Najbolj dramatično pevsko potovanje na svetu

Hapag Lloyd oznanja pevsko tekmovanje “Stella Maris International Vocal Competition”, ki se je začelo včeraj z vkrcanjem potnikov ter vseh nastopajočih glasbenikov v Barceloni, kot nekaj najbolj vrhunskega, prestižnega in na najbolj ekskluzivni potniški ladji na svetu.

Nika Gorič na MS Europa, foto osebni arhiv

Ker prihajajo pevci: le štiri pevke in štirje pevci kot izbranci najpomembnejših opernih ustanov ter festivalov na svetu, je več kot očitno, da gre za vrhunskost že v tem oziru, saj se je vsakdo lahko odločil le za svojega kandidata oziroma svojega najboljšega pevca.

Nika Gorič poleti v Salzburgu, foto Marijan Zlobec

Za Niko Gorič se je odločila voditeljica Young Singers Project na letošnjih Salzburških slavnostnih igrah Evamaria Wieser. Dunajčanka sicer organizacijsko sodeluje s salzburškim festivalom že od leta 1991, leta 2003 pa je postala direktorica umetniškega biroja festivala in pozna tako rekoč do obisti vse pevke in pevce, ki so tam nastopili v več kot dveh desetletjih in pol, kar pomeni nekaj sto umetnikov.

Nika Gorič v Sredozemlju, foto osebni arhiv

Svojo veliko kariero na področju glasbene organizacije in menedžmenta je sicer začela kot sodelavka umetniške agenture – Theateragentur Holender, ki jo je vodil slavni Ioan Holender, kasnejši dolgoletni direkotr dunajske Državne opere. Organizacijsko in umetniško je delovala še z münchenskim Nacionalnim teatrom (Münchensko opero), Pariško opero in Ruhr trienalom, v Salzburgu pa še z Velikonočnim festivalom. V Parizu in Ruhru je tesno sodelovala z Gerardom Mortierom, prav tako pa v Salzburgu, ko je bil on deset let umetniški vodja (1991 – 2001).

Evamaria Wieser poleti v Salzburgu, foto Marijan Zlobec

Če se je ona postavila in izbrala slovensko pevko, pomeni že to zelo veliko. Gospo Wieser poznajo vse pevske agenture na svetu.
Nika Gorič uradno predstavlja YSP in s tem Salzburške slavnostne igre.

Notranjost MS Europa, foto osebni arhiv

Luksuz za 400 potnikov, foto osebni arhiv

Morje je kar na ladji, foto osebni arhiv

Na ladji imajo za pevce še uglaševalca klavirjev, foto osebni arhiv

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Singing Competition “Stella Maris”

“This competition on board the cruise ship MS Europa was a terrific idea that I developed in 2009 together with then general manager of Hapag Lloyd Cruises. He is a great fan of classical music, and I think it is wonderful when a company like Hapag Lloyd can offer its guests something like this. Classical music and concerts given by young and also well-known artists have always played an important role on this ship, and it was on one of these occasions that we met. But now there is an added dimension that not only promotes young artists, but also involves the audience through the award of an audience prize – and both parties are delighted to make use of this option.

EUR Sunset, foto Singing Competition “Stella Maris”

People book these trips not only because of the renowned exclusive ambience, but also because they want to be part of a singing competition. And in this intimate setting it seems entirely natural to include the audience in the competition. This gives them the opportunity to consider and evaluate artistic accomplishments, which gives them a new perspective on things. The earnestness with which they approach this task is fascinating.

Soprano Nora Friedrich (Oper Frankfurt), Mark Behrend (left), and Michael Schade

At the Stella Maris competition, there are three rounds in different divisions. It is important to me that a singer should have a mastery not only of operatic arias but also oratorio and song, which is why we have these three rounds. It is always amazing to see how differently the singers score in these genres.

Is not just about the question of “How can I win”

This competition is not just about the question of “How can I win”; we also take up the challenge of networking here. A singer’s capital is contacts, and we try to create these, and on various different levels.

Firstly, the important point about this competition is that we approach major opera houses that have an ensemble of young singers who could be our competitors, and we ask them to send them to us, as it were as “ambassadors” for their organization. There are four women and four men at each competition, and they come from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the San Francisco Opera or the Chicago Opera, or the Canadian Opera Company, the Paris Opera, from Covent Garden, La Scala, Frankfurt Opera, Vienna State Opera, etc. etc. – the best opera houses, who all have good young singers.

 

Bass – bariton Jongmin Park from Seul

Secondly, the jury is made up of representatives from opera and concert organizers, agencies, recording companies, as well as journalists, whose task is to network with the young singers and afterwards offer them an engagement, an agency agreement, or a recording. That for example is how Jongmin Park landed at the Vienna State Opera, why Mélissa Petit is doing so well at the Hamburg State Opera, it is one of the reasons why Ida Aldrian made her debut in December 2014 at the Salzburg Mozarteum, and it is why Manuel Walser was given a recording with Deutsche Grammophon.

And thirdly and lastly, as I mentioned to begin with, the singers’ names come before a select audience that then awards the audience prize. And the prize is equivalent to a really top fee in normal opera life.

These three features are absolutely key to me, because with them I can say that I have helped a young singer, not just technically, but have really given him or her a leg up.” (Michael Schade)

Marijan Zlobec