#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Jiuchen Li

Photo made available by the singer

Hello Belvedere, my name is Jiuchen Li and I am a Bass from China(VR).I'm looking forward to the tournament in Germany. I am sure it will be an enriching experience for me as a singer, and I am excited ,because this is the biggest game I participated in.Music is my passion and I hope that I can transmit that to you through my singing.

I chose to take part in the Belvedere Singing Competition, it being a great opportunity to measure my singing with that of the best talents in the world. I can additionally learn a lot from the experience of singing in front of such a highly prestigious jury.

My most ardent desire is to live a life filled with music, and be able to move people with my singing. I dream of a career on stage, and I am working hard to fulfil that dream of becoming a great artist.

I am looking forward meeting you all there.

Bisous

Jiuchen Li, Bass, China

Qualifying Round at Akademia Muzyczna im. Stanisława Moniuszki in Gdansk, Poland, on 12 April

It was the first time that the Belvedere Singing Competition organizes a qualifying round in Gdansk, Poland. 

13 singers had applied, two of them qualified for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Opera am Rhein in Düsseldorf: Soprano Aleksandra Kubas-Kruk and Baritone Lukasz Motkowicz. 

Congratulations especially to this two singers, but to all participants as well. 

Thanks to Prof. Bożena Harasimowicz for her great organization, thanks to the jury and to the Akademia Muzyczna im. Stanisława Moniuszki for their concert hall.

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Lisa Algozzini

Photo made available by the singer

My name is Lisa Algozzini and I am an Italian American soprano from Los Angeles living in Vienna. The Belvedere Singing Competition gives me the chance to be heard by top opera professionals, and that is so valuable for singers on the brink of their careers.

I am so passionate about opera, so my goal is to always connect with my audience by completely transforming into the roles I perform. I have had the amazing opportunity to work with wonderful people during my training like Renata Scotto, Dolora Zajick, Plácido Domingo and Julius Rudel as well as attending institutions like The Juilliard School and the Aspen Music Festival. These experiences have allowed me to develop into an artist that has the technical skills to follow opera's rich traditions while also being a strong performer.

Lisa Algozzini, Soprano, USA

Qualifying Round at Semperoper Dresden, Germany, on April 04, 2014

Photo © Evi Stangl

Isabella Gabor, General Management Belvedere Singing Competition, and Björn Peters, Künstlerischer Betriebsdirektor Semperoper Dresden, are discussing the singers. 
Congratulations to Gala EL Hadidi and Norma Nahoun, who qualified for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. 

Qualifying Round at Webster University, USA, Moore Auditorium on April 05, 2014

Photo made available by Jeffrey R. Carter

Short Message by our partner Jeffrey R. Carter: "After robust discussion, the judges have sent forward Leann Schuering for the next round. In the photo, Schuering is second from the right.
All the best, Jeff“ 
On the photo: Eleanora Benedict, Leann Schuering and Elise Kennedy.

#Belvedere2014 - Participants in the spotlight: Nico Darmanin

Photo made available by the singer

Hi,

I'm Nico Darmanin a tenor born in the heart of the Mediterranean - Malta. I've heard of the Belvedere Singing Competition since I started my classical training and have always wishes to participate once I felt ready to do so! 

One of my idols Joseph Calleja was a winner of this competition years ago and today is one of the leading tenors in the world who is also Maltese.

I wish to sing because my voice is the instrument I know best how to communicate with. I wish to make music with others and hopefully move audiences with my interpretations. I hope to achieve and be one of the best in the interpretation of Rossini and Mozartian repertoire.

I'm very much excited to take part in this prestigious competition!

Nico Darmanin, Tenor, Malta

Qualifying Round at Artscape Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa

#Belvedere2014: South Africans Linda Nteleza, Owen Metsileng and Siyabulela Ntlale are qualified at the Cape Town Opera successfully for the Final Rounds at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Congratulations!