the stars of tomorrow
THE WINNER OF STIGNANI COMPETITION 2022: NATHALIE PEÑA COMAS
ABOUT US
The aim of Stignani Competition is to honor the name of the celebrated leading dramatic mezzosoprano of her time, Ebe Stignani. Hardwork and seeking the technical vocal excellence were the two main pillars in her long and successful career. To follow her legacy, the collaboration of the City of Imola and the Internationaler Musikverein Ebe Stignani München, e.V., organize in 2022 the 3rd Stignani Competition.


EBE STIGNANI
Born in Naples in 1903 (some sources cite her year of birth as 1904), Stignani studied music for five years at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples, including piano and composition as well as singing.
The date of her singing début is usually said to have been in 1925 at the San Carlo opera house in Naples, in the role of Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, but there is evidence that she may have sung a number of roles in the previous year.
In 1926, she was invited to La Scala Milan by Arturo Toscanini to sing the part of Princess Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo, and Milan continued to be a principal stage for her during the rest of her career. She sang all of the major Italian mezzo-soprano roles, but also tackled Wagner’s Ortrud (Lohengrin) and Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde), and Saint-Saëns’s Dalila (Samson et Dalila) conducted by Victor de Sabata.
She retired from the stage in 1958 after appearances in London (as Azucena) and in Dublin (as Amneris). Thereafter, she lived quietly in retirement at her home in Imola. She had married in 1941 and given birth to a son in 1944.
STIGNANI COMPETITION IMOLA
REGULATIONS
Stignani competition is open to all trained singers of classical music or students of voice.
No age limits.
REQUIREMENTS
- Register 5 opera arias of your own choice.
If you apply for the prize “dramatic voice”, at least one of the registered arias needs to be of dramatic character.
WHEN?
October 3th 2022: registration day and rehearsals
October 4th and 5th 2022: first rounds
October 6th 2022: semi-final round
October 8th 2022: final round
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APPLICATION DEADLINE | ![]() |
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August 31st 2022 |
JURY OF STIGNANI COMPETITION 2022
Luca Rebeggiani, director of Teatro Ebe Stignani Imola; president of the jury
Toni Gradsack, casting director Salzburger Festspiele; casting director Maggio musicale Fiorentino; director of YSP Salzburger Festspiele
Virginio Fedeli, Producer and Consulting Manager
Alessandra Schettino, artistic director Musica Goritiensis, Italia
Angelo Gabrielli, managing director, Stage door singers management
Patrick Wurzel, artistic director; Die Theater Chemnitz, Germany
Vlatka Oršanić, opera singer, prof. of voice Zagreb Music Academy, Croatia
Luigi Baccianti, conductor; Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Francesco Frudua, pianist; co-founder of Stignani Competition
Elvira Hasanagić, opera singer; founder of Stignani Competition
Ars Artists Management München; agent observing in the audience
PRIZES
1st PRIZE
3.000,00 EUR
SPECIAL PRIZES
concert engagements
opera roles engagements
2nd PRIZE
2.000,00 EUR
SPECIAL PRIZES
concert engagements
opera roles engagements
3rd PRIZE
1.000,00 EUR
SPECIAL PRIZES
concert engagements
opera roles engagements
PUBLIC PRIZE
The prize of City of Imola
PRIZE FOR DRAMATIC VOICE
Prize of Ebe Stignani