“NORMA FANTINI, OPERA CONTEST”

COMPETITION NOTICE AND REGULATIONS

Fossano Music Foundation Academy, in collaboration with Territori Cultural Association and More News Coop. Soc., announces the “Norma Fantini, Opera Contest” lyrical competition, dedicated to singers under 33 years of age.

ART. 1 - RECIPIENTS

The competition is open to:

1. Both professional singers and aspiring professionals of any nationality and vocal register.
2.  Singing students of any nationality and vocal register.

There are two categories:

1. Under 25: up to 25 years of age;
2. Over 25 up to 33: from 26 to 33 years of age.

ART. 2 – REGISTRATION

Registration fee: € 50,00 (Fifty Euros/00), net of bank commissions.

All participants will receive a contribution of € 50,00 as reimbursement of expenses.

There is no refund in case of:

1. Renunciation or impediment to participation;
2. Failure to show up on the established days;
3. Exclusion for non-compliant data or documents

Registration method:

The application for participation must be filled out online on the site www.fondazionefossanomusica.it accompanied by the following documents: a. Photocopy of a valid identity document; b. Copy in PDF format of the scores of the pieces presented.

Sending the requested documentation:

·         Email: direttore@fondazionefossanomusica.it, or Ordinary mail: Fondazione Fossano Musica, Via Bava San Paolo, 48, 12045 Fossano (CN), Italy.

The application will be considered valid upon completion of the verification by the organizational secretariat.

Application deadline: 23 February 2025 (with the possibility of late acceptance at the discretion of the Artistic Direction).

ART. 3 – REPERTOIRE AND RUNNING OF THE COMPETITION

Each candidate is required to present three pieces taken from the Opera repertoire.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the production of La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini is invited to include in the programme an aria taken from this opera. Regardless of the category, all candidates can aspire to the roles foreseen in the opera.

Dates and location:

·         Period: from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 March 2025

·         Place: Gonfalone Concert Hall, Largo Camilla Bonardi – Fossano (CN).

·         Acceptance and study rooms: Palazzo Burgos, headquarters of Fossano Music Foundation Academy, Via Bava San Paolo, 48 – Fossano (CN).

Competition phases:

1.  Elimination phase (Friday afternoon and Saturday): performance of a piece chosen by each candidate. The eligible contestants will advance to the semi-finals.
2. Semi-finals (Saturday): performance of a piece chosen by the Jury among those presented.The eligible contestants will advance to the finals.
3. Finals (Sunday morning, open to the public): concert with the performance of one or more pieces chosen by the Jury among those presented.

Rules for the elimination phase and semi-finals:

1. The Jury can interrupt the performance of the pieces.
2. The public is not admitted.

Piano accompaniment:

1.  On condition that the scores are sent together with the registration form, collaborating pianists will be available.
2.  It is possible to participate with one’s own pianist, at the contestant’s expense, upon notification during registration.

Performance order:

·         The contestants will perform in alphabetical order.

·         The contestants must arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time, equipped with a valid identification document.

·         Latecomers will be admitted at the discretion of the Jury.

ART. 4 – PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATES

All non-awarded contestants will receive a certificate of participation and will still be able to take part in the educational activity aimed at staging La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini.

ART. 5 – JURY AND AWARDS

The Jury, nominated by the Artistic Committee, will be made up of experts in the field.

1. Norma Fantini - Soprano - (President of the Jury)
2. Alessio Pizzech - Director
3. Aldo Salvagno - Conductor
4. Giovanna Gatta - Opera4u Agency
5. Franco Moretti - Cultural Manager, founder Giacomo Puccini International Competition of Zhengzhou, former General Director of Puccini Festival Foundation
6. Marco Vinco - Artistic Director of Macerata Opera Festival
7. Giovanni Vegeto - General Director Teatro Sociale di Como and AsLiCo
8. Davide Pagliarusco - Artistic Secretary, Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova

The Jury’s decisions are unquestionable.

Prizes will be awarded on the basis of a general ranking that includes both categories:

1. First place: € 1.500,00
2. Second place: € 1.000,00
3. Third place: € 500,00
4.  From fourth to eighth place: € 300,00
5. Emerging Voice' Special Prize (reserved for the under-25 category): € 500.00

In case of ex aequo, the prizes will be divided equally.

Additional opportunities:

·         The winners and signalled participants will be able to perform, with adequate compensation, during the FFM chamber music season.

·         From the moment of registration, the winners and signalled participants agree to take part in an advanced course of studies under the guidance of Norma Fantini and director Alessio Pizzech, thanks to 10 scholarships, each worth € 3.000,00, aimed at staging La Bohème.

Educational path:

·         Period: April, May, June, July 2025 + possible subsequent repetitions, for which adequate compensation is expected.

·         Ensemble rehearsal (July): overnight stay provided by the organisers.

·         Goal: preparation of the roles for La Bohème, staging and related repetitions.

 Opera debut: July 2025, with FFM Classic Orchestra.

ART. 6 – FINAL CLAUSES

1. The Artistic Direction of the contest assumes no responsibility for risks or damage of any kind that may arise to the contestants during the course of the whole event.
2. By proceeding with the online registration of the “Opera Contest” singing competition, the candidate declares to fully accept the provisions of the contest regulations.
3. The participants will waive all rights to radio and/or television coverage of their own performances and broadcast or reproduction of their own performed pieces and authorize the organization to carry out video, audio and photographic recordings of any moment of the competition. The Fossano Music Foundation Direction reserves the right to have the competition phases filmed, recorded or broadcast via radio or TV, in part or in full, without paying any kind of compensation to singers or pianists.
4. The organization will not cover travel or accommodation expenses.
5.  The participant authorises FFM to the processing of their own personal data in order to register for the Competition, and for all administrative activities relating to the event. For the purposes of the legislative decree 196 of 2003, the participant may request access to, modification and/or cancellation of their data at any time.
6. Any dispute falls under the jurisdiction of the Cuneo Court.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the administrative secretariat:

·         Email: direttore@fondazionefossanomusica.it

·         Tel. n°: +39 0172 60113

PS: In the online registration form, to the entry "notes field", the following data must be mentioned:

Vocal register:

·         Pieces presented, composer, work, piece title, edition.

·         I would like to make use of the piano accompanist: yes □ no □