Competitions › Farinelli Competition for Countertenors
Farinelli Competition for Countertenors
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
Singing competition for countertenors, described by the organiser as the world's first, held at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe during the International Handel Festival. It focuses on Baroque roles but includes later repertoire up to contemporary music, and ends with a public final with orchestra and livestream.
- Organiser
- Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (International Handel Festival Karlsruhe)
- Instruments
- Voice (Countertenor)
- Category
- Opera & general voice
- Age limits
- Countertenors of all voice types up to age 35 (Young Talent Award up to 25), cut-off 1 March 2026
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Application documents with two video links by 15 December 2025, emailed to the competition; no fee stated.
Rounds & time limits
- Preliminary round, 26 Feb 2026
- Semifinal, 27 Feb 2026
- Final concert with Special Prize for New Music, 28 Feb 2026
- Main final with orchestra, 2 Mar 2026
Repertoire
Candidates choose from a list of compulsory arias plus arias of their own choice; two application arias must be Baroque. Preliminary: one compulsory and one free aria. Semifinal: a second compulsory and another free aria. Final: two compulsory arias chosen by the jury. Optional contemporary-music prize adds one aria written after 1945.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Christian Firmbach
- Vivica Genaux
- Jochen Schaefsmeier
- Eva-Maria Sens
- Cameron Arens
Prizes
- First EUR 5,000
- Second EUR 2,500
- Third EUR 1,000
- Young Talent (U25) EUR 1,500
- Audience award EUR 1,000
- New Music prize EUR 1,000
Past editions
- 2026 — Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe source
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source