June 4–8, the 5th Klaudia Taev International Competition for Young Opera Singers takes place in Pärnu. In the preliminary round 30 soloists from 20 countries are chosen to participate at the competition. The First Prize is 7000 € and the prize winners get the opportunity to sing in the opera production that will be staged in Endla Theatre in Pärnu, 2009.
The competition will be held in three rounds. First round takes place on June 5, in Endla Theatre, second round on June 6, in Pärnu Town Hall, free entrance on both days. Third round takes place on June 8 in Pärnu Concert House.
Chairwoman of the jury is Barbara Hendricks, jury’s members are Jenny Anvelt (soprano, Professor of the Milan Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory), Paul Himma (general director of the Estonian National Opera), Ivari Ilja (pianist, Professor of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), Ingrid Kremling (soprano, Professor of the University of Music and Theatre Hamburg), Yevgeni Nesterenko (bass, Professor of the Vienna Music Academy), Alain Nonat (artistic director of the Théatre Lyrichoréga 20 Montreal), Erki Pehk (artistic director of the competition, conductor of the Estonian National Opera), Vladimiras Prudnikovas (bass, soloist of the Lithuanian National Opera, Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music), Stefan Sköld (conductor and artistic director of Dalhalla Opera Festival).
Competition is organised by the 21st Century Orchestra and takes place once in every two years.
Winners of the Klaudia Taev International Competition for Young Opera Singers are Estonian soprano Kristina Vähi (in 1996), Russian soprano Anna Samuil (in 2001), Lithuanian baritone Laimonas Pautienius (in 2003), and Ukrainian mezzo soprano Angelina Shvachka and Chinese soprano Huiling Zhu (in 2005).
Klaudia Taev (1906–1985) was a legendary singing teacher in Pärnu, her students were famous Estonian singers Urve Tauts, Silvia Vestman, Viktor Gurjev, Hans Miilberg ao.
The Klaudia Taev Competition is a main part of the Pärnu International Opera Music Festival or PromFest, artistic directed by Erki Pehk. In the framework of the PromFest, concerts and master-classes are organised.
* From May 30 to June 3 the master class of Ingrid Kremling (Professor of the University of Music and Theatre Hamburg) focusing on the interpretation of Mozart’s music takes place at the Estonian Music and Theatre Academy
* In Endla Theatre the opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet was staged with Klaudia Taev Competition 2005 winners Angelina Shvachka and Huiling Zhu in the title role. Performances on May 25, 26, 30, and June 1, 2, 4.
* June 5, at 8 pm in Pärnu Town Hall the concert in memory of Klaudia Taev will be held
* June 7, at 7 pm in Pärnu Concert House the soprano Barbara Hendricks will perform with Love Derwinger, piano
* June 8, at 8 pm in Pärnu Concert House the PromFest ending concert which is also the final round of the 5th Klaudia Taev Competition will take place. The six finalists are accompanied by the 21st Century Orchestra conducted by Erki Pehk.
* June 9, at 7 pm in Pärnu Town Hall the Russian bass Yevgeni Nesterenko will give a concert with Estonian pianist Helin Kapten. The programme includes Russian romances and opera arias.