Judges 2011

Judges of the Ist International Giulio Perotti Singing Competition

Ueckermünde 5th - 11th February 2011

1.
The adjudicating panel will be made of international singers and professors of music.

2.
The President of the panel will have the responsibility of ensuring that the panel makes all judgments according to the pre-set criteria.

3.
In the event of there being an exceptionally high number of participants, the panel reserves the right to shorten the individual competition programmes.

4.
After each round, the results will be given to the candidates in the Regional School (Ueckerstrasse 59, Ueckermünde). The results will also be published on the competition website.

5.
The decision of the adjudicating panel are final, and cannot be contested, either with the panel, or through the court of law.

The list of the Judges

betleyProf. Bozena Betley graduated with honours at the National Academy of Music in Warsaw at the Department of Instrumental flute class doc. H. Bartnikowski and in the solo singing class of doc. M. Bojar-Przemieniecka at the Vocal Department. For 8 years she has been the first flutist in Warsaw Operetta Orchestra and then for five years a soloist of Opera and Operetta in Bydgoszcz. Then she was a soloist in the Grand Theatre in Warsaw. She has won vocal competitions. In 1969 she received the second prize at the International Moniuszko Competition in Warsaw (the first prize was not given). In 1970 she won the second prize at the International Competition of Toulouse and the Special Award “Silver Cup of Paris”. In 1979 she received a special award for her creative contribution in the recording of Stanislaw Moniuszko’s compositions f.e. for the opera “Straszny Dwor” (Hanna) for Radio and Television conducted by Jan Krenz. She made her debut in the role of Aida of G.Verdi. In the years 1974-1978 she sang at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival as Ilia in “Idomeneo” the Countess in “The Marriage of Figaro” and Fiordiligi in “Cosi fan tutte” of W.A. Mozart. She played the role of La Traviata at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo many times. She sang the role of Hanna from “Straszny Dwor” in Theater der Stadt Bonn. In 1981 she sang Roxana in "King Roger" by K. Szymanowski at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires conducted by Stephan Wislocki. She sang at the Auditorium di Napoli in Montpelier, Staadtsphilharmonie Kaiserlautern, Valencia and many others. The most common roles (besides those) were: Elizabeth in “Don Carlos”, Amelia in “Masquerade Ball” by Verdi, Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni”, Pamina in “Magic Flute” by Mozart, Countess in opera “The Countess” by Moniuszko, Micaela in “Carmen” by Bizet. In her artistic achievements there are also recordings, television and radio premieres, CD with Polish songs (including the BBC), Opera Arias CD, CD with “Ave Maria” by different composers, recording of oratorios and opera “King Roger” by K. Szymanowski and two music videos recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the BBC: “Idomeneo” (Ilia) under the direction of J. Pritchard and “Cosi fan tutte” (Fiordiligi) of W.A. Mozart conducted by. B. Haitink. In 1989 she began her pedagogical activity in the Music School of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw. Since 1995 he has been an academic at the University of Music of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw. In 2003 she was awarded the title of professor of musical arts. In 2003 she has been appointed Associate Professor. Since 2008 she has been a professor at the University of Music of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw, where she was a director of the Vocal Chair. Students prof. Bozena Betley have won national and international vocal competitions and her graduates sing in opera houses around the world.

kalischewski2012Dr. Dr. Sylwia Burnicka - Kalischewska graduated from the State School of Music of Feliks Nowowiejski in Szczecin in the solo singing class of prof. Andrzej Kwiczała. She graduated from the Faculty of Russian Language and Applied Linguistics at Warsaw University (1996). In 1997 she graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw in the solo singing class of prof. Urszula Trawińska-Moroz. In 2002 she completed her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics and East Slavonic Philology at Warsaw University and she received the academic degree of Doctor of Humanities. In 2012 she received the academic degree of Doctor of Arts of Music in the Arts "Vokalistik" at the Academy of Music of Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz in Łódź. She participated in master classes conducted by prof. Ryszard Karczykowski, Maestra Maria Fołtyn, prof. Bożena Betley. The first stage experience she gained during numerous tour with the Polish Music Theatre in Warsaw. The most frequently performed roles in a stage andas a concert are: I, II, III Lady of "Magic Flute", Donna Elvira in the opera „Don Giovanni”, Countess Almaviva in „The Marriage of Figaro” by W.A . Mozart, Rosalinda in „Die Fledermaus” by J. Strauss, Maggie and Gertrude in „Hänsel and Gretel” by E. Humperdinck, Leonora in „Il Trovatore”, Amelia in „Masquerade ball” by G. Verdi. She has given concerts with many orchestras f.e. Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Academy of Music in Warsaw, Budapest National Philharmonic Orchestra. She sang under the baton of Henryk Czyż, prof. Ryszard Dudek, Andrzej Knapp, Wojciech Szaliński, Zbigniew Powolny, Bogdan Hoffmann, Eugeniusz Kus, Antal Barnas, Friedmar Bellmann, Włodzimierz Porczyński and other conductors. She has performed as soloist at the Polish stages: the National Theatre in Warsaw, Theatre „Na Woli” in Warsaw, the Grand Theatre in Poznan, Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz, as well as on the stages of opera houses in Germany: Bremen, Hannover, Hamburg, Erlangen, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart , Wuppertal, Kiel, Münster, Mannheim, Regensburg, Dortmund, Hamm, Osnabruck, Schwedt, Lübeck, and many other cities. In 1997-2004 she worked as a soloist in the Powszechny Theatre of Zygmunt Hübner in Warsaw. She played a role of Sophie de Palma, a pupil of Maria Callas, in the „Maria Callas- masterclass” of Terrence McNally (with Krystyna Janda and Cezary Zak). At the same time she was also a soloist in the Warsaw Philharmonic with which she toured throughout Poland. The artist was invited to participate in many important festivals. She had guest performances at the XXXVII Festival of Stanislaw Moniuszko in Kudowa Zdrój, V Opera Festival in Bydgoszcz, II Opera Meeting in Grudziądz, VII and VIII Festival of Peace in Jawor and Usedomer Musikfestival. She has performed in Poland, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, and France (Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris), Austria (Konzerthaus, Vienna) and the U.S.A. (Copernicus Center in Chicago). Sylwia Burnicka - Kalischewska made many recordings for radio and television. Since 2002 she has been teaching solo singing at a music school Kreismusikschule Uecker - Randow in Ueckermünde. In 2004-2005 she collaborated as a teacher of solo singing with a music school Musikschulzweckverband „Kon.centus” in Neubrandenburg. Her students have won German local and international vocal competitions.

faltinProf. Renate Faltin she was born in Parchim in Mecklenburg. After she had finished school she studied singing at the Academy of Music of Hanns Eisler in Berlin. In 1969 -1990 she was engaged as a coloratura soprano in many musical theaters and opera houses such as: Musical Theatre in Leipzig, Stralsund, Neustrelitz, Schwerin, Rostock, Halle, as well as the National Operetta in Dresden State Opera in Berlin and Metropol Theatre. You can hear Renate Faltin in oratorio repertoire and songs in Germany, Hungary, Poland and Italy even now. Since 1970 she has had master classes in Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan and China. Currently she is working on the theoretical foundations of vocal learning and training singers, singing teachers and phoniatres. She is co-founder of Scientific Vocal Symposia in Berlin. She regularly presents papers on”The day of voice in Stuttgart”. Her book on the art of solo singing „Learn singing? Yes, but logically!” appeared in third edition. The beginning of her teaching activities was to become an aspirant in Music Academy of Hanns Eisler in Berlin in 1976 and then an assistant and in 1992 a professor in that academy. Among the students of prof. Renate Faltin there are many winners of international competitions.

f. meinel 1Friederike Meinel studied first at the Berlin Academy of Art with Ingrid Figur and then with Rudolf Piernay in Mannheim. In 2002 she made her concert exam. She was a listener durig master classes with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Aribert Reimann for many years. Ingrid Bjoner and Helmut Kretschmar were also teachers very important to her. Major influence on the development of the singer had master classes led by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Ingrid Bjoner. Mezzo-soprano won in international competitions such as the Vocal Competition of Paula Lindberg - Salomon whether Yamaha Vocal Competition and among others she sang on the stage of the Bavarian National Theater in Munich, Dresden Semperoper, Opera Theatre in Cologne and during the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. She made her debut in the title role of the opera “Penthesilea – Dream” under the direction of Ulf Schirmer during the Wiener Festwochen. Friederike Meinel has worked in the field of opera with conductors as Jun Märkl, Marc Albrecht, Peter Schneider and Jeffrey Tate. She has performed with the following orchestras: the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian National Orchestra, Orchestra Gürzenich in Cologne, Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed in the Berlin Philharmonic, the Rudolfinum in Prague, Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich, Prinzregententheater Theatre in Munich, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Big Hall of the West German Radio in Cologne, Chamber Opera Rheinsberg Castle and in the Spring of Heidelberg. She participated in many CD recordings. One of her recitals, which was held in Cologne Philharmonic and the West German Radio in Cologne, was a concert of songs by Franz Schubert conducted by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and a performance during the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Since 2008 she has been a patron of the German project “Children help children - music creates the future” for the Children’s Aid Society “Catania” (help for traumatized victims).

ognoElisabetta Suszko-Ogno graduated 1992 with honors from the School of Music of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw, as the best student. As a reward, she participated in opera “Dido and Aeneas”of Henry Purcell in Komedia Theatre in Warsaw. She sang the title role in Dido. In the years 1992 to 1997 she studied at the Academy of Music- Frederic Chopin in Warsaw at the faculty of vocal and acting, in the solo singing class of prof. Halina Slonicka. In 1997-2001 she participated in performance of “Maria Callas - masterclass” by Terrence McNally in the Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw. She played the role of Sharon, a disciple of Maria Callas alongside Krystyna Janda and Cezary Zak. In the years 1998-2001 she worked as a soloist singer with the Warsaw Philharmonic. She has performed all over the country with such famous pianists as Robert Skiera. She was often invited to sing as a soloist with many choirs in Poland (eg, Orthodox Church Music Choir by Fr. George Szurbak and Oktoich from Wroclaw). She sang on the stages of countless Polish theaters, among others. Grand Theatre in Poznan and the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz and theaters in Krakow, Katowice and Rzeszów. She had also guest appearances in Finland (Rovaniemi, Kuopio, Helsinki), Switzerland (Maanedorf, Zurich), Italy (Catania, Palermo, Napoli), Germany (Berlin, Potsdam, Mannheim) and USA (Chicago - Copernicus Center, where she sang for the audience of 2500 people). She sang under the baton of Andrzej Knapp. She had guest performances at the XXXVII Festival of Stanislaw Moniuszko in Kudowa Zdroj. In 1991 she performed on tour in Italy and Germany with the octet “Lord Singers”. She has also made many recordings, including Choir of Orthodox Music of Fr. Jerzy Szurbak and choir of Fr. Sergiusz Bowtruczuk. She has lived in Italy for 8 years, where she performs. In 2003 she co-founded trio with whom he toured for next three years. In 2006 she began a teaching activity . In 2006-2007 she was a teacher of History of Music at the local high school in La Maddalena and she ran a number of courses about singing techniques and solfeggio . He currently teaches foundations of music, playing piano and first of all solo singing.

knetigProf. Jerzy Knetig had studied engineering at the Warsaw Polytechnic where he graduated in 1973. Then he went on studying solo singing under Eugenia Szaniawska at the Secondary Music School in Warsaw where he graduated with honours in 1977. That same year he began to take private singing lessons from Mieczyslaw Salecki and then Stanislawa Zawadzka. He finished the Academy of Music in Cracow with honours where he studied under Professor Helena Lazarska. In 1983/84 obtained a grant of one year from the Austrian government and went to the College of Music in Vienna to improve his skills under Kurt Egniluz. Jerzy Knetig has worked with the National Philharmonic in Warsaw since 1981 and the Cracow Opera since 1982. He joined the Warsaw Chamber Opera as a soloist in 1986 and he has travelled all over Europe with it. He has sung at many festivals, e.g., Wratislavia Cantans, Warsaw Autumn, Berliner Festwochen, Caryntiche Sommer, Salzburger Festspiele, The European Music Festival in Berlin and Tokyo, and the Monreale Oratory Music Festival in Palermo. He has been invited to sing in operas and oratory concerts in many countries in Europe, Japan (where he did an opera tour singing Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" in November and December 1999) and Israel. He has sung at the La Scala, the Wiener Staatsoper and the Theater an der Wien. Jerzy Knetig has recently taken part in the official inauguration concert of the "Krzysztof Penderecki year" at the Cracow Philharmonic, conducted by Jan Krentz (Beethoven's Ninth Symphony). Jerzy Knetig's repertory includes several dozen of operas (mostly Mozart), about 110 oratory parts (including both of Bach's Passions) and over 300 songs. He has also made numerous radio and disc recordings( including the archival recording of all the songs of Ignacy Jan Paderewski). In 1991 Jerzy Knetig began to teach at the Warsaw University of Music where he has his own solo singing class. He has been a professor since 1999. His students have won many awards at Polish national vocal competitions. In 1996 Jerzy Knetig has also begun to teach singing at the Secondary Music School in Warsaw. He and his pupils produced Paisiello's full-scale opera Il due Contesse in April 1999. He was a head of the Chair of Vocal Studies at the FCAM in 2005-2008. In 2008 he was elected a dean of the Department of Vocal Studies.

grozdewRafal Grozdew is a lyric tenor with coloratura facility. He graduated Music Academy in Gdansk, the faculty of Vocal and Drama under prof. Wieslawa Maliszewska direction. He received a diploma in cultural manager at Warsaw University. Before starting the education at the Music Academy he cooperated with the chamber choir „Cantica Cantamus” carried by Violetta Bielecka with which he appeared in Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall with “Der Tyranos” of Ernst von Kameke, the monumental work in honour of the victims of Holocaust. With “Cantica Cantamus” he won prizes at prestigious festivals (among others “Gaude Mater”). He sang with the ancient music band of Marek Toporowski and with the choirs like: Sine Nomine, Capella Gedanensis, Ars Nova. In 2002 he appeared in the competition of Polish Vocal Music and he became one of the prizewinners. He made his debut on the stage during the vocal studies performing the role of Gherard in “Gianni Schicchi” - the opera of G. Puccini. He also played the role of Ozio in “Betulia Liberata” the opera of W. A. Mozart. As a part of cooperation with Chamber Opera in Gdansk he performed the role of Bastien in "Bastien und Bastienne" the opera of W. A. Mozart and Xerxes in "Xerxes" the opera of G. F. Haendel. He performed also "Magnificat" the work of M. J. ¯ebrowski during the celebration of Polish Year in France, the project called "Nova Polska" under the partronage of presidents J. Chirac and A. Kwaœniewski and the Polish Institute of Adam Mickiewicz. He also participated in the “Young Talents Concert” in Hel. As the best graduate he appeared in a series promoting young singers “Musical Youth Forum”. Together with Baltic Opera and Alber Concert Teater he went on a concert tour with "Rosenkavalier" the work of R. Strauss performing the role of Valzacchi. He performed in “Mozart in Love” as part of Saint John with the Baltic Opera in the Midsummer Opera Nights. He cooperates with Warsaw Chamber Opera in the opera “Cud mniemany, czyli Krakowiacy i Górale” composed by J. Stefani performing the role of Stach and with National Theatre - vocal part in “Umowa czyli lajdak ukarany”, the work of P.de Marivaux directed by Jacques Lassalle. He is taking part in numerous oratorio concerts and performances conducted by Eckart Manke, Janusz Przybylski, Pawel Kos-Nowicki, Jacek Rogala. He also appeared in the music festivals “Musica Sacra” in Gdynia, “Moniszkowski Festiwal Podlasia”. He performed at the Poznan Philharmonic, the Philharmonic of Lomza, Swietokrzyska Philharmonic and Philharmonic of Slupsk. He cooperates at the music avant-garde projects on the borderland between different traditions and music styles (f.e. popular, folk, jazz) with the bands: Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa, Kwadrofonik, Village Kollektiv, Sebastian Stanny Quartet and other groups awarded by Polish Radio, BBC and Fryderyk Award.He cooperates with Maria Pomianowska, Wojciech Pulcyn and Maciej Cierlinski as well. He also co-organizes cultural events and music and vocal workshops. He works (among others) with the Warsaw Uprising Museum and associations: Art Deco Group, Music without Borders, Transetnika. In June 2009 he participated in the championship course singing The European Opera Centre Trust and he qualified for the masterclass.

bressManuela Bress received her education as a mezzo-soprano and alto in the Berlin Music Academy of Hanns Eisler (in the class which promotes dramatic voices). She took acting lessons in the Komischen Oper Berlin (among others Ruth Berghaus). She has already gained the first stage experience at the National Opera in Berlin in the course of vocal studies. Since that time she has been present at the scene among others: Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Dessau, Leipzig, Rostock, at the National Theatre in Schwerin, as well as the Palau de les Arts Valencia and at the Teatro Comunale in Florence. In the concert she has worked with: German Symphony Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, Stuttgart Philharmonic, the Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Luxembourg, RTVE Orchestra in Madrid, with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Leos Janacek, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica of La Coruna, as well as with conductors as Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Gabriel Feltz, Paavo Jarvi, Marek Janowski, Michail Jurowski, Zubin Mehta, Ingo Metzmacher, Seiji Ozawa, Victor Pablo Perez , Walter Weller and many others. Manuela Bress was present at the following festivals: Bayreuther Festspiele, Opernfestspiele Bad Hersfeld, Glasperlen-Festival in Tallinn, Estland Festival, Wörthersee Classic Festival, Luzern Festwochen, Janacek-International Festival, the Festspiele Sakraler Musik Kärnten, Schlossfestspiele Schwerin and the Maggio Musicale in Florence. She has made a lot of CD / DVD recording: HE Apostel „Song cycle” (UA, with the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin / John Carew), Dessau „Examen” (with the German Symphony Orchestra / Roger Epple), production for the International Arts Festival „White Wedding”, a song by Gustav Mahler „Ich bin abhanden der Welt gekommen”, DVD „Valkyrie”at the Bayreuther Festspiele / Christian Thielemann, DVD „The Ring of the Nibelung”at the Palau de les Arts Valencia under the baton of Zubin Mehta.