First-round auditions at the Małopolskie Cultural Centre SOKÓŁ have narrowed the field from 70 to 24 singers representing Poland, Ukraine, South Korea, China, Denmark, Latvia and Kazakhstan. Sopranos dominate the second stage with 10 entrants, followed by six baritones, five mezzo-sopranos, two basses and a lone tenor.
The biennial event, running until 24 May, is regarded as a springboard to international careers; past laureates include Polish tenor Piotr Beczała, baritone Andrzej Dobber and German soprano Hanna-Elisabeth Müller.
A nine-member jury chaired by Polish mezzo Małgorzata Walewska will select the winners after song recitals, semi-final arias and a final gala with the Kraków Opera Orchestra conducted by Marta Kluczyńska.
This year’s edition attracted a record 210 applicants from 40 countries across six continents, the organizers said. All rounds are streamed live on adasari.pl, with the final also carried by the international platform OperaVision.
Tickets and free passes are available at the SOKÓŁ box office and online.
The competition honors Polish coloratura soprano Ada Sari (1886-1968) and was founded in 1985 by the late vocal coach Helena Łazarska. It is held under the patronage of Culture Minister Hanna Wróblewska and co-financed by the ministry’s Music Promotion Fund.
A special concert on 22 May will salute both Ada Sari and Professor Łazarska, featuring former prize-winners Adriana Ferfecka, Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk, Gabriela Legun and Hanna Okońska in arias by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi and Moniuszko.
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Source: PAP