On Sunday evening, the 14th International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera «Pietro Antonio Cesti» of the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music came to a close at the House of Music in Innsbruck. In a high-quality final concert, mezzo-soprano Mathilde Ortscheidt from France emerged victorious over her fellow competitors. The second place was secured by British soprano Charlotte Bowden, and third place was claimed by baritone Giacomo Nanni from Italy. The Audience Prize was won by French bass-baritone Alexandre Baldo, and the Young Talent Award was awarded to soprano Neima Fischer from Germany.
This year, nearly 200 candidates from 43 different countries applied for the competition to demonstrate their vocal talent. After the initial pre-selection, 99 candidates competed in the singing rounds in Innsbruck. Nine participants made it to the final, where they performed in front of the jury and the audience at the House of Music in Innsbruck. As part of the mandatory repertoire for the final, the singers had to perform an aria from George Frideric Handel's opera «Arianna in Creta», among other pieces. Next year, this opera will be performed as part of the Baroque opera series during the festival.
Mezzo-soprano Mathilde Ortscheidt from France impressed the jury with the aria «Dille, che nel mio seno serbo» from George Frideric Handel's «Arianna in Creta» and «Ferri, ceppi, sangue, morte» from Antonio Vivaldi's opera «L'incoronazione di Dario». British soprano Charlotte Bowden secured the second place, while Italian baritone Giacomo Nanni claimed the third place. French bass-baritone Alexandre Baldo received the Audience Prize. Soprano Neima Fischer from Germany was honored with the Young Talent Award as well as a special prize, an engagement with Il Gusto Barocco and Jörg Halubek. Baritone Rory Green from Ireland won a special prize, a concert as part of Resonanzen Wien. Another special prize, an engagement at the Festival della Valle d’Itria, was awarded to French tenor Antonin Rondepierre.
The distinguished jury, chaired by Sebastian Schwarz (Artistic Director of the Festival della Valle d'Itria), consisted of other experts from the opera and concert world in 2023: Alessandro De Marchi (Artistic Director of the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music), Ottavio Dantone (Deputy Musical Director of the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music), Nicole Braunger (Opera Director at the Baden State Theater Karlsruhe and Artistic Director of the International Handel Festival Karlsruhe), Samantha Farber (Managing Director at Sono Artists), Hein Mulders (Intendant of the Cologne Opera), and Susanne Schmidt (Casting Director of Vlaamse Opera Antwerp/Ghent).
The international singing competition for Baroque opera "Pietro Antonio Cesti" was initiated in 2010 by Alessandro De Marchi. Named after the Italian composer Pietro Antonio Cesti, who turned Innsbruck into a center of Italian opera north of the Alps in the mid-17th century, the competition is aimed at young singers from around the world with exceptional talent and training in the diverse field of Baroque opera. The Cesti Competition has now become one of the most important singing competitions in this genre.
In addition to the enthusiastic audience at the House of Music in Innsbruck, several thousand viewers followed the final concert via livestream.