9th Johann Joseph Fux Competition for Opera Composition

presented by the Province of Styria

The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG) is announcing an opera composition competition for composers, in collaboration with the Province of Styria.

The objective of the competition is the promotion of:

  • the most talented young composers, specifically aimed at commissioning the composition of two operas, each with a running time of max. 50 minutes and
  • the creation of new works of opera (two one-act operas per competition edition) and their premiere performances at the KUG, Institute of Opera, as an important element of the training of KUG vocal and instrumental students.

The jury has the task of inviting suitable composers, who have already attracted attention with their previous work, to take part in the competition. We are looking for young composers who focus on mastering the use of the singing voice and show an unmistakably individual, original tonal language.

These invited composers should take part in a three-stage process, which is described in more detail under “PROCEDURE & CAST”.

A permanent residence in Europe is required. Age limit: 40 years (born after April 16, 1983). Composition students (from Bachelor's and Master's programmes) are not permitted to participate in the competition.

PRIZE COMPONENTS

The six finalists will each receive € 2,500 (gross) after submitting the required documents (stage 2).

The two prizewinning composers (stage 3) are awarded the Johann-Joseph-Fux Opera Composition Prize presented by the Province of Styria and, associated with it, a composition commission for opera according to the call for entries.

The prize money of € 8,000 (gross) each will be disbursed after the entire work has been submitted.

Part of the prize is the premiere of the two prize-winning works by the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.

COMPETITION TERMS & RIGHTS

The realization of the prize-winning works will involve students of the University of Music and Performing Art Graz. This must be taken into consideration by the composers. At an early stage of the composition process (particularly in stage 3), there should be a dialogue between composers and the performers, represented by a committee responsible for the implementation. The committee consists of those responsible for stage and music direction as well as representatives of the degree programmes PPCM Instrumental and PPCM Vocal.

The premiere performances of the works shall be reserved for the University of Music and Performing Art Graz. The time schedule will be defined by the KUG. In the event of the composition being excessively long, the KUG reserves the right to edit it. In addition, the KUG also reserves the right not to premiere a prize-winning work if it is impossible to perform it by students of the university.

If necessary, workshops with the composers and the participants can be planned.

Details on the assignment of rights can be found on the registration form.

Participation is valid by sending the required documents and with a signed registration form, with which the competition terms, assignment of rights and the schedule are being accepted.

All outlined amounts in this call are gross and include any kind of possible taxes.

There is no legal entitlement to participate in the competition. The right of appeal is excluded in the entire competition, and all decisions of the jury are final.

PROCEDURE & CAST

PROCEDURE

Stage 1: (Submission deadline: April 16th, 2023)

Invited and participating composers will be requested to submit the signed registration form together with the following documents:

  • Own compositions who are still existing: Two scores, at least one work including vocals, as well as an audio file with recordings of one of the submitted scores. The entries should reflect the current compositional work of the composers.
  • In addition, a plot outline including a synopsis and a libretto proposal must be submitted as a first basic idea (one-act play of approx. 50 minutes in length). If a third-party text is used, the author and any editors must be named. In the case of a new text, the librettist.

Stage 2: (Submission deadline: October 30th, 2023)

From the entries submitted, the jury chooses six candidates who are to develop their basic idea into a concept for the complete work.

To be handed in are

  • The complete libretto
  • A scene with a length of at least 5 minutes with a complete score (including instrumentation)

In consultation with the competition office and the jury, clearly defined tasks will be agreed, relating to singers, instrumentalists, instruments and stage equipment, with the aim of guaranteeing the ability to execute the performances in the setting of the KUG.

For the development of their works, the composers shall receive a remuneration of € 2,500 (gross).

Stage 2: (Submission deadline: October 30th, 2024)

From these six concepts the jury will choose two prizewinners who will be commissioned to finish their works – taking any additional conditions defined by the jury to achieve the realistic ability to execute performances in the KUG-setting with students into consideration.

After submitting the complete documents of the commissioned composition, the composers in this stage shall receive a prize money of € 8,000 each (gross).

The submission deadline for the full score as well as the individual scores for each instrument and voice, the piano reduction and the electronic audio mock-up: October 30, 2024.

Planned premiere performances in cooperation with ORF musikprotokoll: October, 2025 (work 1) and October, 2026 (work 2).
 

CAST

Voice Cast
3-7 singers (request necessary for possible countertenors or contraltos)
max. 1 actor/speaker
no additional choir

We would like to point out that the production will be performed by young singers with classical vocal training. So, the composition should only be for appropriate voice types (no dramatic voice types).

Instrumentation
At least: 8 instrumentalists
At maximum: 17 instrumentalists

The following instruments are available

2 violins
1 viola
1 cello
1 double bass
1 flute (piccolo, alto flute, bass flute)
'1 oboe (English horn)
1 clarinet (B-flat clarinet, E-flat clarinet)
1 sax (soprano, alto, baritone)
1 bassoon (contrabassoon)
1 horn
1 trumpet
1 trombone
1 piano (celesta, synthesizer)
2 percussions
1 accordion

The indicated instruments must always be played solo only. The use of amplifiers, live electronics, and recordings is also possible. The concrete ideas for realization are to be harmonized with KUG’s Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics (IEM) and/or Stage Engineering/Recording Studio department at a later stage of the competition.