ARTICLE 1: ORGANIZATION
Tullio Serafin Competition is organized by Concetto Armonico APS in collaboration with Archivio Storico Tullio Serafin. Sponsors and supporters can be found on the competition website www.concorsoliricotullioserafin.it, section “Patronage and Supporters”.
ARTICLE 2: OPERA IN COMPETITION, NATIONALITY, AGE LIMITS AND ROLES
The Opera in competition in 2026 is “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” by G. Rossini
Competitors of all nationalities may participate in Tullio Serafin Competition.
The age limit for the Competition is set at 34 years for all vocalities.
Competitors may enroll for more than one role (maximum 2), but must present all the arias for each role listed in article n. 4. The jury reserves the right to listen to only part of the programme.
The roles in Competition are: Il Conte di Almaviva; Bartolo; Rosina; Figaro; Basilio; Fiorello; Berta.
ARTICLE 3: ROUNDS OF THE COMPETITION, DATES, PLACES AND REPERTOIRE
For the eliminatory rounds, competitors may choose their audition venue from those listed below, taking care, before finalising their registration, if there are places available in the “availability” section of the website concorsoliricotullioserafin.it
Competitors may not choose the elimination day if more than one elimination date is scheduled in the same theatre.
PRELIMINARY ROUND:
- 11 April 2026 Opéra Royal de Wallonie Liège
- 13 April 2026 Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur(Nice)
- 20 April 2026 Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa
- 22 April 2026 Teatro dell’Opera in Rome
- 24 April 2026 Musik Theater an der Wien (Vienna)
- 27 April 2026 Teatro La Fenice in Venice
Repertoire to be presented for the eliminatory rounds
In addition to the compulsory arias listed in article 4, competitors must perform from memory an opera aria (chamber music or sacred music will not be accepted) of their choice in the original language, including recitative and cabaletta where applicable. The eliminatory rounds will not be open to the public. Competitors shall present themselves at the eliminatory rounds with a copy of the aria to be performed of their choice to be used by the pianist.
SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS:
▪ 8 June 2026, at 1.00 pm, at Odeo del Teatro Olimpico – SEMI-FINALS
▪ 9 June 2026, at 8.oo pm, at Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza –FINALS
For the semi-finals and the finals, competitors will present the entire role of the opera in competition from memory including recitatives, duets and ensemble parts.
The finals will be open to the public. The President may interrupt the audition at any time after consulting the Jury.
At the discretion of the Jury, if necessary, the competitor will be required to repeat pieces already performed. All stages of the competition will be performed with piano accompaniment.
ARTICLE 4: COMPULSORY ARIAS FOR EACH ROLE TO BE PRESENTED AT THE PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
Please pay attention that arias must be performed in the original key with respective recitatives where applicable, even when other roles are present.
– Atto I: “Ecco ridente in cielo”
– Atto I: “Se il mio nome saper voi bramate”
Bartolo:
– Atto I: “A un Dottor della mia sorte”
Rosina:
– Atto I: “Una voce poco fa”
– Atto II: “Contro un cor”
Figaro:
– Atto I: “Largo al factotum”
Basilio:
– Atto I: “La calunnia”
Fiorello:
– One aria of your choice from Rossini’s repertoire (to be indicated on the registration form)
Berta:
– Atto II: “Il vecchiotto cerca moglie”;
ARTICLE 5: DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT
To enroll, candidates must complete the online entry form accompanied by the following documents:
- copy of an identity document (ID card or passport valid on 9 June 2026);
- a recent high-definition colour photo;
- short curriculum vitae (maximum 1.500 characters in no more than one page) – CVs that do not respect these characteristics will not be read
- copy of the payment receipt of the registration fee.
Competitors who need to obtain a visa for their stay in Italy must write to the competition secretariat at info@concorsoliricotullioserafin.it in order to obtain a letter of invitation to complete the bureaucratic procedures.
In the event of non-participation in the competition, the organizers are not obliged, in any case, to reimburse the registration fee.
ARTICLE 6: PAYMENT OF FEES AND BANK DETAILS
For the registration the competitor will pay a fee of € 90,00 (ninety/00). The fee will be paid by bank transfer to:
Concetto Armonico APS
BVR BANCA DEL VENETO CENTRALE – Vicenza
IBAN: IT60O0859011800000081026140 – BIC/SWIFT: CCRTIT2TBCV
Subject: NAME AND SURNAME (of the competitor) registration Tullio Serafin Competition 2026
ARTICLE 7: DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION
The application form, accompanied by all the documents required in article n. 5, must reach the association Concetto Armonico APS no later than 12 a.m. Monday 30 March 2026 via the website: www.concorsoliricotullioserafin.it
Applications received after this deadline, or incomplete in documents, will not be considered.
The registration fee will not be refunded if the competitor cancels his/her participation in the competition. The fee will only be refunded in cases provided for in Article 21 of these regulations.
ARTICLE 8: CONVOCATION
Each competitor will be sent an e-mail (before 2 April 2026) with the time of the convocation for the eliminatory round and the rehearsal time with the pianist (if requested in the registration form).
Changes of time or date as indicated by the organization of the Competition will not be allowed.
If the competitor fails to attend any required rehearsal with the pianist, the rehearsal cannot be rescheduled. Any competitor who fails to attend any of the stages of the Competition will be excluded from the same and may not claim any refund of the registration fee paid.
ARTICLE 9: ADMISSION TO THE SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
The names of the contestants admitted to the semi-finals will be communicated by email after the Jury’s work is completed no later than 10 May 2026. No information will be given over the phone.
The names of the contestants admitted to the finals will be communicated on the competition Facebook page and internet site, by phone call and email at the end of the Jury’s work before 9 pm, 8 June 2026.
Artists admitted to the Final will be offered accommodation in Vicenza from 8 to 9 June (maximum two nights in a double room with another finalist).
ARTICLE 10: WINNERS
Winners will take part to the Opera Studio in Vicenza,
- From 18 August to 13 September 2026 (last performance).
The Opera Studio will be held by Daniela Barcellona (Vocal coach), Natale De Carolis (stage director), Marco Titotto (conductor), in view of the performance of the opera at Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza on 12 and 13 September 2026 (10 September dress-reharsal open to the public).
Other performances of the opera, even in concert form, are not excluded.
ARTICLE 11: JURY FOR THE PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
Opera Royal de Wallonie Liége
- Stefano Pace, Artistic and General Director
- Veruska Reho, Deputy Artistic Director
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur
- Frédéric Deloche, Conductor
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa
- Davide Pagliarusco, Artistic Secretary
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
Teatro dell’Opera in Rome
- An Artistic Representative of the Theatre
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
Musik Theater an der Wien
- Peter Heliker, Programm and Casting Director
- Ugo Varela, Artistic Secretary
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
Teatro La Fenice in Venice
- Lucas Christ, Casting manager
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
ARTICLE 12: JURY AND PRESIDENT OF THE JURY FOR THE SEMI-FINLAS AND FINALS
President of the Jury is NICOLA COLABIANCHI, Superintendent of Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
The Jury for the finals will be composed by
- Alessandro Di Gloria, Casting Manager Teatro dell’Opera in Rome
- Raffaella Murdolo, Artistic Programming Manager Royal Opera House Muscat
- Frédéric Deloche, Musical Director Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur in Nice
- Davide Pagliarusco, Artistic Secretary Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa
- Stefano Pace, General and Artistic Director of Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège
- Federico Faggion, Artistic Director Teatro Verdi in Padua
- Edoardo Bottacin, Artistic Director Teatro Sociale in Rovigo
- Marco Tutino, Artistic Director Teatro Verdi in Pisa
- Peter Heilker, Programm and Casting Director Musik Theater an der Wien
- Barbara Frittoli, Soprano
- Andrea Castello, Artistic Director of “Vicenza in Lirica Festival”
For Daniela Dessì Prize to be awarded to one of the soprano finalists, Fabio Armiliato and Andrea Castello
There will be a CRITICS JURY. The names of the jurors will be communicated at the end of the preliminary rounds and published on the competition website.
ARTICLE 13: VOTING
The Jury will take its decisions in secret session by a majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the President’s vote shall prevail. The Jury may decide not to award roles in competition if there are no suitable candidates. The Jury’s verdict is final and irrevocable.
ARTICLE 14: CONTRACT FOR WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION
When registering for the Competition, candidates undertake, in the event of winning the role and after due reading, to sign a contract for the Opera Studio and all subsequent performances in the theatre as indicated in Article 10. Should the winners of the Competition fail to fulfil their contractual obligations after signing the contract, they will be required to pay a penalty equal to the fee set out in Article 15.
The artistic direction of Vicenza in Lirica Festival will not make any arrangements with any representative of agencies or press offices of the competitors who will be awarded the role.
ARTICLE 15: PRIZES FOR WINNERS OF THE ROLES IN COMPETITION
After the performances at Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, a gross compensation of € 1.400,00 (one thousand and four hundred/00) will be paid for each performance for the roles of Il Conte di Almaviva, Bartolo, Rosina, Figaro, Basilio; a gross compensation of € 1.000.00 (one thousand/00) for each performance for the role of Berta; a gross compensation of € 750,00 (seven hundred and fifty /00) for each performance for the role of Fiorello
The protagonists, or some of the protagonists of the opera, shall moreover perform in other concerts. For each concert, a fee will be established.
The winner who cannot accept the contract after being awarded the prize because engaged in other productions during the dates reported in this announcement (art. 10) cannot be defined as “Winner of the Tullio Serafin Opera Competition”. The prize will be awarded by the artistic direction to the first singer in the ranking present in the final commission report and called “cover”.
ARTICLE 16: OTHER PRIZES
- Daniela Dessì Prize € 1.000,00 (one thousand /00) to be paid for enrolling in a singing master class, purchase of music scores, travel and accommodation for musical travels.
- Public Prize € 300,00 (three hundred/00) named after “Francesco Pacchiega” to be paid for enrollment in a singing masterclass
- Critics Prize offered by Università Popolare di Cavarzere € 300,00 (three hundred/00) to be paid for enrollment in a Singing masterclass
- Other prizes may be announced on the internet site of the Competition in the section “Premi”. The prizes are gross of tax and social security withholdings.
ARTICLE 17: CERTIFICATE
All finalists will receive a certificate of participation in the competition.
ARTICLE 18: LIABILITY
Organizers of the Competition accept no responsibility for any damage caused to property or persons during the course of the Competition.
ARTICLE 19: VALIDITY OF THE REGULATIONS
Participation in the Competition implies unconditional acceptance of these regulations without reservation. The Italian version of the present regulations concerning Tullio Serafin Competition applies. Legal action is excluded.
ARTICLE 20: FILMING OF IMAGES, AUDIO AND VIDEO
By registering, the participant in Tullio Serafin Competition gives his/her consent to audio and video recordings and to the filming of images made by Concetto Armonico APS and Archivio storico Tullio Serafin and/or by persons or institutions appointed by them during all stages of the competition, during rehearsals, the performances of the opera in competition and subsequent concerts.
The participant cedes to the organisation all image, audio and video footage rights as indicated above for any use without time or territorial limits through any means now known or of the future invention (e.g. TV broadcasts, internet, public screenings, optical, magnetic, computer, paper, etc.).
ARTICLE 21: POSTPONEMENT, CANCELLATION AND REFUND OF REGISTRATION FEE
Should the Competition be cancelled due to force majeure or for organisational reasons of the Concetto Armonico APS, the full registration fee will be refunded to the competitor by bank transfer.
Should the competitor have to cancel his/her participation due to illness, he/she will receive a refund of the registration fee, upon presentation of the MANDATORY certificate stating the reason and issued by the competent health authorities.
ARTICLE 22: AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS
The organization of the competition reserves the right to make changes to these regulations should this prove necessary and these changes are always notified at the bottom of the competition regulations.
ARTICLE 23: ACCOMPANISTS AND PERSONAL PIANISTS
Accompanists are not allowed on theatre premises. Personal pianists are not permitted on any stage of the competition.
Vicenza, February 16 2026
Regulations published on the competition website concorsoliricotullioserafin.it and deposited at the headquarters of Concetto Armonico APS, Via G. E. di Velo, n. 133, Vicenza (VI).
Latest amendments: