Edition 2010

Paris, capital of culture and art in all its forms, hosted for the first time the great lyric competition, “Paris International Opera competition”. The Finals took place on 17th October 2011 at the Theatre of Champs Elysées.

This adventure, which started 18 months before the gala concert, brought together as candidates 350 young artists from the whole world.  Over 56 nationalities were represented!

The Artistic Committee of the competition made a first selection of only 20 candidates for the semi-finals.  The choice was difficult, since the quality of the candidates was exceptionally high.

The semi-finals took place on the 15th October 2010 in the historic setting of the theatre of the Conservatoire d’art dramatique.  It was here that in 1828 Parisians first heard the music of Beethoven:  In 1830, Berlioz himself directed the creation of his Symphonie Fantastique.  So, the 20 candidates sang in an extraordinary place with perfect acoustics.

By the evening of the 15th, only 8 talented finalists remained, who were then on the programme for the Theatre du Champs-Elysees, another great and prestigious concert hall; in the art-deco style and having its place alongside the auditorium of the Conservatoire d’art dramatique in historic creations, notably the Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”, which was a scandal at the time.

The Conductor, Philippe Hui, and the Pasdeloup orchestra (which celebrated its 150th anniversary) accompanied the candidates in this final and difficult test.

The Jury, composed of both European Theatre Directors and famous international Opera-singers, such as Gabriel Bacquier, had to be prepared to make difficult choices, as for the semi-finals.  The President of the Jury was Michel Frank, Director of the Theatre des Champs-Elysees.

The hall was full, the public attentive and warm, and the performances were magnificent.