it is not obligatory.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal: If you withdraw from the participation, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from the participation. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
Waiting list and withdrawal of participation: If you request explicitly to be put on the waiting list after the registration deadline and are accepted to participate in one of the qualifying rounds rounds during the withdrawal period, you renounce your right of withdrawal.
Withdrawal form: To: International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, Email: office@belvedere-competition.com:
I hereby give notice that I withdraw from my participation in the:
a) Qualifying Round on _________ in ___________________________ .
b) 1st Round of the Final Rounds on _________ in Bern, Switzerland
Name and Singers_ID of the participant ___________________________ / _________ .
Address of the participant ______________________________________________________.
Signature of the participant (only if this form is notified on paper),
Date _________.