An exceptional musical event is about to begin in Hannover, Germany. 35 of the world’s top young violinists will be competing from October 5th to 18th in the fifth Hannover International Violin Competition. The opening concert at the Hannover Opera on October 4th brings back Frank Huang, the First Prize Winner of the 2000 competition. The Lower Saxony State Orchestra of Hannover under the baton of Shao-Chia Lü will accompany his performance.
The Hannover International Violin Competition is dedicated to Joseph Joachim and presented triennially by the Foundation of Lower Saxony (Stiftung Niedersachsen) in cooperation with the Hannover Opera, the University of Music and Drama Arts Hanover and the North German Broadcasting Corporation. Offering cash awards of over 80,000 Euros, it is among the richest competitions worldwide. The first prize includes 30,000 Euros, a CD production with NAXOS and a DVD production. Concerts with internationally renowned orchestras and ensembles complete the prize list.
Traditionally, the competition provides hospitality with families in and around Hannover to its participants. "Our competition is characterized by an especially warm and friendly atmosphere," says the Executive Director Linda Anne Engelhardt, "and we are very proud of this fact. Our host families make an enormous contribution here, and we are very grateful to them."
The order of the competitors’ appearance in the competition is decided by drawing of lots. The first round begins at 4:30 p.m. on October 5th in the University of Music and Drama Arts Hanover Concert Hall. On the evening of October 10th, the twelve competitors will be chosen for the semi-final round on October 11th to 14th. The competition moves to the NDR’s State Broadcasting Center of Lower Saxony for the finals, which take place on the 16th and 17th of October. Six finalists will be competing for the three top prizes. The Prize Winners gala concert on October 18th will close the two-week celebration of classic music in Hannover.
An international jury of ten eminent teachers and concert artists will be judging the performers’ achievements. This year, the classical 25-point system will no longer be used. "We will be deciding individually on each candidate, with a "yes" or "no" vote," reports Professor Krzysztof Wegrzyn, the Artistic Director of the competition and jury member. "This means a more direct response to the performances instead of a mathematic calculation. The new system demands that the jury takes a definitive stand on their preferences".
In addition to the concerts, the competition program will be presenting three "Audience Academies" on October 5th, 10th and 16th. Musicologists and artists will be discussing selected aspects of the competition repertoire. Another element of the program is the "Competition in the Countryside" series. "As presenter of the competition," says Dr. Dominik von König, the Secretary General of the Foundation, "the Foundation of Lower Saxony sees to it that this event reaches out beyond our capital city of Hannover." The concerts take place on October 15th in Celle, Osnabrück and Wolfenbüttel.
Tickets for the competition are available at the box-office in the Kuenstlerhaus in Hannover (Sophienstraße 2), at the University box-office, by phone(+49-511-16 84 12 22) and by E-mail karten@violin-competition.de. Tickets for the opening concert are available at the Hannover State Theater box-office.
Current information on the competition can be found at www.violin-competition.de, by telephone: Katharina Pieczyk, +49-511-28 87 91-0, or by e-mail pieczyk@dievision.de.