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Organized in Paris, under the high patronage of the Permanent Delegation of Romania to
of Unesco, the 9th edition of the “Georges Unesco” International Singing Competition saw forty thirty people compete. At the end of the elimination rounds, which were held behind closed doors, eight finalists remained in the running, on October 21, to perform, with an orchestra and in public, an opera aria (composed between 1820 and 1920) and a work contemporary.
The level is high, because many are already committed to the career. The hazards specific to competitions, during the preliminary phases, deprive this final of serious voices, both female and male. Only one candidate, tenor, remains, surrounded by seven sopranos.
The First Grad Prize for Opera goes to the Ukrainian Inna Kalugina, beautiful stage appearance in her bronze dress, full and projected voice, almost too dramatic for Nedda's aria in Pagliacci, but perfectly attentive to Apollinaire's text in Le Bestiaire by Régis Campo (born in 1968). Inna Kalugina also receives the Special Prizes "Opera Cluj-Napoca" (a role or a concert) and "Catalina Cortez".
The Second Grand Prize “Opéra” is awarded to the Frenchwoman Charlotte Bonnet, who also wins the Special Prize “Génération Opéra”. Deserved rewards, because this beautiful artist has exactly the voice of Manon, for which she offers the aria "de Cours-la-Reine", and her "Chanson de Claire", in Quai Ouest by Régis Campo, captivates the audience.
The Third Grand Prix “Opéra” is awarded to her compatriot Yara Kasti, also an ardent interpreter of Massenet (Sapho) and Régis Campo (Quai Ouest).
French tenor Fabien Lyon, for his part, won the “Georges Enesco” Grand Prize. With a supple and brilliant voice, he interprets the tune of Jean (Sapho, always) and, not without humor, Les Bains macabres by Guillaume Connesson (born in 1970).
The Grand Prix “Contemporary Music” goes to Frenchwoman Amélie Tatti, not for her charming Norina in Don Pasquale, but for her striking interpretation of Au monde by the late Philippe Boesmans. Quite naturally, she also received the Public Prize.
The added value of the evening comes from the Orchester Colonne, masterfully conducted by Pierre Michel Durand. Both in the disturbing strings of Quai Ouest as well as in the powerful tutti of Au monde, in the lyricism of Leoncavallo as well as in the Donisettian primerait, all the sections excel, responding to each other perfectly and supporting the singers, as rarely in a finale competition.
The lover of Massenet and Unesco wonders: the Special Prize "Jules Massenet" has not been awarded, even though his music has been heard five times, and the winner of the Grand Prize "Georges Unesco", as we saw above, did not perform any opus by this composer. The prize list has its mystery...
PATRICE HENRIOT