Gheorghiu And Kaufmann At European Culture Awards In Dresden

Award-Winning Smiles: Gheorghiu and Kaufmann

"Thirteen individuals and organizations have been honored with the European Culture Award in Dresden. Awardees include former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and former VW supervisory chief Ferdinand Piech. The prizes were awarded at Dresden's Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) on Friday, with 25 years of Germany's reunification as its central theme. The ceremony looked back at special achievements before and after the historical event. The European Culture Award is given out to individuals and organizations who have contributed towards the idea of a unified Europe. Tenor Jonas Kaufmann and Romanian soprano singer Angela Gheorghiu were the two soloists honored this year. The organizers also recognized the contributions of actress Kathrin Sass, the British violinist Daniel Hope and a civil society intiative for the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden. Former VW supervisory chief Ferdinand Piech and former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez , who worked towards Germany's reunification, won the prize of honor at Friday's event. The Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic, led by Kristjan Järvi and cellist Maximilian Hornung were honored in the emerging talents category. 22-year-old Iva Kovic, a Lebanese artist of Slovenian origin, was the inaugural winner of the new visual arts category. The European Culture Prizes were awarded for the first time in 1993 and carry no monetary compensation. Its organizers include the European Cultural Foundation and the Frauenkirche in Dresden." [Source]

Szilvia Vörös Wins Grand Prix At Éva Marton Singing Competition

The mezzo-soprano was the only
Hungarian in the competition.

"The jury of eight members, all of them outstanding representatives of the international opera world, awarded as a result of their discussion far into the night the 26-year-old mezzosoprano, Szilvia Vörös the Grand Prix at the Liszt Academy. On Saturday the Final round of the competition, which started on Monday, was full house. The eleven competitors (Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese (from China and Hong Kong), Romanian and Polish) sang in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy, and were accompanied by the MÁV Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ádám Medveczky. This has been the first international competition organized by the institute itself since the renovation of the Liszt Academy was finished last autumn. The 29-year-old Romanian baritone, Aghenie Alexandru was awarded the First Prize, which is worth 12,000 euros. He sang one aria from Gounod's Faust and one from Verdi's Il trovatore. The 30-year-old Ukranian soprano, Tetiana Zhuravel got the Second Prize, that is, 9,000 euros, while the 28-year-old Polish soprano, Marcelina Beucher won the Third Prize, which is worth 6,000 euros. The audience could also vote for singers and give their votes in the intermission of the Final. Thus, the Audience Prize of 500,000 HUF and the china replica of one of the Faun figures of the music palace on Liszt Ferenc Square was given to the Second Prize winner Tetiana Zhuravel. Szilvia Vörös studied at the Richter János Secondary School of Music.

The competition's namesake: Ms. Marton
(Photo: Emmer László)

As a student of Veronika Dobi-Kiss she won first prize at the Simándy József Singing Competition in 2008. In the same year she attended the Liszt Academy of Budapest where she studied in the class of Éva Marton. She graduated in 2013. She participated in masterclasses given by Éva Marton, Andrea Meláth, Leonardo de Lisi, Alberto Gazale and Nicholas Clapton. During her studies she performed the alto solo parts of Bach's Johannes- and Matthäus-Passion and also some oratory pieces by Mozart, Buxtehude, Arvo Pärt and György Orbán. Latest roles played by her include the Third Dame in Die Zauberflöte at the Liszt Academy. She also appeared in Elektra by Strauss at the Hungarian State Opera House." [Source] Listen to mezzo-soprano Szilvia Vörös sing "O don fatale" from Verdi's Don Carlos sung in July 2013 at the Hungarian State Opera honoring Éva Marton, after the jump.

Sondra Radvanovsky Sings at Birgit Nilsson Prize Ceremony

Riccardo Muti accepted his $1 million Birgit Nilsson Prize in Stockholm, Sweden. Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky sang "Tacea la notte placida" from Il Trovatore at the ceremony. Click here to watch the video. Two more images after the jump.

Anne Sofie von Otter Wins Over $20K

"Anne Sofie von Otter is to receive the coveted Frankfurt Music Prize for 2011. The versatile mezzo-soprano will be presented with the award and the €15,000 prize money on the eve of Musikmesse. With it, the jury has not only acknowledged an outstanding voice, but also the artist's varied repertoire, which ranges from Baroque to jazz. The prize will be presented on the eve of Musikmesse 2011, 5 April 2011, during the PRG LEA Awards ceremony in the Festhalle Frankfurt. The trustees of the Frankfurt Music Prize selected Anne Sofie von Otter for her extraordinary voice, her extremely varied, cross-genre repertoire and her bold interpretations." Past recipients of the prize include Brigitte Fassbaender (1985), Sir Georg Solti (1992) and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (2001).  [Source, Source]