IVC Compulsory Vocal Work
Since 2002 every candidate has to perform a compulsory vocal work, that has been composed especially for the IVC.


Prize Song 2021 & 2022
- Titel: “Het Goud van Vermeer" | “Vermeer’s Gold”
- Composer: Bart Visman (*1962 Naarden)
- Lyricist: Marc Pantus. English translation: Brent Annable
- Duration: approx. 5 minutes
- Two instrumentations: piano & voice (2021)| orchestra & voice (2022)
- For six different voice-types
>> Interview with the creators Bart Visman & Marc Pantus <<
Commissioned by the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch as compulsory piece for the IVC 2021 and 2022.
Published under direct management of Stichting ’s-Hertogenbosch Muziekstad.
Published by Deuss Music, The Hague, via www.deussmusic.com.
>> Download sheet music <<
For perusal only. Participants selected for the Semi-finals receive clean copies of the sheet music.
Competition participants decide for themselves whether they perform the Dutch or English text.
Since 2002 a compulsory vocal work has been commissioned for the competition. The following Dutch composers have composed pieces for the IVC: Micha Hamel (2002), Rob Zuidam (2004), Robin de Raaff (2006), Roel van Oosten (2008), Wilbert Bulsink (2010), Jeppe Moulijn (2012), Willem Jeths (2014), Monique Krüs (2016), Sylvia Meassen (2018). In 2021 Bart Visman composed the compulsory piece.
Van Riemsdijk Prize: €2,500
The "Van Riemsdijk Prize" will be awarded to the Duo (2021) or singer (2022) that according to the jury is the best interpreter of the compulsory piece by Bart Visman. The compulsory piece will be performed by all Duos in the Semi-Finals. Two Duos will be nominated to perform the composition during the Finals on the 21st of November 2021. Competition participants decide for themselves whether they perform the Dutch or English text.
Composer Bart Visman and lyricist Marc Pantus (himself a bass-baritone) wrote a song that is directly connected to the experiences of a singer.
"You have a date in your calendar on which you sing a new work. You don't know it, you never really know how much preparation it requires. And yet, time and time again, you manage to make music with the orchestra, your colleagues and sometimes the choir. That seems self-evident, but it is not. This song is about what a candidate feels in a Competition. "
Marc Pantus
52nd IVC 2018
53rd IVC 2019
Composer: Sylvia Maessen *1959
Title: Oh, che tranquilo mar
Lyricist: Vittoria Colonna (1490 - 1547)
Winners:
- Marie Perbost, soprano (France) - Dioraphte Award 2018
- Harriet Burns, (United Kingdom) & Ian Tindale, piano (United Kingdom) - "Oh che tranquillo mar" Prize 2019
- Semi-Final
- Final 2018 with ensemble:
fragment 1 | fragment 2

51st IVC 2016/2017
Composer: Monique Krüs *1959
Title: Lunam, ne quidem Lunam
Lyricist: Pé Hawinkels (1942 - 1977)
Poems "Bosch en Bruegel"
The garden of pleasures - Hell (right inside panel)
Latin translation: Dr. Harm-Jan van Dam
Winners:
- Adèle Charvet, mezzo-soprano (France) & Florian Caroubi, pianist (France) - Dioraphte Award - LiedDuo (2016)
- Kinga Borowska, mezzo-soprano (Poland) - Dioraphte Award - Opera | Oratorio (2017)

50th IVC 2014
Composer: Willem Jeths *1959
Title: Quale Coniugium!
Lyricist: Pé Hawinkels (1942 - 1977)
Poems "Bosch en Bruegel"
The garden of pleasures - Paradise (left inside panel)
Latin translation: Dr. Harm-Jan van Dam
Dedicated to: Jan Swinkels
Winners:
- Francine Vis, mezzo-soprano (The Netherlands) - Dioraphte Award - Opera | Oratorio
- Eric Jurenas, countertenor (US) & Bretton Brown, pianist (US) - Dioraphte Award - LiedDuo
(Performance by Krešimir Stražanac, bariton.)

49th IVC 2012
Composer: Jeppe Moulijn *1972
Title: Et Fit Lux
Lyricist: Pé Hawinkels (1942 - 1977)
Poems "Bosch en Bruegel"
The Garden of pleasures - (outer side triptych)
Latin translation: Dr. Harm-Jan van Dam
Winners:
- Nadine Koutcher, soprano (Belarus)
- Peter Gijsbertsen, tenor (The Netherlands) - Et Fit Lux Song Award

48th IVC 2010
Composer: Wilbert Bulsink *1983
Title: Das Narrenschiff
Lyricist: Sebastian Brant (1457 – 1521)
Winner: Elsa Barthas, mezzo-soprano (France) - Prize for the Dutch song

47th IVC 2008
Composer: Roel van Oosten *1958
Title: Querela Pacis
Lyricist: Desiderius Erasmus (1466 – 1536)
Winner: Hansung Yoo, bariton (South-Korea) - Heijmans Prize for the Dutch song

46th IVC 2006
Composer: Robin de Raaff *1968
Title: Musicians Wrestle Everywhere
From: Emily Dickinson Songs/part II
Lyricist: Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
Dedicated to: Annett Andriesen
Winners:
- Joshua Ellicott, tenor (UK) - Heijmans Prize for the Dutch song
- Marret Winger, soprano (Germany) - Heijmans Prize for the Dutch song

45th IVC 2004
Composer: Rob Zuidam *1964
Title: Noche Oscura
Lyricist: San Juan de la Cruz (1542 - 1591)
Winner: Measha Brueggergosman, soprano (Canada) - Brabants Dagblad Prize for the Dutch song

44th IVC 2002
Composer: Micha Hamel *1970
Title: Triptyque: Fête (Party), Souvenirs (Memories), Cors de chasse (Hunting horns)
Lyricist: Guillaume Apollinaire (1880 - 1918)
Winner: Kyle Ketelsen, bass baritone (US) - Prize for the Dutch song