First day of Stage I auditions

"I'm glad I opened the Competition. Though the emotions were overwhelming – I'm still trembling," said Gabriela Celińska after leaving the stage. Her performance marked the start of the first round of the 21ˢᵗ Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition in Nowy Sącz today. The young mezzo-soprano, still a student at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, presented the aria of Idamante (Ah! Qual gelido orror / Il padre adorato) from Act II of Mozart’s Idomeneo and the recitative and aria of Stephano (Depuis hier, je cherche / Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle) from Act III of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. The artist was accompanied by pianist Manfred Schiebel.

Gabriela Celińska is taking part in the Competition for the second time. "I was in Nowy Sącz two years ago. But since then, a lot has changed in my life, both professionally and personally. What drew me back was the jury lineup – it’s rare to see so many outstanding figures from the vocal arts gathered in one place. That’s why I see this as a chance to present myself to them," she said. "Regardless of winning – which we all dream of – even losing can be a victory if someone on the jury remembers you."

In the first round, singers perform two pieces, with their total stage time not exceeding ten minutes. One must be a Mozart piece, while the other is the artist’s choice from a provided list. "I thought long about my repertoire selection because I wanted to showcase my versatility," said Alicja Paulina Ciesielczuk, who, in addition to Mozart, performed Madeleine’s aria from Abraham’s operetta Ball im Savoy. "This is my third time in the Competition. For me, it’s a chance to expand my repertoire a year after graduation, beyond just singing commissioned concert pieces. I also wanted to meet one of the jurors, Mr. Andrzej Dobber. Plus, I’ve shifted my repertoire towards German works and operettas, so I wanted to present that side of myself," she emphasised. "I love this Competition – it’s brilliantly organised, and it’s a pleasure to be here."

The jurors pay attention to many aspects. "I look for truth in every performance," said Andrzej Dobber, a juror in this year’s edition and the second-prize winner of the 1985 Competition. "Of course, the participant must be able to sing, but I need to feel that truth in their voice. They must filter the musical story through themselves. An aria is part of a larger whole, which affects how it’s performed, while a song is a self-contained miniature. It’s important to remember that," he stressed. "Today, I heard that truth in several voices."

It is worth noting that the artists are assessed by a nine-member jury led by Małgorzata Walewska, a mezzo-soprano, vocal pedagogue, and Artistic Director of the Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition.

We should also remember that the pianist is always a co-creator of the vocal interpretation. Young artists find support in their accompanists, and thanks to them, they can deliver outstanding performances. An accompanist’s experience is invaluable and often leads to excellent results. Some singers perform with their own pianists, but most use those provided by the Competition – highly experienced in working with vocalists. This year’s Competition pianists are exceptional instrumentalists and excellent vocal coaches: Natalia Gaponenko, Manfred Schiebel, and Aleksander Teliga. As per the Competition rules, the jury will also award the most outstanding pianist this year.

Today, the jury listened to 29 participants. Tomorrow, in the auditorium of the organiser – Małopolskie Centrum Kultury SOKÓŁ – another round of first-stage auditions will take place, followed by the first verdict. By evening, we will know who advances to the second round.

All competition auditions are streamed on adasari.pl. The final will also be available on the international platform operavision.eu, which offers free live and recorded streams of the most famous operas from Europe’s and the world’s greatest stages.