Ernst Haefliger, President of the Jury

Ernst Haefliger, bron 1919 in Davos, Switzerland, is one of the legendary Oratorio-and Lied-Singers of the 20th century. His interpretations of the Evangelist in the Bach Passions, especially together with the Münchner Bachchor under Karl Richter, are be still regarded as unmatched. On the operatic stage he was engaged as first lyric tenor at the Deutsche Opera Berlin from 1952-1972. He sang all the main Mozart-tenor roles. Unforgettable is his interpretation of Pfitzner’s „Palestrina“. With the conductor Ferenc Friczay he recorded numerous Mozart-operas and Beethoven’s “Fidelio” for „Deutsche Grammophon“eingespielt, with legendary conductor Bruno Walter he recorded Mahlers „Das Lied von der Erde“for Columbia Records. His Lied-recordings with „Deutsche Grammophon“ and „Claves Records“ won many important awards. Ernst Haefliger was regular guest artists at the important European Festivals such as Salzburg, Glyndebourne or Lucerne.
Ernst Haefliger, got his singing education with the Italian tenor Fernando Carpi, who was also Suzanne Danco’s and Jussi Björling’s teacher. Haefliger was Professor for singing at the Musikhochschule in Munich. Until today he is continuing his teaching of the belcanto technique to singers of the new generation. His book „Die Singstimme“ (5th edition) is published at the Schott-Verlag in Mainz.

Teresa Berganza,  Mezzo-soprano
Born in Madrid, Teresa Berganza gave her debut on the operatic stage 1957 in the Aix-en-Provence Festival as Dorabella in “Così fan tutte”. Afterwards she started immediately a career on the main opera stages of the world as one of the most important Mozart and Rossini singers of her generation. From 1967 she regularly appeared at the MET in New York. She sang her first Carmen in Edinburgh and recorded the role later under the direction of Claudio Abbado. Berganza sang under the direction of Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim and many others. Numerous recordings display Teresa Berganza’s outstanding career. Until today she regularly gives recitals and concerts. With her masterclasses she transmits her singular and elegant singing style and her intensive interpretations to the new generations of opera singers.

Aviel Cahn, Artistic Director Concours
Aviel Cahn, born 1974 in Zurich is at present Opera Director in Bern. From 2001 to 2004 he was artistic planning & casting director at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. Before he worked with the China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing and with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra in Zurich as artistic administrator.

Alberto Zedda
Alberto Zedda is one of the most important conductors and scholars in the belcanto repertory. He is at present artistic director of the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and artistic director of the Festival Mozart in La Coruña. He conducts at major opera houses in the world. Numerous recordings, especially of Rossini operas. He founded the movement of critical edition of Rossini’s operas. He founded the Accademia Rossiniana in Pesaro where every summer young singers from all over the world are trained in Rossini singing and performing at the Rossini Opera Festival.

Ralf Weikert
Austrian conductor, was for many years chief conductor of the Opernhaus Zurich. As guest conductor he works at the all major opera houses of the world such as the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Semperoper in Dresden, the Teatro Massimo Palermo, Opernhaus Zürich. Numerous recordings.

Toni Gradsack
Toni Gradsack is at present artistic administrator and responsible for casting at the Opernhaus Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest opera company.

Erkki Korhonen
General director of the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki since 2001. Educated as pianist, repetitor and conductor he was also for several years artistic director of the Opernstudio at the Opernhaus Zurich.

Hanna Munitz
General director of the New Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. She made the opera in Tel Aviv to one of the leading opera houses of the world. Born in Germany she had her theatre education in Israel.

Stephan Mösch
Editor in chief of the renown German opera magazine “Opernwelt” will join the jury.