The International Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition is Vienna’s first and only regularly held competition for singers, dedicated exclusively to the Lied and Austrian composers. Next to famous names such as Schubert, Wolf and Mahler, the focus is also on a tone poet whose fame may have faded, but who remains unforgotten. The competition will take place in 2023 for the fourth time, artistically supported by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Its goal is to give young talents a jump-start in their careers and the opportunity to prove themselves to a critical audience.

Helmut Deutsch

Helmut Deutsch ranks among the finest, most successful and in-demand song recital accompanists of the world. He was born in Vienna, where he studied at the Conservatory, the Music Academy and the University. He was awarded the Composition Prize of Vienna in 1965 and appointed professor at the age of twenty-four. Although he has performed with leading instrumentalists as a chamber musician, he has concentrated primarily on accompanying in song recitals. At the beginning of his career he worked with the soprano Irmgard Seefried, but the most important singer of his early years was Hermann Prey, whom he accompanied as a permanent partner for twelve years. Subsequently he has worked with many of the most important recital singers and played in the world’s major music centres. His collaborations with Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau and Michael Volle are currently among his most important. Helmut Deutsch was a professor of Art Song Interpretation in Vienna, Salzburg, Frankfurt and Munich, holds masterclasses worldwide and is a juror in numerous international competitions.

About the mdw

The mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is one of the world’s largest and most renowned universities for music, theater and film. Over 3,000 students from more than 70 countries enjoy their education in 115 disciplines in the fields of music, performing arts, science, research and paedagogics. The mdw’s 25 institutes include the Max Reinhardt Seminar and the Vienna Film Academy.

www.mdw.ac.at

Competition

The following repertoire must be prepared (bindingly):

  • 6 songs by Franz Schubert (no songs from ”Die schöne Müllerin” and „Winterreise“)
  • 6 songs by Hugo Wolf
  • 4 songs by Gustav Mahler
  • 4 songs by Alma Mahler

Songs may not be repeated in later rounds. Transpositions are allowed. The songs must be sung without scores.

To Application

Procedure

Round 1:
Monday, 11th September 2023 & Tuesday, 12th September 2023

Time will be announced. NON-PUBLIC event.

  • 2 songs of own choice from the chosen repertoire
  • min. 2 different composers
  • duration of program: max. 10 minutes

Round 2:
Thursday, 14th September 2023 | 1pm

Public event.

A total of 4 songs:

  • 2 songs of own choice from the chosen repertoire
  • 2 songs selected by jury
  • (1 song by Alma Mahler obligatory)
  • duration of program: max. 15 minutes

The first and the second round will take place at mdw Future Art Lab (Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria).

Round 3/Final:
Saturday, 16th September 2023

19:00. Public event, registration is requested. (office@hd-lied.net)

The final of the competition will be streamed live by mdw at https://live.mdw.ac.at/!

A total of 6 songs:

  • 3 songs of own choice from the chosen repertoire
  • 3 songs selected by jury
  • (2 songs by Alma Mahler obligatory)
  • duration of program: max. 25 minutes

The final round will take place at the Ehrbar Saal (Mühlgasse 30, 1040 Vienna, Austria).


Application

The International Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition is a competition for singers until the age of 32 years (born on or after 11.Sept. 1990). A pianist can be signed up along with the singer. If no accompanying pianist is stated on the application form, an mdw pianist will be assigned. (Pianists cannot apply without a singer.) Pianists up to age 32 (born on or after 11.Sept. 1990) can participate in the awarding of special prizes if they send the requested additional documents and have paid the application fee. The application term for the competition is from 05th April 2023 until 12th August 2023.

The application fee for singers (or pianists, who want to apply for the special pianist prize) is 120 Euro. Payment has to be done via bank transfer to the following bank account:

  • World Culture Networks GmbH
  • Bank Austria
  • IBAN: AT22 1200 0506 7006 7093
  • BIC: BKAUATWW
  • Reference: HD Lied + NAME

Please send your application to anmeldung@hd-lied.net until 12th August, 2023, and attach the following documents:

  • Application form (completely filled out, with or without pianist) and the data form • repertoire form (completely filled out with your chosen competition repertoire, cannot be changed afterwards)
  • CV (max. 200 words, fully formulated in GERMAN)
  • separate profile picture (high quality, if possible 300 dpi/color)
  • scan of an official document (e.g. passport, ID, …)
  • bank confirmation of fee payment

Applications are only accepted upon sending all documents (and payment) until 12th August 2023 (23:59 CEST). The application fee and all submitted documents cannot be refunded.

Same conditions and deadlines apply to pianists who register for the special prizes.

Jury

HELMUT DEUTSCH
(Pianist, Jury Chairman)

Helmut Deutsch ranks among the finest, most successful and in-demand song recital accompanists of the world. He was born in Vienna, where he studied at the Conservatory, the Music Academy and the University. He was awarded the Composition Prize of Vienna in 1965 and appointed professor at the age of twenty-four. Although he has performed with leading instrumentalists as a chamber musician, he has concentrated primarily on accompanying in song recitals. At the beginning of his career he worked with the soprano Irmgard Seefried, but the most important singer of his early years was Hermann Prey, whom he accompanied as a permanent partner for twelve years. Subsequently he has worked with many of the most important recital singers and played in the world’s major music centres. His collaborations with Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau and Michael Volle are currently among his most important. Helmut Deutsch was a professor of Art Song Interpretation in Vienna, Salzburg, Frankfurt and Munich, holds masterclasses worldwide and is a juror in numerous international competitions.

Photo © Susie Knoll

JULIANE BANSE

(Soprano)

Juliane Banse is a soprano with an exceptional range of repertoire across multiple genres, from the opera to concert halls, lieders, and chamber music. Banse has performed in numerous operas such as Schreker’s Der ferne Klang and Strauss’s Arabella, and her operatic range includes Vitellia, Arabella, Leonore, and Tatjana. Banse has worked with famous conductors and directors such as Harry Kupfer and Heinz Holliger. She has also received numerous awards for her recordings, including two Echo Klassik awards, one for Mahler’s Eighth Symphony and another for Walter Braunfels’ Jeanne d’Arc. Banse has also appeared in several chamber music performances and lieder, including the Schubertiade in Vilabertran and her unique project Winterreise. Banse also teaches as a professor at Mozarteum in Salzburg, and starting from 2023, she will be the head of the singing department at Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid.

ELISABETH REISCHL
(Konzerthaus Vienna)

Elisabeth Reischl was born in Salzburg and studied Languages, Economics and Cultural Studies at the University Passau. She has been working at the Wiener Konzerthaus since 2007. She is responsible for Artistic Planning with the main emphasis on vocal projects, choirs and casting (Liederabende, oratorio, opera in concert or semi-staged, orchestral repertoire with vocal soloist, A cappella, etc). She has developed the program „Great Talent“ at the Wiener Konzerthaus. Elisabeth has been a judge at competitions such as the Queen Sonja Singing Competition (Screening Jury), International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera Pietro Antonio Cesti, the Stella Maris Vocal Competition, Musica Juventutis and the Premio Franz Schubert.

Photo © Stephan Doleschal

HELGA MACHREICH-UNTERZAUCHER
(Machreich Artists Management GmbH, Managing Director)

Helga Machreich-Unterzaucher was born in Villach, Austria and grew up in a musical family. After graduating from high school, she studied French at the University of Rennes in Brittany, then returned home to attend the Vienna University of Economics and Business, majoring in Commercial Science. While there, she took singing and clarinet lessons.

In 1997, she decided to give up her studies to take up a position in the Dr. Raab & Dr. Böhm Artist Agency, eventually making her hobby and great passion for classical music her chosen profession. Dr. Horst Böhm promoted her to senior management in 2001, which allowed her to promote the careers of young, talented artists with great competence and personal care. During the course of her 14-year long career, she succeeded in bringing renowned singers like Patricia Petibon, Bernarda Fink, Michael Schade, Florian Boesch and Thomas Quasthoff to the agency. In May 2011, Helga Machreich-Unterzaucher founded the Machreich Artists Management agency, which she runs independently. Together with her team she represents about 50 internationally renowned artists.

Helga Machreich-Unterzaucher is a regular guest at national and international Singing Competitions. She also held a lecture about “Artist Management” at the University of Music in Vienna.

Photo © Musikverein Graz

DR. MICHAEL NEMETH
(Musikverein Graz)

Michael Nemeth earned his doctorate in musicology and cultural management from University of Vienna. After his time at the Vienna based artist management Erich Seitter and several well known institutes (Staatsoper, Bundestheater Holding, Klangbogen Wien) he began working for Musikverein Graz in dramaturgy and public relations. In 2008/09 he took over direction of the Musikverein as artistic director and Intendant. Additionally, Michael Nemeth is founder and project manager of several ongoing cultural initiatives (including a summer concert series in Graz City Park and the chamber orchestra ‘con fuoco’) and has been teaching ‘Musicology in Practice’ at the Institute of Musicology at Karl Franzens University Graz since 2015. Additionally, he works regularly as a jury member for well-known programmes in discovering talents and worked as a consulter for the Ministry of culture.

MICHAEL KRAUS
(Head Coach of Vienna State Opera’s Young Artist Program, Austria)

Michael Kraus was born in Vienna. He first studied acting and for several years worked both as an actor and director. At the same time and to begin with as a hobby he studied singing at the Vienna Academy of Music. After finishing his vocal studies at the Academy of Munich and winning several prizes in international competitions, he set out on a professional career as an opera singer with engagements in Germany. Later he worked in Vienna as a member of the Volksoper and of the Staatsoper as well. In parallel he developed a busy guesting activity, which has led him into many international opera houses, like the Teatro alla Scala/Milan, Opéra Bastille/Paris, Covent Garden/London, Berlin, Hamburg, München, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Zürich, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Barcelona, Torino, Geneva and Palermo. Moreover he has sung at the Glyndebourne Festival, the Schubertiade Feldkirch, the Bregenz and the Salzburg Festival. He sang in various productions of the Finnish National Opera.

Michael Kraus appeared in concerts and recitals in France, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Israel, Chile, Brazil, Switzerland and Japan. His discography includes Papageno under the direction of Sir Georg Solti and various recordings of DECCA’S series „Entartete Musik”.

Since the season 2020/21 Michael Kraus is alo the artistic director of the Young Artist Program of the Vienna Staatsoper.

SANG HO CHOI
(Tenor, Artistic Director of Korean National Opera)

Sang-Ho Choi is a Korean tenor who studied at Yonsei University and the Musikhochschule Karlsruhe. He began his opera career at various stages in Germany and has a repertoire of more than 45 tenor roles, including Mozart’s Tamino and Verdi’s Alfredo. He has played concerts with various German orchestras and tours in Argentina, Chile, Russia, and Israel. Sang-Ho Choi has worked with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera and the Seoul National Opera and also regularly performs oratorio performances. He also has a particular interest in German art songs and performs works by Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, and Mahler. Sang-Ho Choi has been a jury member of several international opera competitions since 2008 and is currently a professor at the Korea National University of Arts. Since the beginning of 2023, he has been the director and artistic director of the Korea National Opera.

Prizes & Winners

Prizes of the 4th International Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition

1. Prize: 10.000 Euro – provided by Helmut Deutsch

2. Prize: 5.000 Euro – provided by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

3. Prize: 3.000 Euro – provided by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Winner Concerts

The winner will be invited to perform concerts together with Helmut Deutsch in 2023/24. Time and venue to be announced.

Zell am See International Music Festival 2024 – tba

Special prizes for pianists
provided by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

1. Prize: 5.000 Euro

2. Prize: 4.000 Euro

3. Prize: 3.000 Euro

mdw Special Prize – Audience prize
provided by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
1.500 Euro

Special Prize – Zell am See International Music Festival 2024
One soprano (finalist or winner) will be invited to to perform with the Festival Youth Orchestra at the final concert of the Zell am See International Music Festival 2024.

Winners

Congratulations to all winners!

1. Prize Singer

Florian STÖRTZ (Bass Baritone)

2. Prize Singer

Jusung PARK (Baritone)

3. Prize Singer

Jeeyoung LIM (Bass Baritone) and Ted BLACK (Tenor)

Special Prizes for Pianists

1. Prize Pianist

Richard FU (Pianist)

2. Prize Pianist

Rafael SALAS CHIA (Pianist)

3. Prize Pianist

Gyeongtaek LEE (Pianist)

Audience Prize

Florian STÖRTZ (Bass Baritone)

Special Prize Zell am See

Hannah FHEODOROFF (Mezzo Soprano)

Ehrbar Saal Prize

Jeeyoung LIM (Bass Baritone)

We want to thank all participants for their participation!

Contact

World Culture Networks GmbH
Donau-City-Straße 6/2OG/Top2, 1220 Wien
Tel: +43 1 522 6243 17
E-Mail: office@hd-lied.net
www.hd-lied.net

Jury Chairman
Helmut Deutsch

Organisation
WCN – World Culture Networks GmbH
Geschäftsführerin Hyo Sook Song
General Manager Siwoung Song
Manager Zoya Anjum

Artistically supported by mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Cooperation Partners

Sponsors