308 young musicians from 56 countries on five continents applied to the 2nd Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition, organized by the Kodály Philharmonia Debrecen and JM Hungary from 20-28 August, where conductors will compete this year.
In the second edition of the Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition, the young conductors will conduct orchestral pieces and several oratorio pieces. One of the main reasons for this is that the 100th anniversary of the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra coincides with the centenary of the Psalmus Hungaricus, which will be the occasion for the orchestra to fulfill its long-standing wish to organize an oratorio conducting competition in Debrecen.
Before the three rounds of the competition, the applicants – including conductors from Venezuela, Morocco, Estonia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and New Zealand – were invited to a video pre-selection to see who would be invited to the live competition. The preliminary jury finally decided that 38 competitors would start.
The seven-strong international jury is chaired by a true legend, 92-year-old Jorma Panula
Members of the jury:
- János Ács (Italy/Hungary),
- Peter Broadbent (United Kingdom)
- Remy Franck (Luxembourg)
- Zsolt Hamar (Hungary)
- Oksana Madarash (Ukraine)
- Dániel Somogyi-Tóth (Hungary)
The rounds of the competition, which can be visited for free, take place in the Great Hall of the Kölcsey Center, and the final event of the competition (Prizes presentation and gala concert) will also take place in the Kölcsey Center on August 28, for which HUF 500 registration tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
Detailed program:
- August 20 Opening ceremony
- August 21-22 Round 1
- August 23-24 Round 2
- August 25-27 Round 3
- August 28. Award ceremony and gala concert
1st Round (max. 15 minutes, approx. 32 competitors)
- Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus – Overture OR
- Johann Strauss II: Der Zigeunerbaron – Overture OR
- Bartók: Dance Suite – I. Moderato, IV. Molto tranquillo, VI. Finale. Allegro
2nd Round (max. 30 minutes, 12 competitors)
a) Kodály: Dances of Galánta (excerpts*) OR Kodály: Dances of Marosszék (excerpts*)
b) AND one of the followings:
- Poulenc: Stabat mater – I. Stabat mater dolorosa & II. Cujus animam gementem
- Liszt: Hungarian Coronation Mass – I. Kyrie
- Verdi: Quattro pezzi sacri – Stabat mater (excerpts*)
- Puccini: Messa di Gloria – I. Kyrie
- Vajda: Magnificat – Suscepit Israel
3rd Round (6 competitors)
- Kodály: Psalmus Hungaricus
