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I. International Éva Marton Singing Competition–Grand Prix Goes to Hungarian Soprano

ClassicsToday

Budapest, September 21, 2014—Out of the 11 finalists, the only Hungarian, Szilvia Vörös, has won the Grand Prix of the I. International Éva Marton Singing Competition.

The jury of eight members, all of them outstanding representatives of the international opera world, awarded the 26-year-old mezzo-soprano Szilvia Vörös the Grand Prix at the Liszt Academy. The 11 competitors (Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, 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. 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.

Total prize money in the competition amounts to €42,000, out of which four prizes are awarded: €12,000 for first place, €9000 for second, and €6000 for third place. The €15,000 Grand Prix does not have to be awarded. Prizes cannot be shared or modified. (The prizes are covered from the budget of the 1st International Éva Marton Singing Competition, approved by the Hungarian government and funded by the Ministry of Human Capacities.) Special prizes – in the form of invitations, scholarships, and valuable trophies – are offered by the sponsors and partners of the competition. The audience attending the Final can vote for the winner of the Audience Prize (500,000 forints, provided by the Hungarian Academy of Arts – MMA).

The biographies of the entrants, summaries of the rounds, exclusive background material and full information covering the competition is provided on the www.martoncompetition.hu website.

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