First Round

Short recitative and Aria by Handel & Aria by a composer of your choice (10 minutes)

Recitative & Aria by Handel and a second Aria by Handel (15 minutes)

A mixed Handel programme to include part of a cantata or an English theatre song (18 minutes)

Finalists will be accompanied by the London Handel Players, strings & woodwind, (flute/recorder, oboes and bassoon) on 22nd April 2004.

These will take place in the third week of February 2004 at the Royal Academy of Music and St George’s Church, Hanover Square, and if you have been accepted to enter the competition you will be informed of the dates and times.

First Round - Monday 16th February All day at the Royal Academy of Music. Second Round - Thursday 19th February at St George’s Church, Hanover Square from 5pm.

The Final is on Thursday 22nd April at 7pm at St George’s Church, Hanover Square.

You are required to nominate two musicians of standing who have agreed to support your application and, who the London Handel Society may approach for references. Non UK competitors need only include one written testimonial from a musician of standing.

HSC 2004 Application Form qxd.qxd 14/10/2003 14:33 Page 2 Please send the following documents (photocopies are acceptable) with your application form. a CD/Tape/Dat to include an aria by Handel b Birth Certificate (photocopy) or similar official document confirming the date and place of birth of the candidate. c Typewritten Curriculum Vitae, with particulars of training, scholarships, prizes and recent concert appearances, with specific reference to experience of singing Handel. d A short (200 work) typewritten biography suitable for concert programmes.

Fee

Fee: £20-cheques payable to

London Handel Society.

Major credit cards are accepted.

If you are not accepted into the First round your fee will be refunded. You must give 5 days’ notice if you wish to withdraw, otherwise your fee will be not be refundable unless a medical certificate is produced.

Accompanists are not provided but can be recommended. They may be of any age or nationality but must be of a high professional standard.

A harpsichord will be available at A=415 Hz and a modern piano at A=440 Hz for the first two rounds.

Competitors using piano are advised to bear in mind the dynamic range of the period instruments used in the Final. The London Handel Players will accompany the finalists, with rehearsals on 21st April 2004.

Suggested publications and where to source the music For complete catalogue of Handel’s works look in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians or Appendix B of Handel by Donald Burrows (Master Musicians Series, pub OUP)

The Chrysander Handel Gesellschaft edition is still available from Kalmus, though sometimes difficult to find in UK. Most public music libraries have this complete set. There is a new volume published by Oxford University Press of Cantatas for Alto and continuo, ed. E Harris (isbn. 0193454130). We believe that Songs and Cantatas, edited by Donald Burrows is out of print but again should be available in libraries.

Ten Solo Cantatas for Soprano and Basso Continuo is published by Faber Music Ltd and edited by A Jones.