International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition at ARTSCAPE Opera House

Cape Town Opera, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Cape Town and Artscape Theatre Centre are also proud hosts of the prestigious International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in the Opera house at Artscape on the 2nd July. The competition is THE “springboard” for young opera singers into a career in opera. The 2016 competition will be held in Cape Town, making it the very first time that it will not be held in Europe. With qualifying rounds in more than 65 cities worldwide, the competition attracts over 1300 entrants. Jury members for the finals are exclusively opera and casting directors of internationally renowned opera houses like the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Metropolitan Opera in New York and Deutsche Oper Berlin. The competition brings singers, their agents, their families, representatives of international opera houses and international media to the hosting city. Four South Africans reached the 34th Belvedere Singing Competition final round in July this year, and Levy Sekgapane went on to win the 1st prize. Acclaimed South African soprano Pretty Yende won the 2009 competition; Siyabulela Ntlale placed 2nd in 2014 and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi took the 2nd prize in 2013.