The 4th Opera-Singing Contest will take place at the Hanoi-based Vietnam National Music Institute from April 24-28, attracting the highest number of contestants.

Thanh Le, first-prize winner of Sao Mai Diem Hen singing contest’s folk music gene, a contestant of the 4th Opera Singing Contest 2009.

In the first round, each contestant will have to perform three music works, an aria written in the 17^th-18^th century upwards, one self-selected aria and a Vietnamese song, within 12 minutes.

Those who enter the second round will have to sing four works, including an aria written in the 18^th-20^th century, a foreign romance song, and two Vietnamese songs. Competitors must sing the aria in their true voice, not increase or lower their tone.

“Vietnam hasn’t had such a large event in a very long time,” said composer Do Hong Quan, a member of the organising board.

Fifty-four singers have registered for the competition, including many reputed singers and music lecturers, the chief of the Performance Art Agency, Le Ngoc Cuong, revealed. They come from famous music schools, namely the Hue city and HCM City conservatories of music, the HCM City Symphony, Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Hanoi Art College, the Central Art Teacher Training University, the Army Culture-Art University, the Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Vietnam National Music Institute. There are three independent contestants.

The Vice Head of the Performance Art Agency, Dao Dang Hoan, said that opera is the pinnacle genre of vocal music, so there are only three independent competitors, who also studied at music schools.

The opening ceremony on April 24 in the evening will see performances by famous singers who have won high prizes in opera and singing contests, such as Dang Duong, Bich Thuy, Lan Anh, besides senior singers Trung Kien and Quang Tho.

The competition is co-organised by the Performance Art Agency, the Vietnam Composers’ Association, and the Vietnam National Music Institute.

PV