The XX International opera competition “Lazar Jovanović” will be held from 4-7. May 2023. in the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski trg 5, Belgrade.

The competition is open to all interested singers and takes place in the following categories:

LADIES

Pre-category/A – competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of a primary music school;

Pre-category/B – competitors born in 2005 and younger, students of the 1st and 2nd grade of the secondary music school;

I category – competitors born in 2003 and younger;

II/A category – competitors born in 2001 and younger, students of primary or secondary music schools;

II/B category – competitors born in 2001 and younger, undergraduate students;

III category – competitors born in 1997 and younger;

IV/A and IV/B category – competitors born in 1990 and younger;

GENTLEMEN

Pre-category/A – competitors born in 2003 and younger, students of primary music school;

Pre-category/B – competitors born in 2003 and younger, students of the first and second grade of the secondary music school;

I category – competitors born in 2001 and younger;

II/A category – competitors born in 1999 and younger students of primary or secondary school music;

II/B category – competitors born in 1999 and younger, undergraduate students;

III category – competitors born in 1995 and younger;

IV/A and IV/B category – competitors born in 1990 and younger;

V/A category – Chamber ensembles accompanied by a student pianist – ladies and/or gentlemen born in 1990 and younger.

V/B category – Mixed (operatic) duets or ensembles accompanied by a professional collaborative pianist – ladies and/or gentlemen born in 1990 and younger.

Contestants are expected to perform the following repertoire from memory:

Pre-category/A

One baroque aria or song
One art song of free choice

Pre-category/B

One baroque aria or song
Two art songs of free choice

Categories II/A and II/B

One baroque aria or song
Two art songs of free choice
One aria from either opera or operetta

III category

First round:
One baroque aria or song
One aria from oratorio, mass or cantata
Second round:
One art song written by a 19th century composer
One art song written by a 20th century composer
One art song written by a Slavic/Yugoslav composer
One aria from opera or operetta

IV/A category

First round:
One baroque aria or song
One aria from oratorio, mass or cantata
Concert or opera aria by W. A. Mozart
One aria from opera or operetta
Second round:
One art song written by a 20th century composer
A cycle or at least three art songs written by a single composer
One art song written by a Serbian composer
One aria from opera or operetta

IV/B category

First round:
Two opera arias
Second round:
Two opera arias

V/A category

Two chamber ensembles of different character (accompanied by a student pianist)

V/B category

One opera duet or ensemble (accompanied by a professional collaborative pianist)