Elvirissima 2023 singing competition

"I don't know whether the founder, Elvira Lüthi-Wegmann, would have appreciated the name of the competition "Elvirissima", as she was a particularly petite lady, for whom this superlative would hardly have suited her," Madeleine Zimmermann, a colleague at the SSPM, recently told me over the phone.

My colleagues on the Foundation Board, Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer, Bernhard Hunziker and I certainly hope that Mrs. Lüthi-Wegmann would have been pleased with the way we are using her bequest, and with the way we are trying, in accordance with her wishes, to provide the best possible support for Switzerland's most gifted young singers.

When the Federation of Migros Cooperatives discreetly put an end to its scholarship program for singers, instrumentalists, actors and dancers in the midst of a pandemic, at a time when the cultural scene was already in dire straits, i.e. by discontinuing the famous "Migros Prizes", we quickly realized that our work on the Foundation Board had suddenly become even more important. With the Foundation's modest financial resources, we can only financially support four talents every two years, but we go to great lengths to ensure that we can also offer something to the other candidates: as external members of the jury, we always choose conductors, so that the competition is also an audition for the candidates, and we are pleased to note that our jurors always hire winners and "empty nesters". The competition is filmed, and the videos can be used as a demonstration for candidates who have sung well. And if the performance didn't live up to expectations, singers can see what they still need to improve.

Elvirissima 2023 videos are available under www.youtube.com/@elvirissima5062

Big differences between Elvirissima 2021 and 2023

On Whit Monday 2021, Elvirissima took place under tight security, without an audience, but still live in front of the jury in the Maihof's main hall. Around 50 singers - including graduates - had submitted their applications to take part in the competition, in the hope of being able to perform again and alleviate some of the financial hardship caused by the pandemic by winning a prize. It wasn't easy to turn down more than half of them at the time. - In this sense, the fact that only 20 candidates entered the competition in 2023 is good news: apparently, there's a lot more work for young singers again, and they can travel abroad again for competitions and auditions.

Excited at the prospect of finally being able to audition, the 2021 candidates tended to sing too loudly. But we also noticed that most of them had put a lot of effort into their expression, and had had time to develop their interpretations. In 2021, for example, the evaluation sheets often mentioned "expression" on the "plus" page and "don't shout" on the "site" page. In 2023, I often see on the "plus" side "voice well conducted, if a little tight", "superb coloratura" and on the "works" side "more expression" or "not stylistically differentiated enough" or "must learn to get more out of himself/herself". I deduce that the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have not only brought disadvantages to singers in training: having enough time to practice one's instrument, enough time to rest from time to time, clearly also brings advantages. Perhaps quality could be improved if higher education establishments found a way of awarding more ETCS points for practice on the instrument?

But of course, nobody wants the pandemic to return, and I was very pleased to hear in the feedback interviews that young singers have been able to secure a place in an opera studio abroad, what exciting projects await them in Switzerland and abroad, that they are being invited to audition and that some of them are finding work, whether as soloists or in an opera chorus. However, the high costs associated with auditions, training and further training were also highlighted, as was the importance of financial support, particularly during the transition from studies to professional life.

You too can support young singers in Switzerland!

The Board of the Elvira-Lüthi-Wegmann Foundation works on a voluntary basis and invests the Foundation's assets with the utmost care, but the interest and dividends do not finance scholarships. This is why the foundation is a "consumer foundation", meaning that its assets are gradually depleted. But because it's so important to support young artists on their way to the world of music, the Foundation Board welcomes every donation, large or small, to IBAN CH79 0630 0504 7766 0750 5 (Banque Valiant) - Fondation Elvira-Lüthi-Wegmann, 3067 Boll - mention "Spende Elvirissima". Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chairman of the Foundation Board, Marianne Wälchli, at the following address: wettbewerb@elvirissima.ch

The 2023 winners

The Swiss bass-baritone, Evan Gray, (1st prize) convinced the jury with his superb voice, strong presence and exceptional musicality. The Swiss bass, Jonas Jud (2nd prize), won over the jury with his truly resonant bass voice, his professionalism and his power of expression. The Ukrainian mezzo-soprano, Polina Kulykova (3rd place), impressed with her presence, dramatic power and great voice, while the French soprano, Alice Paroissien, moved the jury with her naturally suave expression, lively piani and careful coloratura.

The 1st prize is a grant of 12 x CHF 800 per month, the 2nd prize 12 x CHF 400 per month. The 3rd prize is CHF 2,000 and the 4th prize CHF 1,000.

Elvirissima 2023 winners - from left to right: Polina Kulykova, 3rd place; Alice Paroissien, 4th place; Jonas Jud, 2nd place and Evan Gray, 1st place.

Credits : klangworker.ch