The 9th International Rostropovich Cello Competition is to be held in Paris, from 27 October to 8 November 2009, as part of the Concours internationaux de la Ville de Paris. The Competition is organised by the Association pour la Création et la Diffusion Artistique (ACDA). It will be supported by an exceptional tribute paid to this prestigious artist.

The Competition is open to cellists of all nationalities born after 27 October 1979.

Contestants must send a completed application form to the Competition address, the latest date for entries is Saturday 9 May 2009 (postmark date validates) and it must include the following documents:

- the inscription form, duly and legibly completed, dated and signed

- a photocopy of the candidate’s identity card or passport, or any other equivalent official document of identity

- a curriculum vitae written in French or English (maximum 2 typed pages) stating names of schools of music attended, the main teachers, awards/diplomas obtained, their current professional situation

- a short biography in French or English (maximum 7 typed lines)

- two original letters of recommendation from recognised musicians, written for the purposes of this competition

- a colour photograph taken by latest six months ago, minimum dimensions 3.5 x 4.5 cm, with mention of surname and first name at the back

- the required payment or a document confirming payment of the inscription charge (article 5)

Given the hazards of postal mail, the applicant will send an to mention the mailing date of his application

Moreover it would be better to send curriculum vitae, photocopy of the identity card or passport and photograph by .

 

After due consideration of candidates' applications by a selection committee made up for that purpose, the Competition Organisers shall be the sole judges of their eligibility to compete.

A list of successful candidates shall be posted on our website on Monday, 22 June 2009.

Candidates will also receive personal notification by e-mail.

The registration charge is fixed at 30 € and must be sent at the same time as the registration. This charge cannot be reimbursed. Candidates must send this sum net of any extras charges or costs relating to participation in the competition.

Method of payment with mention of surname of the applicant:

- by French cheque made out to ACDA in Euros

- by a foreign bank drawn on a French account made out to ACDA in Euros

- by bank transfer in Euros - RIB

- by international postal mandate in favour of ACDA in Euros

- by money transfer (via international agencies) in Euros

- by cash in Euros

 

The registration fee is fixed at 40 €.

Candidates selected must pay the registration fee at the time of the drawing of lots; details of the method of payment will be supplied later.

The Competition Organisers can organise accommodation in university residences (single or twin rooms) or with a family, for contestants living outside of Paris or the Paris region and who have made a request for such accommodation on the application form.

Those contestants who successfully pass the first eliminatory round will have their accommodation expenses paid for during the rounds in which they will compete. In this case, the contestants will receive a daily allowance of 40 €.

 

Contestants requiring a visa to take part in the Competition are requested to organise this themselves. If a letter of invitation is required for visa purposes, candidates may request this from the Competition Organisers.

First round (maximum : 20 minutes)

A – Jean-Sébastien Bach: Prelude (obligatory) and other movements (choose from) one of the six Suites for Solo Cello (without repeat)

B – One of the following:

- Benjamin Britten: Suite for cello opus 72 (IV.Canto terzo, V.Bordone, VI.Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto) ()

 - Benjamin Britten: 2nd Suite for cello opus 80 (I.Declamato, II.Fuga, III.Scherzo) ()

- Benjamin Britten: 3rd Suite for cello opus 87 (VII.Recitativo, VIII.Moto perpetuo, IX.Passacaglia) ()

- Rodion Shchedrin: Russian Fragments* )

- George Crumb: Sonata for solo Violoncello ()

- Henri Dutilleux: Trois Strophes sur le nom de SACHER (First Strophe) ()

- Paul Hindemith: Cello Sonata op.25 n°3 ()

- György Ligeti: Cello Sonata ()

- Witold Lutoslawski: Sacher Variations for Cello solo ()

- Krzysztof Penderecki: Per Slava* ()

- Marco Stroppa: Ay there's a rub* for solo cello ()

        *works commissioned for previous Rostropovitch Competitions

Second round

A – One of the following:

• Ludwig van Beethoven: 4th Sonata for cello and piano in C major op. 102 n°1

• Johannes Brahms: 1st Sonata for cello and piano in E minor op. 38 (without repeat)

• Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata pour cello and piano n°2 in D major op. 58 (without repeat)

• Robert Schumann: Fünf Stücke im Volkston for cello and piano op. 102

B – Claude Debussy: Sonata for cello and piano in D minor

C – : Invocation, work for solo cello, composed for the Competition (about five-six minutes)
commissioned by - Creation Concours Rostropovitch 2009

The score will be sent to the competitors one month before the rounds start.

D – David Popper: Elfentanz, opus 39

Final Round

A/ Place to specify

A free programme from twenty to thirty minutes of published works (or movements of works) for solo cello or cello and piano, except for works chosen for previous rounds.

B/

One of the following:

• Dimitri Shostakovitch: 1st Concerto for Cello and Orchestra op. 107

• Anton Dvorák: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra op. 104

• Robert Schumann: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra op. 129

• Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski: Variations on a rococo theme for Cello and Orchestra in A major op. 33

For the first two rounds, contestants may choose the order of works to be played.

The competitors will be allowed to play using the scores, except in the final round with orchestra.

Candidates wishing to change their repertoire must advise the Competition Organisers in writing by e-mail no later than Friday, 17 October 2009.

download an extract of the programme (148 ko)

Lots shall be drawn on Tuesday 27 October 2009 to determine the order of play. Contestants are obliged to be present in person on this occasion.

A second drawing of lots shall be held to determine order of play in the final round.

 

All rounds shall be open to the public.

The first two rounds will take place in the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris, 14 rue de Madrid 75008 Paris.

The final round (concertos) will take place on Saturday 7 November 2009 at the with the , conducted by .

 

For the second and the final round, the Competition Organisers will provide a pianist for the contestants.

Two rehearsal sessions will be provided by the Competition Organisers.

Contestants may bring an accompanist, at their own expense.

Following each round including the final, the Jury shall meet and make his decisions according to modalities previously known by each member of the Jury. In the event of a tie, the Jury Chairman holds the casting vote.

The Jury reserves the right not to award all prizes.

The Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris cannot be shared.

The Jury may issue special distinctions.

The Jury may only award prizes to contestants who have reached the second round except for the Prize for the young soloist.

The Jury's decision is final.

 

Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris: 10 000 €

2nd Prize - Prize donated by the : 7 000 €

3rd Prize: 4 000 €

4th Prize: 3 000 €

Special Prize, offered by the Rostropovich Foundation, to the most remarkable personality: 5 000 €

Prize for the best interpretation of the 1st Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, op. 107 by Dimitri Chostakovitch: 2 500 €, offered by the

Prize for the best performance of French romantic music, offered by the : 2 500 €

Prize for the young soloist: a bow from Sylvain Bigot, offered by both the instrument maker Nicolas Perrin and the bow maker Sylvain Bigot

Prize for the best performance of Invocation by , offered by : 2 000 €

The winner of the Grand Prix will benefit from various engagements offered by:

The Fourth Rostropovich Festival in Baku (December 2010)
(between September 10 and October 10, 2010)
(on July 6, 2010, in the Château Branaire-Ducru)
The
The (Caracas, 2010-2011)

The will give a complete set of accessories (pegs - tailpieces - endpins) to the Grand Prix.

The following events will propose engagements to one of the winners of their choice:

The
- Kronberg (2011)
The City of Colmar as part of its promotion of the 2010 activities
The in the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides
The Festival international
(concerts-tremplin 2010)
The Festival d'Annecy as part of the Festival "Plaisir de Musiques"

The 2010 ou 2011

The , will propose an engagement to the winner of the Prize for the best performance of French romantic music, for one concert during the festival "Le Salon romantique" in Venizia, on February 2011

The will propose an engagement to the winner of the Prize for the young soloist (Caracas, saison 2010-2011)

Prizewinners will be called upon for further performances; details are to be posted in due course.

The Competition Organisers should not be held as responsible for troubles, which might crop up in the organization of these events.

A concert, at which certain of the prizewinners selected by the Jury, will participate will be held at the on Sunday 8 November 2009, with the , conducted by .

 

Competition rounds and the prizewinners’ concert may be broadcasted by radio or television without remuneration to the contestants.