Praga Cantat, Czech Republic

International Choir Days in Prague – Competition & Festival

29 October - 01 November 2010

• • Discover the “City of a Hundred Spires”
• • Compete in the competition or Perform for pleasure in the festival at the majestic
  Majakovsky Hall and the Raisuv Hall of the National House, Prague
• • Meet choirs from around the world
• • Attend a performance by the famous Bambini di Praga

The Golden City, the City of a Hundred Spires and the Jewel of Bohemia are all names by which Prague is commonly known. And not without good reason, for Prague is a beautiful city whatever the season. It has palaces, castles and churches in abundance; charming, long-forgotten lanes lie just a few steps from the busy streets of the Old Town, there’s a castle that was founded around 880AD, long before the Tower of London, a “new” town that dates back to 1348 and a breathtaking array of architectural styles with buildings that have been home to Kafka, Mozart, Einstein, Smetana and Dvoràk.

PRAGA CANTAT

“Praga Canta” is a CCI international Choral Competition and Festival, held each autumn in Prague, the City of a Hundred Spires. It is an impressive choral competition and festival that attracts choirs from around the world. Both are held in themajesticMajakovsky Hall and the Raisuv Hall of the National House, a beautiful Neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Antonin Turek. Choirs can choose to participate in the competition, judged by an international jury or just sing for pleasure in the festival category where as particular feature, choirs can have a special performance where one juror will listen to the performance and analyze it together with the choir director. This is given no classification and is non-competitive. This is very useful for choirs who are considering entering a competitive event in the near future, as you will be given advice and pointers to help you to prepare for your first competitive performance. Choirs who are participating in the festival category also have the opportunity to perform in a social institution during their stay in Prague.

Choirs can choose to perform in one of the following six categories:

1.General provisions

• Only amateur choirs may participate, though the conductor may be professional.

• Each choir may only enter 2 categories at most.

• There is no limit on the number of members of a choir.

• If a large number of applications are received, choirs will be further divided into small and large.

• If fewer applications are received, certain categories may be combined.

• A competition performance may not last longer than 15 minutes, including the arrival and departure of the choir.

• The programme of a competitive performance must be approved in advance by the festival steering committee.

• On the basis of the quality of the performance the jury will divide choirs in individual categories into gold, silver and bronze and name the category winner.

2. Categories A, B, C – male-voice, female-voice and mixed choirs (with obligatory composition)

a) The competitive programme comprises a maximum of five unaccompanied compositions (a cappella), including obligatory composition. The selection of compositions may be made from diverse epochs and styles, e.g. old masters, romantic period, contemporary music, folksong, etc.

b) Obligatory compositions:

c) The festival director may make an exception in the case of choirs which for serious reason cannot rehearse the obligatory composition. However, these choirs cannot be placed higher than silver. The scores of the obligatory compositions may be requested from the festival organiser.

3. Category D – girls’, boys’ and youth mixed choirs a) Girls’, boys’ and youth mixed choirs aged 12 to 25 can enter this category.

b) The competitive programme does not contain an obligatory composition and will comprise 5 compositions at most of various styles and genres, of which one may be accompanied by 1 – 2 acoustic instruments.

4. Category E – choirs with a programme of sacred compositions a) This category is for male-voice, female-voice, mixed and young choirs

b) The competition programme comprises a maximum of five sacred compositions without accompaniment (a cappella).

The compositions may be from diverse epochs and styles – old masters, romantic period, contemporary music.

5. Category F – Folksong a) This category is for male-voice, female-voice, mixed and young choirs.

b) The choirs will perform 3 to 5 folksongs (with an emphasis on songs from the choir’s own country). The compositions may be accompanied by folk instruments (not piano). However, at least 1 composition must be performed without accompaniment (a cappella).

6. Category G – non-competitive, festival (only for foreign choirs)

a) This category is for male-voice, female-voice and mixed choirs. There is no restriction on the number of singers or age.

b) Every choir will prepare the programme of its choice lasting 15 minutes at most. The compositions can have a piano accompaniment, but at least 1 composition must be a cappella.

c) A member of the competition jury will listen to the programme and in an interview with the choirmaster will offer a specialist analysis of the performance and write a short evaluation for the choirmaster.

d) No sequence of choirs will be stipulated in this category!

e) Choirs participating in this category will perform a composition by J. C. Vodnanský entitled “IN PRAGA CARMINA RESONANT” (a simple homophonic four-part piece), which everyone will sing together on the final evening of the festival.

7. Jury

The international jury will assess the quality of performances so that the choirmaster receives constructive criticism for their continued work with the choir. The performance is evaluated on the basis of technique and the artistic interpretation of the compositions performed. Every member of the jury will write notes offering their personal assessment of both technique and interpretation. The jury comprises important artistic personalities, whose observations may vary in details. However, the classification of choirs into gold, silver and bronze categories, as well as decisions regarding the winners of categories and the festival laureate, is the result of a joint decision by the entire jury. The jury’s decision is final and secret until the results are announced.

8. Competition prizes

All participating choirs will receive a diploma

Category winners will receive a cup

The best evaluated choir (the festival laureate) will receive a cup and a prize of EUR 500

The jury may decide to award special prizes in each category:


9. Announcement of results

The results will be announced and the prizes awarded at the end of the festival. Choirs of categories A, B and C will jointly sing the obligatory composition of their respective categories under the direction of competing choirmasters. Category G choirs will sing the composition “IN PRAGA CARMINA RESONANT” together. The final evening ends with a social dance.

Land arrangement includes: • 3 nights’ hotel accommodation • Welcome drink • Choir Directors’ reception in Town Hall • Performance by the world famous Bambini di Praga • Competition/Festival participation fees • Closing ceremony and prize distribution • Farewell evening with entertainment and refreshment • Certificate, cup and souvenir for each choir • Participation in general rehearsal (Festival participants) • Performance at church/social institution (Festival participants) Costs are tailored to each individual choirs’ requirements