Composition competition “Ursule et Hirsute”

In keeping with its policy of bringing high quality performances to younger audiences, the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège is launching a composition competition for the global production of Ursule et Hirsute, an interactive opera for younger audiences based on a libretto by André Borbé, which will be appearing on our stage in January 2021.

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège is eager to discover new talents: this is why this composition competition is open to composers under the age of 35 from musical institutions of higher education in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

The jury will be headed up by Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera, General and Artistic Director of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège. Esteemed personalities (composers, choir directors, orchestral conductors, tutors) will also appear on the jury alongside the librettist André Borbé.

Key dates:

31 May 2018: Deadline for candidates to submit applications
15 June 2018: Announcement of the shortlist of successful candidates
31 October 2018: Submission of the composition of the excerpt submitted for the competition
10 February 2019: Announcement of the winner
31 August 2019: Submission by the winner of the full piano/voice score
28 February 2020: Submission by the winner of the conductor and orchestral score
January/February 2021: Production at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Ursule et Hirsute: the story

“I am going to tell you the truth: in the land of monsters, it is humans we fear. For whilst it is true that monsters are terrible, gruesome, malodorous, that they growl, drool, belch and have filthy ways, and whilst we easily agree that humans appear charming, that they may be cute and appealing, they often conceal a cruel and cynical nature and they are capable of the most awful wickedness. So, deep down, who are the real monsters? This is what Hirsute is about to discover, whilst making the acquaintance of Ursule.”

André Borbé