The Josep Palet International Singing Competition has been held annually in the city of Martorell (Barcelona) since 2017. This event, organized by the Martorell City Council and Martorell Youth Musical Society, was created with the mission of preserving and promoting the legacy of the legendary tenor Josep Palet (Martorell, 1877 - Milan, 1946), while serving as a platform to showcase emerging talent in opera.
Now in its 8th edition, the competition has become a must-attend event for young singers worldwide, offering more prizes than ever and featuring an international jury composed of distinguished industry experts. Martorell thus becomes a meeting point for music and talent, honoring the past while looking to the future of opera.
8th INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION JOSEP PALET OF MARTORELL EDITION RULES
1. The VIII International Singing Competition Josep Palet of Martorell is open to all singers, regardless of their nationality, between the ages of 18 and 35.
2. The candidate must fill out the online registration form before the registration deadline.
The registration form must be accompanied by the payment receipt for the registration fee, in the amount of €50. The deposite must be made in the participants name.
Bank information:
A photograph of the contestant in JPG format must also be attached to the registration form.
The Josep Palet International Singing Competition consists of three rounds. The Selection Round will be held online. The Semifinal and Final Round will be held in person. The video must be submitted through the online platform YouTube. The participant must provide the relevant link through the registration form.
The video must be presented without cuts, editing, or digital alterations and with optimal audio and video quality. It must be a recording made in the last 12 months.
3. Candidates must specify on the registration form the title and composer of the pieces they will perform in both the Selection Round and the Semifinal and Final Rounds of the Competition. The repertoire for each of the round must be different and cannot be repeated.
Singers are free to participate in the Competition with their pianist; however, the organization will provide an accompanying pianist for all singers who request it in the Semifinal and Final Round. If a pianist is requested, it must be indicated by checking the corresponding box on the registration form.
Registration will only be accepted as valid if the programs and all documentation are accurately indicated. Once the registration is accepted and closed, no modifications will be accepted.
4. The registration deadline is February 23, 2025.
5. The contest will be developed in three rounds:
Selection Round
The audition of the Selection Round of the Josep Palet Singing Competition of Martorell will be carried out by video recording that the participant will send to the organization through a YouTube link attached to the registration form.
The names of the semifinalists will be announced before March 3, 2025, through the Competition's website (joventutsmusicals.cat/Martorell).
The candidate will make a performance of up to 10 minutes, in which they must sing one aria. It can be from operetta, opera, zarzuela or concert aria.
*Pieces will be performed without a score.
Semifinal Round
At the Martorell Public Music School.
At the Municipal School of Music of Martorell.
The Semifinal Round will take place on March 29, 2025. Each candidate will make a performance of up to 15 minutes, in which they must sing two pieces: 1 opera aria and 1 oratorio aria or lied. The opera aria can also be from zarzuela, concert aria, or operetta.
The oratorio aria includes genres such as Mass, Motet, Passion, or Cantata. If a candidate prefers to sing lied instead of oratorio, this genre includes classical, romantic, and modern melody and lied in any language.
*Pieces will be performed without a score.
Final Round
At the Joan Cererols Auditorium in Martorell.
The Final Round will take place on March 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
Each candidate will make a performance of up to 20 minutes, in which they must sing three pieces: 2 opera arias and 1 oratorio aria or lied (all different from those sung in the Selection Round).
The opera arias can be from zarzuela, concert aria, or operetta. The oratorio aria includes genres such as Mass, Motet, Passion, or Cantata. If a candidate prefers to sing lied instead of oratorio, this genre includes classical, romantic, and modern melody and lied in any language.
*All pieces will be performed without a score.
6. Registered participants agree to participate in all rounds according to the criteria of the organization and the jury.
7. The winner of the first prize agrees to sing one of the works submitted to the contest once the awards ceremony is over.
8. The winners of the first three prizes will not be able to present themselves to the next edition of the contest.
9. The jury may interrupt the proceedings if it deems it appropriate. The jury's decisions will be final. The jury reserves the right to declare the awards void and select a lower number of finalists.
10. The winners agree to mention the award on their artistic curriculum.
11. Acceptance of the first three prizes and the Joan Cererols Special Prize for Best Early Music Performer entails the obligation to carry out a performance at a concert by the Joventuts Musicals de Martorell.
12. The organization reserves the right to modify and replace the members of the jury mentioned here in case any of them cannot participate in the rounds of the Josep Palet de Martorell Singing Competition. In the event that a jury member for any of the competition rounds is unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, an alternate will be appointed by the president of Joventuts Musicals de Martorell. The president will promptly inform the Patronat Municipal de Servei d’Atenció a les Persones de Martorell of the decision.
ORGANIZATION
The Josep Palet Singing Contest is organized by the Martorell City Council, through the PMSAPM, and by the Juventudes Musicales de Martorell association with the support of Juventudes Musicales de Cataluña.
JURY SELECTION ROUND
Valentin Egel, General Music Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka and the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra
Renzo di Marco, Deputy Artistic Director of Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia
Silvia Tro Santafé, Mezzo-soprano
Carmen Valero, Secretary of the Jury
JURY FINAL ROUND
Julien Benhamou, Artisic Director at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and Casting Consultant at The Metropolitan Opera House
Damià Carbonell, Artistic Director at the Dutch National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam
Albert Castells, Casting Coordinator at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona
Mirna Lacambra, Soprano
Erik Malmquist, Casting Director at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich
Augusto Techera, Director of Artistic Production at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville
Jordi Maddaleno, Jury Secretary
The members appointed as jurors will participate with both voice and vote, except for the secretary, who will only participate with voice. To validly constitute the jury, a quorum must be established, with the president, secretary, and at least half of the members present. Both the president and the secretary will be selected from among the jury members. The jury will operate in accordance with the provisions of the applicable administrative procedure law governing the actions of collegiate bodies.
AWARDS
First Prize
€ 5,000
Tour of the Musical Youth Music Network of Catalonia.
Tour of the Musical Youth Music Network of Spain.
World premiere of a work by the composer Fabià Santcovsky (with the sponsorship of the Francesc Pujols Foundation).
Concert in the M'Clàssics Concert Series of Martorell.
Accrediting diploma.
Second Prize
€ 2,000.
Concert in the M'Clàssics Cycle of Martorell.
Accrediting diploma
Third Prize
€ 1,000.
Concert in the M'Clàssics Cycle of Martorell.
Accrediting diploma.
Special awards
Victoria de los Angeles Award. Participation in the masterclass and training activities of the Fundación Victoria de los Ángeles and the LIFE Victoria festival.
Museum of Music Award. The best music performer with historical criteria. Contract to participate in the programming of the Museum of Music of Barcelona accompanied by one of the museum's historical instruments.
Amics de l'Òpera de Sabadell Award. Contract to participate in one of the productions of the Association of Friends of the Opera of Sabadell.
Amics de la Música de Valls Award. Contract to participate at the season of Amics de la Música de Valls.
Joan Cererols Award. To the best interpreter of early music. Contract to offer a concert within the M'Clàssics season.
Casa Elizalde Award. Contract to participate at the concert season of Casa Elizalde.
7 Portes Award. Concert at Sopars Lírics cycle at 7 Portes restaurant.
Audience Award. Accrediting diploma.
Best Catalan Music performer Award. Accrediting diploma.
Best performer of Italian bel canto Award. Accrediting diploma.
