About the contest

Dear friends and colleagues!

We are pleased to inform and invite you for holding of the I Muslim Magomaev International Vocalists Contest established by the Muslim Magomaev Musical and Cultural Heritage Fund. It is to be held in October 2010 on the Crocus City Hall stage in Moscow.

The Magomaev’s vocalists contest is supposed to become a prestigious one among contemporary international performing contests. It is considered as a competitive show for international vocalists capable to demonstrate their abilities, talent and mastery in performing both classic and popular repertoire.

Singers from countries of all continents who send a preliminary request, audio and video materials to the Organizing Committee are admitted for taking part in the Contest.

Highly qualified jury including outstanding cultural figures such as soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, professor Tamara Sinyavskaya, soloist of The Bolshoi Theatre, professor Elena Obraztsova, musician, conductor and professor Yury Bashmet, composer Aleksey Rybnikov, composer Michel Legrand and others award winners of the Contest with a title of Laureate and monetary rewards according to results of the Contest.

Kind regards,
The Organizing Committee

Key points of the Contest

I Muslim Magomaev International Vocalists Contest.
Moscow. Crocus City Hall. October 2010.

The name of Muslim Magomaev (1942 – 2008) is well known all around the world.

Brilliant talent of a singer, musician, actor, unique classic vocal repertoire and popular music repertoire at the same time fairly brought public love to Muslim Magomayev, moved him forward to join the ranks of the foremost people of art of the 20th century.

Versatile musical and cultural heritage of the artist has a great impact on continuation of great traditions of the worldwide and native vocal schools.

That is why organization and holding of the I Magomaev International Vocalists Contest in the capital of Russia appears to be extremely actual, solicited and fair action despite many other contests held in Europe and post-Soviet area. This Contest should differ fundamentally from existing ones either in concept or scope.

The Magomaev’s vocalists contest is a competitive show for international singers capable to demonstrate their abilities, talent and mastery in performing both classic and popular repertoire. Singers from countries of all continents who send a preliminary request, audio and video materials to the Organizing Committee are admitted for taking part in the Contest. At the end of initial review the Organizing Committee selects up to 15 performers inviting them to Moscow for taking part in the Contest.

The Contest is to be held within two days and covered by Russian and International MSM and TV.

The first day of the program consists of two parts. Participants are to perform a classic composition in the first part, and a pop hit in the second. Every participant’s entrance upon the stage is evaluated by international jury openly according to 10 score scale separately in the first and in the second parts. Based on results of the first part the participants are classified by places subject to total scores.

The second day of the Contest is dedicated to the memory of Muslim Magomaev. Contestants perform according to taken places during the first day (from 15 to 1). They perform two compositions from Magomayev’s repertoire (both classic and pop) in one entry. Every juror evaluates the contestants openly by giving single score on a scale of one to ten after the last performance. Scores of the first and second days are summarized and according to the results winners of the Contest are defined (Grand Prix, prizes 1-3). Chairman of the jury is entitled to grant one extra score to one contestant. If several participants have equal amount of scores the jury defines the order of places by making joint consultative decision.

The Contest is held on the Crocus City Hall stage accompanied by symphony orchestra. Only live singing and orchestral accompaniment are compulsory for all contest performances; any phonogram is excluded completely. Contest performances are structured as a great show combined by common directing with specially prepared author scenography and spectacular original dynamic action. It is planned that outstanding world famous artists — International jury members — are to perform on each of two days of the Contest.

This Contest is a forum for musicians from different countries, schools and styles, experience and mastery exchange, discussion of vocal art further development..

Requesting Procedure

APPLICATION FORM

I Magomaev International Vocalists Contest is to be held in Moscow on 23 and 24 October 2010 on the Crocus City Hall stage.

Admitted to the Contest are professional singers who have special music education; age limit — 40 years old.

The contestant is to send to the Organizing Committee an attached request filled in either in Russian or English not later than on 15 September 2010.

The Contestant is to send to the Organizing Committee DVD and CD disks with records of two or three classic academic vocal compositions and two or three pop songs not later than on 15 September 2010.

Required audio and video materials specified in clause 1.3 and 1.4 are to be sent by express-mail to the Organizing Committee at the following address: 143400, Crocus City Hall, Trade and Exhibition Center, bld. 2, pav. 3, 65-66 km of Moscow MKAD (Ring Road), Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, Russia.

Contestants are to be selected by the Independent Contest Committee.

All admitted contestants (up to 15 people) will receive an Invitation specifying the date of arrival to the Contest from the Organizing Committee on 20 September the latest.

Procedure for Holding the Contest

Leading opera singers, pop music stars, directors of the music theatres, recognized maestros of pop art and mass culture of different countries as well as representatives of international production companies are invited to jury of the I International M. Magomaev’s vocalists contest.

When voting all jury members of the I  Magomaev International Vocalists Contest have only one vote. Chairman of the jury has a right to grant one extra score to one contestant.

Contest performances consist of two rounds. All auditions are held publicly with accompaniment of the orchestra (ensemble). All compositions are to be performed by heart in original language. Every composition may be performed in one round only.

Every admitted contestant is provided with two orchestra (ensemble) rehearsals.

Contestants perform pursuant to the order determined by Pot allocations in the first round; in the second round — in accordance with places taken during the first day (going from the last place to the first one).

All admitted contestants take part in two rounds of the Contest though the jury reserves a right to exclude any contestant from further performances if needed.

The winners are to be awarded on gala show at the end of the second day.

All contestants are obliged with gratuitous participation in the final gala concert, several concerts upon completion of the Contest including trip and performance in Baku, M. Magomaev’s motherland.

The Organizing Committee reserves all rights for broadcasting auditions of two days of the Contest on radio and television, digital recording and further distribution without extra fees to the contestants. The Organizing Committee also reserves an exclusive right to make contracts with other parties regarding contestants’ participation in special projects behind the Contest.

Programme of the Contest

The 1st round:

• Aria from operas, cantatas or oratorio of western European or Russian composers up to the participant’s choice.
• Pop hit song up to the participant’s choice (first performance is acceptable).

The 2nd round:

• Any aria from the opera where Muslim Magomaev took part (P.I. Tchaikovsky «Eugene Onegin», N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov «The Tsar’s Bride», G.Verdi «Rigoletto», «Aida», «Otello», G. Rossini «The Barber of Seville», C. Gounod «Faust», R. Leoncavallo «Pagliacci», «Zaza», G. Bizet «Carmen», W.A. Mozart «Marriage of Figaro», «Don Giovanni», A. Borodin «Prince Igor», M. Magomayev «Shah Ismael» or «Neapolitan Song»).
• Pop song including arias from western musicals and popular compositions of foreign authors from Muslim Magomayev’s repertoire (upon individual recommendation of the Organizing Committee).

Remarks:

• Performance duration in each of two rounds is up to 10 minutes.
• All compositions are to be performed by heart in the original language.
• Every composition may be performed in one round only.
• Opera, cantata, oratorio parts written for particular voice are to be performed in the original mode.
• Upon request of the Organizing Committee admitted contestant is to provide required orchestral score and voices of the compositions performed.

Organization and Financial Terms of the Contest

The Organizing Committee is liable for paying off residency costs of the contestants when staying in Moscow and other cities within period of their participation in the Contest (return economy class ticket, hotel, meals and transport).

Foreign participants admitted to the Contest are to issue visas at their own expenses applying to the Consular posts of the Russian Federation after receipt of the Invitation. Visas are issued for a period of 18 October — 1 November 20

Prizes and Rewards

The Organizing Committee of the I Muslim Magomaev International Vocalists Contest states the following:

Grand Prix — 30 000 USD and title of Grand Prix holder

• I prize — 15 000 USD and title of Laureate
• II prize — 10 000 USD and title of Laureate
• III prize — 5 000 USD and title of Laureate

Rewards are to be paid in rubles at the Central Bank of Russia rate on the date of payment. All prize amounts are indicated net of Russian national and local taxes.

Depending on the results achieved by the contestants and within specified amount of rewards the jury is entitled to:

• Not to give all the rewards;
• Share the rewards among the performers except Grand Prix

Decision made by the jury is final and is not subject to revision.

State and social organizations, creative unions, mass media, institutions and firms upon approval by the Organizing Committee and jury of the Contest may set up special prizes.

Requisites

Crocus City Hall, bld. 2, pav. 3, Trade and Exhibition Center, 65-66 km of Moscow MKAD Ring Road, Krasnogorsk, Moscow region, Russia, 143400.

Chairman

Tamara Sinyavskaya Professor, People’s Artist of the USSR, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Russia

Members of Jury

	Elena Obraztsova Professor, People’s Artist of the USSR, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Russia		Tamara Gverdtsiteli People’s Artist of the Georgia, Ingushetia and Russia, singer, composer. Russia
	Yury Bashmet Professor, People’s Artist of Russia, conductor Russia		Aleksey Rybnikov Professor, People’s Artist of Russia, composer Russia
	Michel Legrand Composer France		Farkhad Badalbeyli Professor, Head of Baku Conservatoire, People’s Artist of the USSR Azerbaijan

The Organizing Committee

1. Aras Agalarov – President ZAO Crocus International
2. Joseph Toporovsky – Honored Artist of Russia, Chief Director Crocus City Hall
3. Margarita Kosareva – Director of the Foundation of Muslim Magomayev’s Musical and Cultural Heritage
4. Lev Shelogurov – Laureate of State Prize, Chief Editor of the Contest
5. Igor Karpov – Honored Artist of Russia, Music Director of the Contest
6. Elena Toporovskaya – Press Secretary of the Foundation of Muslim Magomayev’s Musical and Cultural Heritage
7. Dzhanna Satagulova – Executive Secretary of the Contest
8. Roman Grachev –Deputy Director for Concerts Crocus City Hall

Sponsor of the Contest