“Our Young Singers Project offers vocalists ideal conditions to work on repertoire with renowned coaches and further develop their artistic abilities. As director of the Young Singers Project, Evamaria Wieser continues to prove her unerring instinct for discovering and selecting outstanding vocal talents,” says Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser.
Serafina Starke (Soprano – Germany), dr. Kristina Hammer, Alma Neuhaus (Mezzo-Soprano – United States of America), Flore Van Meerssche (Soprano – Belgium), photos SF/ Erika Mayer
“This year we look forward to welcoming 15 participants from nine nations who will appear in seven productions. The Young Singers Project ideally illustrates the Salzburg Festival’s endeavours to engage with the next generation and support selected young talents to the best of our abilities,” Festival President Dr. Kristina Hammer characterizes the YSP concept.
Liam James Karai (Bass-Baritone – United Kingdom / Ireland / India), Pete Thanapat (Bass-Baritone – Thailand), Sofia Vinnik (Mezzo-Soprano – Germany)
With the Young Singers Project, the Salzburg Festival created a platform fostering young vocalists in 2008. Since this long-standing success story began, 182 young singers from 45 countries have participated; this year the participants come from Germany, Belgium, South Korea, the USA, Ireland, Thailand and Italy – as well as two singers from Ukraine and one from Russia.
The singers are chosen by Evamaria Wieser at international auditions. As part of their fellowship, they are offered a comprehensive educational programme. Tuition includes not only music lessons and repertoire expansion, but also stage rehearsals, language coaching, lied interpretation and working with Festival artists. Master classes and a strong practical orientation make YSP an international model for young artist programmes. Public master classes will be offered this summer by Malcolm Martineau, Lisette Oropesa and Piotr Beczala.
Alma Neuhaus (Mezzo-Soprano – United States of America), Niklas Mayer (Tenor – Germany) Serafina Starke (Soprano – Germany)
Every year, the participants in the Young Singers Project are featured in the children’s opera performances; this year the new production will be Stefan Johannes Hanke’s Der Teufel mit den drei goldenen Haaren. They also appear in productions of the 2022 Festival season and present themselves to the audience in a final concert on 27 August. The concert at the Main Auditorium of the Mozarteum Foundation features the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg under the baton of Adrian Kelly. For many concertgoers, this performance by the young singers is the emotional highlight of their visit to the Salzburg Festival.
Free tickets for the public master classes are available online from 2 July 2022 onwards via www.salzburgerfestspiele.at. Please note that these tickets must be personalized.
Serafina Starke (Soprano – Germany), Alma Neuhaus (Mezzo-Soprano – United States of America), Niklas Mayer (Tenor – Germany
The participants of the 2022 Young Singers Project will perform in the following productions and roles this summer:
IL TRITTICO
Martina Russomano (Soprano) – Un’amante, Suor Osmina
Alma Neuhaus (Mezzo-Soprano) – Seconda Cercatrice
Liam James Karai (Bass-Baritone) – Guccio
Aleksei Kulagin (Bass) – Pinellino
KÁŤA KABANOVÁ
Ann-Kathrin Niemczyk (Soprano) – Fekluša
Nicole Chirka (Mezzo-Soprano) – Glaša / A Woman
Nicole Chirka (Mezzo-Soprano – Ukraine), Aleksei Kulagin (Bass – Russia), Ann-Kathrin Niemczyk (Soprano – Germany), Director of the YSP Evamaria Wieser
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Ann-Kathrin Niemczyk (Soprano) – Alisa
Seungwoo Simon Yang (Tenor) – Normanno
AIDA
Flore Van Meerssche (Soprano) – Sacerdotessa
Liam James Karai (Bass-Baritone – United Kingdom / Ireland / India), Pete Thanapat (Bass-Baritone – Thailand)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE
Jasmin Delfs (Coloratura Soprano) – Queen of the Night (10 August)
DER TEUFEL MIT DEN DREI GOLDENEN HAAREN
Serafina Starke (Soprano) – The Princess
Sofia Vinnik (Mezzo-Soprano) – The Child of Fortune
Niklas Mayer (Tenor) – Ferryman / Rather Stupid Robber / Inhabitant of the Sick Land
Pete Thanapat (Bass-Baritone) – Devil / Robber Boss / Inhabitant of the Sick Land
Alexandre Fritze (Bass) – The Devil’s Grandmother / Slow Robber / Inhabitant of the Sick Land
Serafina Starke (Soprano – Germany), Alma Neuhaus (Mezzo-Soprano – United States of America), Flore Van Meerssche (Soprano – Belgium)
CONCERT OF THE VIENNA PHILHARMONIC (20, 22 August) under the baton of Daniel Barenboim
Second Act from Parsifal WWV 111
Sopranos: Serafina Starke, Ann Kathrin Niemczyk, Flore Van Meerssche, Jasmin Delfs
Mezzo-Sopranos: Alma Neuhaus, Sofia Vinnik as Flower Girls (After press materials)
Marijan Zlobec