Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” will be the opera title of Tullio Serafin 2024 Competition and of “Vicenza in Lirica” Festival.
Major national and international theatres will be involved.
President of the jury Maestro Ernesto Palacio
“Concetto Armonico”, as organizer of “Vicenza in Lirica” Festival at Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, in collaboration with Archivio Storico Tullio Serafin, has published the new regulations of the sixth edition of Tullio Serafin Competition. In 2024 the opera title in competition will be “La Cenerentola” by Gioachino Rossini, a title already anticipated last September at the beginning of the first performance of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte”. The Competition will identify the seven young soloists who will interpret the roles present in Rossini’s score: Don Ramiro (principe di Salerno), Dandini (cameriere di Don Ramiro), Don Magnifico (barone di Montefiascone e padre di Clorinda e Tisbe), Clorinda, Tisbe, Angelina ossia Cenerentola (figliastra di Don Magnifico), Alidoro (Maestro di Don Ramiro). Tullio Serafin Competition will be divided into three phases: preliminary rounds, semi-final and final.
The preliminary rounds of the Competition will be the protagonist in several of the most important theaters in Europe, many of which saw maestro Serafin on the podium; the first theater to host the competition will be Teatro dell’Opera di Roma on 8 April, a musical institution where Serafin was engaged not only as a conductor, but also as a true 360° theater director. Then the competition will continue in Berlin at Staatsoper Unter den Linden (11 April), at “Carlo Felice” Theater in Genoa (17 April), at Bucharest National Opera House (20 April), at Theater “Verdi” in Triestre (22 and 23 April) and, finally, at Theater alla Scala in Milan (28 and 29 April) which was also fundamental for the great career of the Venetian maestro. At the end of the preliminary rounds, the artists chosen by the various Commissions will participate in the semi-final and final rounds scheduled at Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza 11 June.
The commission for the two rounds in June will be chaired by one of the most expert maestri of Rossini repertoire, the tenor Ernesto Palacio Superintendent of the “Rossini Opera Festival” in Pesaro; the rest of the commission will be composed by all the artistic representatives of the theatres that hosted the preliminary round, by Andrea Castello (president of Archivio Storico Tullio Searfin and artistic director of the Festival in Vicenza), Barbara Frittoli (soprano), Renata Lamanda (mezzo-soprano) and the conductor Alessandro Vitiello.
“Competition dedicated to a person honor the memory of those who honored the profession during their lifetime. And honoring Tulio Serafìn means knowing how to remember the exceptional art of the Maestro who was the creator of many perfomances which, thank goodness, remained recorded for the joy of all. He was an inspired conductor but he loved voices and always managed to enhance them by accompanying them with skill and love. I believe it is also a model to be followed today by all those who want to become orchestra conductors. Competitions for opera roles are always an opportunity to discover new talents, the jury must evaluate the performer based on what the character requires. These competitions have always helped the careers of many young people and that is what I expect on this occasion too. My current situation as Superintendent of the Rossini Opera Festival and having sung the role of Don Ramiro in Cenerentola several times are situations that I put at the service of this initiative, hoping to eventually have an excellent cast for one of Rossini’s most elegant operas” these are the words of Maestro Ernesto Palacio. The presence of other jurors is not excluded and will be promptly communicated on the competition website concorsoliricotullioserafin.it and added to the regulations.
For the final evening open to the public at Teatro Olimpico (ticket 20.00 euros, 15 euros reduced) the presence of a critics’ jury is also expected which will be communicated by the artistic direction at the end of the preliminary rounds and which will award the “Critics Award” named after Lukas Franceschini. Other prizes of the Competition will be: a scholarship of 600.00 euros named after Marinella Meli and offered by Renata Lamanda, the “Public Prize” of 300.00 euros named after Francesco Pacchiega and offered by Mrs. Valeria Rubin, the prize “Università Popolare di Cavarzere” (Serafin’s hometown) of 300.00 euros.
Other prizes which will be communicated on the website and in the competition regulations are not excluded.
Tullio Serafin Competition enjoys the support of the Ministry of Culture and other institutions soon visible on the competition website.
Maestro Tullio Serafin conducted Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” several times: in 1921 at the “Alighieri” Theater in Ravena and at Teatro Comunale in Bologna, in 1922 at Teatro Regio in Turin, in 1929 at Champs Elysées Theatre in Paris, in 1933 at Teatro Comunale of Florence for the first edition of the “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino”, in 1946 at Teatro alla Scala during the first post-war opera season which had begun a few days earlier with Verdi’s “Nabucco” conducted by Serafin as well. The last time he conducted “La Cenerentola” was in 1953 at Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
A new challenge for “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”which, thanks to “Tullio Serafin Competition”, one of the most awaited competitions at national level, is able to bring to the city some of the young vocal excellences of the world who, from there shortly, will begin their careers in the greatest theatres: “For us it is always a great honor to make young artists debut and then see them engaged in famous theatres. Some singers continue, others lose their way, not only out of their own will, but because we know that the world of opera is not an easy one and very few people bet on young artists”. These are the words of Andrea Castello who continues “I have once again found a great openness of the theaters that will host the Competition in the name of Serafin and I am happy to bring these important institutions to Vicenza for a festival that was born in the city and expands internationally. Sometimes it is not easy to continue, but quality wins over everything, even over provincial competition as three great artists taught me: first of all Daniela Dessì and, then, Sara Mingardo and Barbara Frittoli to whom I am grateful for the support that they give us and give to the young artists of the festival”.
The winners of Tullio Serafin Competition will participate in the Opera Studio in anticipation of the performances of the opera at Teatro Olimpico (14 and 15 Septembre) and will start in July with another expert voice of Rossini repertoire, the mezzo Daniela Barcellona.
All information on concorsoliricotullioserafin.it
