The renewed Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, now in its 29th edition, will begin on 1 August in Debrecen, with a strong international interest. Ten choirs from two continents will compete in this year’s competition.
All rounds of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition are open to the public and can be followed online. The competition schedule and a detailed programme of the participating choirs can be found below:
The online version of the official competition catalogue can be found here.
Schedule
1 August 2024 (Thursday), 6 pm
Parade from Dezső Baltazár Square to the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen
1 August 2024 (Thursday), 7 pm
Opening Ceremony (Doors open at cca. 6.45 pm )
Reformed Great Church of Debrecen
2 August 2024 (Friday), 2 pm
Free Category B & A
Kölcsey Centre, Ballroom
- 14.00-14.20 Ensemble Coraux
- Lorenzo Donati: Travestimento primo
- Eric Whitacre: This marriage
- Giuseppe Cappotto: Danse Valdotaine
- 14.20-14.45 Cor Jove Amics de la Unió
- G. Cruz i. C Perez arr Ll. Perez Cansell: Vestida de nit
- Guido Lopez-Gavilan: El guayaboso
- Levente Gyöngyösi: Cantate Domino
- Jake Runestad: Nyon nyon
- 14.45-15.10 Imusicapella
- Levente Gyöngyösi: Cantate Domino
- Gunnar Hahn: Rondo Lapponico
- Jonas Tamulionis: Narciso
- Niyo Alcala: Dayo Dayo Kupita
- 15.10-15.35 Arcova Vocal Ensemble
- Levente Gyöngyösi: Cantate Domino
- Lorenzo Donati: Mignonne
- Kim André Arnesen: Even when He is silent
- Petrassi: Nonsense n. 5.
- 15.35-16.00 Los Cantantes de Manila
- Levente Gyöngyösi: Cantate Domino
- arr. Earl James Conde: Rosas Pandan
- Giampiero Castagna: Miserere
- Guido Lopez-Gavilan: Pa Kin Kin
2 August 2024 (Friday), 7 pm
‘Vivat, crescat, floreat!’ – Gala concert of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition
Kölcsey Centre, Great Hall
Programme:
- Máté Bella: Vivat, crescat, floreat!
- Árpád Barabás: Dinos and menk – world premiere
- Zoltán Kodály: Whitsuntide
- Bence Kutrik: Puer natus
- Dániel Dobos: Callis stellarum – world premiere
- Lajos Bárdos: Cantemus!
Lautitia Children’s Choir (choirmaster: József Nemes), Kodály Choir (choirmaster: Kocsis-Holper Zoltán);
Conductors: József Nemes and Zoltán Kocsis-Holper
– intermission –
- Péter Tóth: The Wedding – world premiere
Gabriella Balga (soprano)
Kodály Choir (choirmaster: Kocsis-Holper Zoltán), Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra;
Conductor: Zsolt Hamar
Tickets: 500 HUF registration tickets are available here
3 August 2024 (Saturday), 10 am
Children’s & Youth Choirs Category
Kölcsey Centre, Ballroom
- 10.00-10.15 Joint Chorus Group of Toyama High School and Toyama Higashi High School
- Nancy Telfer: Missa Brevis – Kyrie
- Rihards Dubra: Ave Maria II.
- Rihards Dubra: Laudate
- Miklós Kocsár: Salve Regina
- 10.15-10.30 Ss. Cyril & Methodios Choir of Thessaloniki
- arr. Alexandros Papagiannopoulos: Gianni mou to Mantolino sou – Traditional from Epirus Choral
- arr. Akos Pap: Burro Matti
- Kanaris Keramaris: Argyro
- Tassos Pappas: Shepherds songs
- 10.30-10.50 Zoltán Kodály Youth Mixed Choir
- György Orbán: O mistress mine
- Boglárka Vörös: Fragments – III.
- Eric Whitacre: Lux Aurumque
- Z. Randall Stroope: The conversion of Saul
- 10.50-11.10 Ad Libitum Choir (B Free)
- Branko Stark: Plaudite manibus
- György Orbán: Ave verum
- Erzsébet Szőnyi: Prayer for Twilight Bell
- Zdenek Lukas: Dies irae
3 August 2024 (Saturday), 2 pm
Sacred Music Category
St. Anne’s Cathedral of Debrecen
- 14.00-14.20 Coro Monteverdi
- Francis Poulenc: Quatre petites priéres de Saint Francois d’Assise – II. Tout puissant & III. Seigneur, je vous an pries
- Brian A. Schmidt: Lux Aeterna
- Albert de Klerk: Pater Noster
- Orlando Dipiazza: Ecce panis angelorum
- 14.20-14.40 Ensemble Coraux
- James MacMillan: O radiant dawn
- Lorenzo Donati: Salmo 23
- Francis Poulenc: Hodie Cristus natus est
- 14.40-15.05 Los Cantantes de Manila
- János Vajda: Domine non sum dignus
- Z. Randall: Stroope Petrus
- Lorenzo Donati: O vos omnes
- Darren Vega: Alleluia! Amen
- 15.05-15.30 Imusicapella
- János Vajda: Domine non sum dignus
- Giampiero Castagna: Miserere
- Vytautas Miskinis: Dum medium silentium
- 15.30-15.55 Arcova Vocal Ensemble
- Vaclovas Augustinas: Hymne à Saint Martin
- Trond Kverno: Ave maris stella
- János Vajda: Domine non sum dignus
- Z. Randall Stroope: The conversion of Saul
- 15.55-16.20 Cor Jove Amics de la Unió
- Javier Busto Sagrado: Ave Maria
- Eric Whitacre: Lux Nova
- Vajda János: Domine non sum dignus
- Xabier Sarasola: Ave Maria
4 August 2024 (Sunday), 3 pm
Grand Prize Competition and Award Ceremony
Kölcsey Centre, Great Hall
Tickets: 500 HUF registration tickets are available here
The Opening Ceremony and the categories of the competition are free of charge. For the other events, registration tickets for HUF 500 can be purchased at the Klassz Pont ticket office, the Kölcsey Centre ticket office, the Tourinform Office and via kodalyfilharmonia.jegy.hu.