Repertoire Requirements

Come as you are!

Candidates are invited to compile their own individual list of arias and art songs/lieder to be performed in the competition.

Each applicant’s choice of work for the preliminary rounds and semi-final must be submitted with the application form. The pieces presented in these two rounds cannot be the same.

General requirements

A minimum of three languages must be represented in the overall repertoire. Opera arias and oratorio/sacred music works must be performed in the original key and in their original language. Art songs/lieder must be performed in their original language, but may be sung in different keys.

Works to be performed in the preliminary round and semi-final must be specified in the application form and cannot be changed after the application is submitted. Please note that you cannot perform the same works in the preliminary and the semi-final rounds.

The repertoire for the final concert is chosen by the jury from the finalist’s list of arias. The jury may choose arias the participant has already performed in previous rounds.

Clear, easily legible sheet music for the works to be performed in the preliminary round and semi-final must be submitted by e-mail to the competition within the given deadline.

Arias

The repertoire list must consist of six opera/oratorio arias, two of which may be from oratorios/sacred works. The opera repertoire must include arias from at least two different periods/ genres. A minimum of two languages must be represented.

Opera arias and oratorio/sacred music works must be performed in the original key and in their original language.

Lied

The repertoire list must also include four works from the category lieder/art song (for example German Lied, French chanson, Italian canzona, English song, American art song, Nordic romances etc.)

Candidates are encouraged to include Norwegian music amongst their choices. The competition has prepared a representative list of suggestions of works by Norwegian composers, which you can find here.

Art songs/lieder must be performed in their original language, but may be sung in different keys.

Rounds and repertoire

Screening audition

A screening jury evaluates all valid applications based on the submitted video footage. The repertoire must include two operatic arias, indicated in the application form. The arias may, but do not have to, be part of the competition repertoire. They must be of contrasting styles and performed with piano and/ or orchestral accompaniment. Total playing time should not exceed 10 minutes.

Preliminary rounds

40 candidates are invited to take part in the preliminary rounds in Oslo. The repertoire consists of a self-chosen operatic/oratorio aria and a self-chosen art song/lied from your repertoire list. Total performance time should not exceed 12 minutes. The pieces are to be performed with piano accompaniment.

Semi-final

12 candidates will be admitted to the semi-final. The repertoire consists of four works from the contestant’s submitted list of arias and art songs/lieder. 1-2 of the pieces must be operatic/oratorio arias, and 2-3 of the pieces must be art songs/lieder. Total performance time per contestant should not exceed 20 minutes. The pieces are to be performed with piano accompaniment.

Final

6 candidates will be admitted to the final. The repertoire is chosen by the jury from the contestant’s list of arias. The jury may choose arias the participant has already performed in earlier rounds. The finalists will be informed of their repertoire for the final round after the announcement of the finalists (a few hours after the semi-final). The pieces are performed with the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra. The final concert is held in the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, Main House, and will be broadcast by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

Read more about the jury’s voting here.