Schedule / Programme
Opening of applications : 1 March 2026
Application deadline : 1 May 2026 (23:00)
Preselections
Late May 2026
Selection based on video submissions
First Round (Public)
19 - 21 September 2026
HEMU – Haute École de Musique, Utopia 1, Lausanne
Semi-Final Round (Public)
2 - 3 October 2026
BCV Concert Hall, Lausanne
Open to the public
Free entry, subject to available seating
Final Round (Public)
16 October 2026
Opéra de Lausanne
The six finalists will have the opportunity to perform the final round on the stage of the Opéra de Lausanne. They will be accompanied by the HEMU Orchestra, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
Programme
Preselections
Candidates must submit two video recordings meeting the following criteria:
- one opera or oratorio aria;
- one Lied/Melodie;
- interpretation in two different languages;
- from two different periods among the following: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, or Contemporary.
First Round (public)
Up to 48 candidates
15 minutes per candidate (including stage entry and exit)
Three or four arias of the candidate's choice meeting the following criteria:
- one opera or oratorio aria;
- one Lied/Mélodie;
- interpretation in at least two different languages, including French;
- from two different periods among the following: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, or Contemporary.
Semi-Final Round (public)
12 semi-finalists
25 minutes per semi-finalist (including stage entry and exit), performed from memory
Semi-finalists will perform a voice-and-piano recital (without staging), including at minimum:
- a 25-minute memorized programme;
- performance in at least two languages, including French.
Candidates presenting at least 10 minutes of non-tonal contemporary music (works composed after 1950) will automatically be considered for the Prize for Best Contemporary Performance.
Final Round (public) with the HEMU Orchestra conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni
6 finalists
15 minutes per finalist
Finalists will perform with the HEMU Orchestra a programme of up to 15 minutes including two opera arias from different periods, under the following conditions:
- the candidate proposes three arias, two of which are selected by the jury;
- at least one aria must be selected from the list of required arias;
- o the proposed arias must comply with the constraints of the orchestral forces provided for the final (3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 4 bassoons — 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba — timpani + 3 percussion — 2 harps — strings: 8 first violins, 8 second violins, 6 violas, 5 cellos, 3 double basses) and must not require instrumentation exceeding the forces available;
- arias performed in previous rounds may be repeated;