ADAM WALASEK FROM POLAND IS THE WINER IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG TENORS “THE VOICE OF KAMEN”

Rositsa Rancheva

The singer won the prize also of the Stara Zagora audience “The Artist and the City”

On 27 August 2024 in the hall of the Stara Zagora State Opera was held the Gala Concert of the finalists of the Second International Competition for Young Tenors “The Voice of Kamen”. “This competition is a mission for all who in some way participate in its organization in order to show their love for Kamen, the respect to the great personality who he left on the stage.” This is why exactly on his 60^th birthday all of us present in the Hall and on the stage, were in anticipation to know who, according to the jury and the assessment of the Stara Zagora music-lovers, are those young tenors who with their voices will keep alive the memory of the voice of Kamen.

“As in “Turandot”, one of the operas, in which Kamen often sang, the young artists were already confronted by their three riddles: two performances before the jury and one before the audience in the open in the city center. And each of them gave their answers. But the jury decided to give them yet another, fourth trial, in the Gala Concert. The eligible 7 finalists had to perform an aria to the accompaniment of the Orchestra of the Opera, after which the jury had to take its final decision”.

Under the baton of the world famous Maestro Jose Cura, the concert began with the overture to the opera “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi. Indeed the Orchestra of the Stara Zagora Opera is perfect. The instrumentalists did not play, but rather experienced the introduction to one of the most loved Italian operas.

Adrian Dimitru from Rumania presented an aria of Riccardo from the opera “Un ballo di Maschera” by Verdi. An aria of Vasco da Gama from the opera “L’Africaine” by Meyerbeer in fact brought the first place to Adam Walasek. An aria of Rodolfo from “La boheme” by Puccini was the piece of Donghyun from South Korea. The presentation of Tautvydas Slizauskas from Lithuania was an aria of Nemorino from “L’Elisir d’amore”. Olag Lanovyi from the Ukraine had chosen the aria of Macduff from the opera “Macbeth” by Giuseppe Verdi. An aria of Tonio from the opera “The Daughter of the Regiment” by Gaetano Donizetti was performed by Andrii Voziian from the Ukraine. The competition program was closed with an aria of Cavaradossi from the opera “Tosca” of Puccini by Sim Chi from China.

While the jury withdrew to take their final decisions about the classification and the presenting of the rewards, the organizers presented two of the scenes from “Otello” by Verdi: a recording of the duet of Otello and Desdemona performed by Kamen Chanev and Tanya Ivanova from the first act, as well as the crown aria of Otello.

Some days before leaving us forever, on the stage of the Stara Zagora Opera, Kamen Chanev sang the so much dreamed by him role of the jealous man. His performance caused exceptional interest both among the audience and his colleagues singers. The spectacle was broadcasted online and thus was seen by thousands of spectators in the whole world.

Before the award ceremony began, the orchestra played the overture to the opera “La forza del destino” by Verdi, which was sent off with stormy applauses and praising shouts. Presenter of the event was Miglena Stoycheva, a journalist in the Bulgarian National Television and author of the program “Behind the Scenes” on BNT 2.

Before the sublime moment, the reputable jury was presented on the stage with its head Jose Cura and members Tanya Ivanova – soprano, founder of the Foundation “Kamen Chanev:, Ognyan Draganov director, managing director of the Stara Zagora State Opera, Kaludi Kaludov – tenor, vocal pedagogue, Daniel Borovski – bass, casting adviser, vocal pedagogue, Vladimir Kiradzhiev – conductor, professor in conducting at the Vienna Higher School for Music and Scenic Arts, Luca Ceretta – managing director of WORLD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HUNGARY Kft and Lucciano di Martino – conductor, artistic director of the Plovdiv State Opera.

The final decision of the jury is:

The holder of the First Prize is ADAM WALASEK from Poland

The Second Prize is awarded to OLEG LANOVYI from the Ukraine

The Third Prize is awarded to DONGHYUN KIM from South Korea

The Audience Award of Stra Zagora is won by ADAM WALASEK. The award and an honorary plate of the Stara Zagora Municipality was presented by Milena Zheleva – deputy mayor of “Culture and Tourism”.

Special prizes:

The Prize of the Sofia Opera and Ballet for participation in a concert or an opera production in the season 2025-2026 goes to OLEG LANOVYI from the Ukraine.

ADAM WALASEK wins two special prizes: the Prize of the Plovdiv State Opera – a participation in an opera production in the season 2024-2025 and the Prize of Theater Wielki – Ldz, Poland – a participation in an opera production in the season 2014-2016.

The Prize of the Stara Zagora State Opera – a participation in an opera production in the season 2014-2015 went to ADRIAN DIMITRU from Rumania.

The Prize of the Razgrad Symphonic Orchestra – a concert with the participation of the finalist of the Competition ANDRII VOZIIAN from the Ukraine.

All finalists received also a certificate for participation in the Competition.

“The holding of the Competition is an exceptionally dear moment for me, because the name of Kamen Chanev is connected with a large part of my career as a director”, said Ognyan Draganov. “For the last 10 days while the Competition was held, I received the greatest Prize – a meeting with friend and co-thinkers. People who think about the future of the opera. People, who have worked and go on working so we can carry on the opera art through the difficult period of the 21^st century, for the future.

All these young singers, with their wings of success, we hope that they will continue not only their progressive careers, but also bear the name of the competition, dedicated to Kanen Chanev. Because this is the most important thing. A competition, dedicated to a man like Kamen Chanev, has to have a future.

In the person of Jose Cura I met a friend and a co-thinker, this is why our first meeting will not be the last”, said Ognyan Draganov.

“I want to give one special Prize”, said Maestro Cura. “I met a large group of people who have a big desire to work. In one day of collaboration, we managed to achieve very good results. I had the opportunity to look into your eyes and I can write a biography about each one of you. This is the big advantage of the conductors of orchestras. 99% of you deserve my applauses! I thank the Orchestra of the Stara Zagora Opera!”

The Maestro turned in a fatherly way to those who had no prizes with the words:

“In my life I have been in the juries of many competitions. I have participated in others and I have lost almost all of them. So, boys, losing a competition does not mean anything. The great Renato Bruzon was once a member of the jury at a competition, in which I sang, but I did not win. He came to me and told me: Dear boy, do nor participate in competitions anymore! Go straight to the stage and sing!

A competition does not mean that you are not better than the others who are awarded. It only means that at this very moment some sang a little better that the others. If we judge only by the beautiful voice, all have a beautiful voice. Otherwise they would not be here. You are all young and elegant. What we assess is the possibility for a future development of these people. All of you, boys, are ready for your future. You are wonderful youths, with very beautiful voices…Recently I was the best tenor… Now, however I have competitors. All the future is before you”, said the Maestro.

The very final was unique. All these voiceful young tenors performed the crown part of Calaf „Nessun dorma” from the opera “Turandot” by Puccini. The exalted audience encored them. Then another thing happened for the first time. At the inter-mezzo during the aria, since there was no choir, the audience in the hall performed brilliantly this part of the beauty.  Exciting! Unforgettable!