9º Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition 2009

• Teatro SESIMINAS
  Centro de Cultura Nansen Araujo
• Palácio das Artes

Regulations ©All rights reserved. The use of part or all of these regulations by domestic or international competitions without prior authorization is prohibited.

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CHAPTER I – The Objectives

Art. 1 - The objective of the 9th International Bidu Sayão Vocal Contest is to reveal new vocal talents and to disseminate bel canto.

CHAPTER II – The Categories

Art. 2 - The contest is divided into two categories: male and female. The contestants will perform in the order established in a prior draw and will be judged by the same jury.

CHAPTER III – Enrollment

Art. 3 - The contest is open to singers of any nationality, born on or after January 1st, 1974 until January 1st, 1991.

Art. 4 - Enrolment entails sending the material stipulated in article 6 to Caixa Postal 34727 - CEP 01452-970 - São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Enrolments will be accepted with a postmark dated no later than March 20, 2009.

Art. 5 - An enrolment fee of R$ 100.00 should be deposited in the BANCO DO BRASIL S/A – agency no. 2962-9 – account number 691.037-8, in the name of São Paulo ImagemData. Candidates offering proof of participation in a Brazilian or International Vocal Contest from January 1st, 2004 to February 28th, 2009, or who have enrolled in previous editions of the Bidu Sayão Contest, with or without being approved for the eliminatory tests, will be automatically exempt from paying the abovementioned enrollment fee.

Art. 6 - To enroll in the contest, participants should send in the following material:

• - the enrolment form, duly filled out, including the own accompanying pianist if the contestant don’t want to have him provided by the Competition (see Chapter V) ; name of singing teacher and contact information (Brazilian or foreign); a list with the repertoire he/she wishes to sing at each phase of the contest (chapters VIII, IX and X);
• - a signed declaration of cession of sound and image rights over contestant’s participation in the contest, included in the enrolment form .
• - photocopy of an identity document (ID or Passport);
• - proof of payment of enrollment fee or of participation in a Vocal Contest as described in article 5, or a declaration of participation in a previous edition of the Bidu Sayão Contest;
• - a brief resumé of up to 20 lines;
• - 1 10x15 cm photograph;
• - one video recorded in DVD (NTSC) with any piece of contestant’s choice (with piano) and without special editions, effects, dubbing or similar.
• - if applicable, proof of having obtained first place in a contest affiliated with the Federation Mondiale des Concours Internationaux de Musique (see Art. 9);
• - two legible copies of the scores to be used in each of the stages of the contest, identifying the composer and the name of the works (include the origin in the case of excerpts from complete works), the year of composition and the language.

Art. 7 - Candidates will be subject to prior selection by audition of the recordings provided (art. 6).

Art. 8 - Candidates who are approved in the pre-selection will be notified by the Contest Organizers by fax or e-mail.

When notified, the candidate will confirm by e-mail or fax his participation.

Art. 9 - Candidates who present proof of having obtained first place in a contest affiliated with the Federation Mondiale des Concours Internationaux de Musique will be exempt from the pre-selection and eliminatory phases. They will automatically qualify to participate from the semi-final on. However, as with the other candidates, they must still provide all the material required in the contest application process.

Art. 10 - The material submitted in accordance with article 6 will not be returned to the candidates.

CHAPTER IV – Presentation of the Contestants

Art. 11 - The candidates approved in the pre-selection and those admitted automatically in accordance with article 9 are required to be present at the draw to decide the order of presentation and rehearsal times. This will take place on May 3rd, 2009, at 2 p.m. at a venue to be informed . The Contest Organizers will also communicate the candidates that will be in Group I or Group II. Absence from this stage will be deemed to constitute withdrawal from the Contest. Should the Jury request it, a new draw for presentation and rehearsal order for the following stage may be held at the end of each stage of the Contest.

Art. 12 - Each contestant is entitled to up to 20 minutes rehearsal for each stage, at a time and place determined by the Contest Organizers, in accordance with the draw and the provisions of articles 13 and 14.

CHAPTER V – Accompanying Pianists

Art. 13 - Contestants shall have 1 (one) accompanying pianist provided by the Contest Organization.

Art. 14 - Contestants may bring their own accompanying pianists; however, the pianist’s travel, accommodation and meals will be at the contestant’s expense.

The candidate will indicate the accompanying pianist in the enrolment form. (Art. 6).

CHAPTER VI – Transportation, Accommodation and Health problems

Art. 15 - Each contestant will be responsible for his/her own transportation, accommodation, meal and eventual health problems expenses, as well as those of their companions.

CHAPTER VII – The Tests
Art. 16 - With the exception of those cases provided for in article 9, there will be three tests or stages for both categories in the contest: eliminatory, semifinal and final. The presentations will be mixed (men and women); they will follow the order determined in the draws and will be judged by category (male and female).

Art. 17 - The tests will be held at the Teatro SESIMINAS, at Rua Álvares Maciel, nº. 59, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. These will be open to the public at the discretion of the Contest Organizers.

Art. 18 - The contestant should report to the Contest secretariat at the Teatro SESIMINAS 30 minutes before the beginning of each test.

Art. 19 - Each contestant’s program should assembled based on the repertoire established in accordance with chapters VIII, IX and X.

Art. 20 - The candidate is subject to automatic disqualification should he or she not complete his/her full program.

The contestant is not obliged to sing the recitatives and cabaletas; should he/she decide to sing arias with cabaleta, the transition between the aria and cabaleta may be eliminated.
- The contestant may sing alternative notes as long as they are recognized by the composer or are traditionally acceptable.
- Traditional cuts are acceptable in the performance of the pieces.
- The pieces shall be performed in the original tone and language; songs are acceptable in several different tones.
- At each stage, the contestant shall perform pieces in at least two different languages.
- Countertenors will present a repertoire conceived specifically for their register.
- The Jury may, at its own discretion, interrupt the contestant’s presentation at any time or if it exceeds twenty minutes.

Art. 21 - The repertoire for all tests shall be performed from memory.

Art. 22 - The pieces may not be repeated in the different stages of the contest, with the exception of the award ceremonies, where pieces from the previous stages may be performed at the contestant’s choice and in accordance with chapter XI.

CHAPTER VIII – The Eliminatory Stage

Art. 23 - The Eliminatory Test for Group I, determined by draw, will be on May 5th, 2009, beginning at 5 p.m.

Art. 24 - The Eliminatory Test for Group II, determined by draw, will be on May 6th, 2009, beginning at 5 p.m.

Art. 25 - At this stage, the contestants will perform one opera aria, song or oratorio composed during the 18th century, 1 opera aria composed in the 19th century. These should be in two different languages; the order of presentation is at the contestant’s own criteria.

Art. 26 - The names of the contestants approved for the Semifinal will be announced at the end of the tests on each day.

CHAPTER IX - Semifinal

Art. 27 - The Group I Semifinal will take place on May 7th, 2009, beginning at 6 p.m.

Art. 28 - The Group II Semifinal will take place on May 8th, 2009, beginning at 6 p.m.

Art. 29 –At this stage, the contestants will perform 1 song composed in the 19th century, 1 opera aria of their own choice, 1 piece (opera aria, song, or oratorio) composed in the 20th century. These should be in at least two different languages; the order of presentation is at the contestant’s own criteria.

Art. 30 - The names of the contestants approved for the Final will be announced at the end of the Group II tests.

CHAPTER X - Final

Art. 31 - The Final will take place on May, 9th, 2009, beginning at 7 p.m.

Art. 32 - The contestants will perform one Italian opera aria, one opera aria and one piece of their own choice, all by different composers and in at least two different languages.

Art. 33 - The names of the contest winners will only be announced at the Award Presentation Concert.

Art. 34 - During the final test, the public will be invited to grant the Popular Jury Award, choosing two contestants, one from each category, from among the finalists.

CHAPTER XI – The Award Presentation Recital

Art. 35 - The Award Presentation Recital will be held on May 10th, 2008, at the Grande Auditório, Palácio das Artes – Av. Afonso Pena, 1537 – Center – Belo Horizonte – State of Minas Gerais.

Art. 36 - All the finalists should be in attendance at the award presentation recital for the announcement of the winners.

Non-attendance of the finalists at the award presentation recital will result in immediate disqualification.

Art. 37 - Each winner shall sing two pieces of his/her own choice selected from among those listed in the Award Recital Repertoire, in the following order of presentation:

• - Men’s Popular Jury Award;
• - Women’s Popular Jury Award;
• - 3rd Place Men;
• - 3rd Place Women;
• - 2nd Place Men;
• - 2nd Place Women;
• - 1st Place Men;
• - 1st Place Women.
  
  

CHAPTER XII - Jury

Art. 38 - The jury of the 9th Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition will consist of seven renowned professionals in the music and bel canto area.

Art. 39 - The jury’s decisions will be final and irrevocable.

CHAPTER XIII – The Prizes

Art. 40 - The prizes are as follows:

• - 1st Place Men - R$ 15,000.00 and trophy;
• - 1st Place Women - R$ 15,000.00 and trophy;
• - 2nd Place Men - R$ 10,000.00 and trophy;
• - 2nd Place Women - R$ 10,000.00 and trophy;
• - 3rd Place Men - R$ 5,000.00 and trophy;
• - 3rd Place Women - R$ 5,000.00 and trophy;
• - Best Song Interpreter - R$ 2,000.00 and Diploma;
• - Best Opera Aria Interpreter Men- R$ 2,000.00 and Diploma;
• - Best Opera Aria Interpreter Women- R$ 2,000.00 and Diploma;
• - Men’s Popular Jury Award - R$ 1,500.00 and Plaque;
• - Women’s Popular Jury Award - R$ 1,500.00 and Plaque;
• - Revelation Award - R$ 1,000.00 and Diploma;
• - Incentive Award - R$ 1,000.00 and Diploma;
• - Special Prizes – to be defined.
  
  

Art. 41 - The prize money is subject by law to deduction of income tax.

Art. 42 - All the eliminated contestants will receive a certificate of participation.

Art. 43 - All the winners will receive a certificate corresponding to their classification.

Art. 44 - The awards in each category, as per article 40, shall be determined exclusively by the jury, which may at its own discretion also determine not to grant awards in the proposed classifications.

Art. 45 - In the event that a prize is not granted in a determined classification, the corresponding prize money will not be redistributed among the remaining prize winners.

CHAPTER XIV - The Organization

Art. 46 - The Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition is organized by Casa da Ópera.

Art. 47 - The Contest Organizers will keep the candidates informed with respect to all contest-related procedures.

CHAPTER XV – Final Considerations

Art. 48 - The enrollment form and its content are the exclusive responsibility of each candidate. The Organizers will not suggest, correct or propose corrections to the repertoire or do anything else to promote compliance with Contest regulations.
If, during the tests, a mistake on the part of the contestant should be detected in the choice of repertoire, type of piece, the period in which the pieces were written, the use of at least two languages at each stage of the contest, or should any other infringement of the regulations be discovered, the contestant will be eliminated, even after classification for the following stage of the Contest.

Art. 49 - By enrolling in this Contest, the candidate agrees with all the rules established in these regulations and declares his/her full acceptance of the sovereignty of the decisions taken by the Organizers and the Jury, recognizing and agreeing that no appeals may be made against the decisions taken the Organizers and Jury during the course of the Contest.

Art. 50 - Any cases not covered by the regulations, omissions and doubts will be settled by the Organizers, whose decisions are final and may not be appealed.

Art. 51 - In the event of any conflict among the different international versions of these regulations, the Portuguese language version will prevail.

Art. 52 - The 9th Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition is governed by this current set of regulations; any clauses or dispositions of previous versions of the Contest regulations are invalid.

E-mail: spimagem@uol.com.br