LVIV — They say that in the early decades of the 20th century four men dominated the opera stage, Mattia Battistini, Enrico Caruso, Titta Ruffo, and Fyodor Shalyapin. Only one female singer, Ukrainian Solomia Krushelnytska (09.23.1872 – 11.16.1952), managed to scale this height. The Solomia Krushelnytska International Opera Singers Competition is being held in her honor in the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater for the fourth time.
Some 120 singers of both sexes are participating in the competition. The age qualification is 40 years for men and 38 for women, meaning that only professional, experienced singers are able to participate.
“Our event ranks among the 20 most prestigious competitions for opera singers in the world,” says Tadei Eder, Director General of the Lviv Opera Theater, with pride. The competition will consist of three tiers, and only 12 singers will advance to the final where they will sing together with the soloists of the Lviv Opera Theater in plays. The competition will end with a gala concert on October 25.
The winner of the Grand Prix award will receive an equivalent of $20,000; smaller bonuses are set for the first three places. The jury is headed by Ukrainian Maria Stefiuk, soloist of Ukraine’s National Opera, and consists of Italian, Polish, German, Japanese, and Ukrainian experts. The latter include soloist of Ukraine’s National Opera Roman Maiboroda, prominent composer Myroslav Skoryk, People’s Artist of Ukraine Stefan Piatnychko, and, naturally, Eder.
