Singer Hiroshi Amako, who wowed both the jury and the audience with his performance in the final round of the International Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition, is elated at his first place and € 10,000 cash prize. Amako, a native of Japan, placed first among 69 participants (40 singers and 29 pianists) from 33 countries ranging from Abkhazia to the USA who performed before a jury chaired by Helmut Deutsch. “I’m absolutely over the moon to have taken part in this wonderful competition. It’s been such a pleasure having the opportunity to prepare some beautiful music and perform in such a beautiful room. Thank you!” said the winner.
To mdw Rector Ulrike Sych, Lied performance is one of the pre-eminent vocal disciplines. “I’m very pleased that precisely this repertoire is being bolstered internationally by the Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition—and that alongside works by the great masters of the Viennese Lied repertoire, every year also sees a focus placed on less-known Lied output.”
The third edition of the International Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition took place at the mdw from 6 to 11 September 2021. This competition is Vienna’s first and only singing competition devoted exclusively to Lieder by Austrian composers. Alongside famous names like Schubert, Wolf, and Mahler, each year also features a special focus on a composer who is no longer as well known but nonetheless unforgotten.
André Baleiro (baritone) can be proud of his 2nd prize, as can Michael Arivony (baritone) of his 3rd prize. Special prizes for pianists went to Pedro Costa (1st prize), Richard Fu (2nd prize), and Malte Schäfer (3rd prize). The Audience Prize was awarded to Michael Arivony, while the Zemlinsky Prize went to Jerilyn Chou (soprano) and Michaela Sara De Nuccio (piano).
