Cape Town has been chosen to host the 35th International
Hans Gabor Singing Competition.
Founded in 1982, the International Hans Gabor Belvedere
Singing Competition is THE “springboard” for young opera singers into a career
in opera. The 2016 competition will be held in Cape Town, making it the very
first time that it will not be held in Europe. With qualifying rounds in more
than 65 cities worldwide, the competition attracts over 1,300 entrants.
Jury members for the finals are exclusively opera and
casting directors of internationally renowned opera houses like the Royal Opera
House Covent Garden in London, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Metropolitan
Opera in New York and Deutsche Oper Berlin. The competition brings singers,
their agents, their families, representatives of international opera houses and
international media to the hosting city.
Four South Africans reached the 34th Belvedere Singing
Competition final round in July this year and Levy Sekgapane went on to win the
1st prize. Acclaimed South African soprano Pretty Yende won the 2009
competition; Siyabulela Ntlale placed 2nd in 2014 and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi took
the 2nd prize in 2013. Competition managers Isabella Gabor and Holger Bleck
said, "The exceptional quality of South African singers and their huge
success in recent years in several global competitions make a compelling
argument to take this progressive step and hold the competition in Cape Town
and we are thrilled to have the support of key funders: the Rupert Music
Foundation, Ton Vosloo, REMGRO, the Hiemstra Trust and Wendy Ackerman.”
The final round of the competition will be held at the
Artscape Opera House on July 2, 2016. Tickets will go on sale in January 2016.
For more information, visit the International Hans
Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition on Facebook.
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