Sunday, November 21, 2021

The IVC is the only Dutch international classical vocal competition and attracts singers and pianists of all nationalities. Of the nearly 100 duos that registered, fourteen were selected to compete for a place in the final. During the LiedDuo competition, both the vocalists and the pianists are judged. The jury consisted of mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, (jury chair), tenor Howard Haskin, tenor Christoph Prégardien, pianist Charles Spencer, pianist Roger Vignoles and Concertgebouw programmer Mirjam Wijzenbeek.

All musicians had to compose the repertoire of their recital themselves within the predefined standards of the competition. The jury was impressed by the choice of repertoire with works by George Crumb, Moritz Eggert, Rodion Shchedrin and Kaija Saariaho, among others. The only compulsory work for all duos is always the Prize Song; this year, and in 2022, it will be Vermeer's Gold by composer Bart Visman and lyricist Marc Pantus. Tonight, the jury awarded among others the following prizes:

Eugène Pannebakker LiedDuo Prijs € 7.500
Arvid Fagerfjäll, baritone (Sweden, 1991) & Hikaru Kanki, pianist (Japan, 1993)

Staetshuys Fonds Prijs (awarded to the runner up in the Final) € 3.500
Sophia Burgos, soprano (USA, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991)

Van Riemsdijk Prijs( awarded to the best performance of the Prize Song) € 2.500
Sophia Burgos, soprano (USA, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991)

The LiedDuo competition took place this year at various locations in 's-Hertogenbosch and could be followed entirely via the livestream on the IVC YouTube channel. The streams attracted more than 6,000 views.

IVC 2022 dedicated to Opera | Oratory
The 55th edition of the International Vocal Competition will take place from June 25 to July 2, 2022.

This competition is then dedicated to Opera | Oratory. The preliminary rounds will take place on January 29 and 30 in Amsterdam and on April 2 and 3 in 's-Hertogenbosch. There are also preliminary rounds in Poland, Monaco and via YouTube.

PRIZES 54th LIEDDUO COMPETITION 2021 INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION

Eugène Pannebakker LiedDuo Prize  € 7.500
Arvid Fagerfjäll, baritone (Sweden, 1991) & Hikaru Kanki, pianist (Japan, 1993)

Staetshuys Fonds Prize (awarded to the runner up in the Final) € 3.500
Sophia Burgos, soprano (USA, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991)

Van Riemsdijk Prize (awarded to the best performance of the Prize Song) € 2.500
Sophia Burgos, soprano (USA, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991)

Association Friends of the IVC Prize (awarded during the semifinals by the Friends of IVC) € 2.000
Ekaterina Chayka-Rubinstein, mezzo-soprano (Germany, 1998) & Maria Yulin, pianist (Israel, 1988)

Rudolf Jansen Prize  (awarded to the most distinctive pianist of the Finale) € 1.500
Hikaru Kanki, pianist (Japan, 1993)

Edwin Rutten & Annett Andriesen Audience Prize (awarded by the public during the Final) € 1.500
Matthias Hoffmann, bass-baritone (Austria, 1991) & Lisa Ochsendorf, pianist (Germany, 1991)

Press Prize (awarded during the semifinals by the press jury) € 1.000
Ilja Aksionov, tenor (Lithuania, 1996) & Gustas Raudonius, pianist (Lithuania, 1996)

Junior Jury Prize (awarded during the semifinals by the junior jury) € 500
Matthias Hoffmann, bass-baritone (Austria, 1991) & Lisa Ochsendorf, pianist (Germany, 1991)

International Lied Festival Zeist Prize Performing in an upcoming edition of the Lied Festival)
Sophia Burgos, soprano (VS, 1991) & Daniel Gerzenberg, pianist (Germany, 1991)