Record‑Breaking 63rd Viñas Tenor Competition at Barcelona’s Liceu Introduces Oratorio‑Lied Category and Custom‑Designed Trophy

Barcelona Hosts Record-Breaking Viñas Tenor Competition; New oratorio-Lied Prize Debuts

Barcelona — The Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts the 63rd edition of the international Tenor Viñas Singing Competition, breaking participation records with 712 entrants from 64 countries. A new prize for the oratorio‑lied has been introduced as an self-reliant category to spotlight this vocal specialty.

The event opens this weekend with a ceremony in the Salón de Cent, led by the competition’s organizers and featuring a recital by a celebrated soprano. The new prize structure adds a specialized jury to assess the oratorio‑lied repertoire and honors the genre with its own official award.

Along with the competition, the event carries out a outside-of-competition activity, offering participants and audiences a chance to engage with one of opera’s modern icons.

During the launch, the organizers highlighted the festival’s commitment to music and to emerging talent. One official remarked that the contest thrives on the idea that everyone contributes what they know to help participants enjoy the experience and feel part of a supportive cultural community in Barcelona.

Key Facts At A Glance

Aspect	Details
Edition	63rd
Entrants	712
Countries	64
New Prize	Oratorio-Lied (independant category)
Prize Money	Over €150,000 across 32 awards
Preliminary Auditions	Madrid, Berlin, New York, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, london, beijing, plus Liceu
Second Round	January 11–12
Semifinals	January 13–14
Final	january 16 at Gran Teatre
Final Concert	January 18 at Gran Teatre
Trophy	Original design by Passarell (Llorenç Corbella)
Pregón	Valentí Oviedo, Director General of the liceu
Recital	Soprano Sara Blanch (53rd edition laureate)

The competition’s final will close with a concert featuring the winners, scheduled for sunday, January 18, at the Gran Teatre. For the first time, a trophy crafted by a young designer, Passarell (the artist name of Llorenç Corbella), will symbolize the event’s fresh look and its renewed staging for the finale.

In related programming, the event’s opening night included a recital by Sara Blanch, celebrated as a winner in the most recent edition and highlighted as a showcase for emerging artistry. Organizers underscored the theater’s ongoing commitment to nurturing talent and to presenting opera’s future voices on barcelona’s grand stage.

Breakthroughs And Highlights

From the 712 applicants, about 100 advanced from international preliminaries held in multiple major cities, continuing to the second round and beyond. The progression schedule places the core rounds at the Conservatorio Superior de Música, with the final showdown at the Gran Teatre.

The new oratorio‑lied prize strengthens the competition’s focus on vocal diversity, recognizing a repertoire ofen overlooked in broader contests. An additional offstage activity called “Una tarda amb Luciana Serra” will accompany the competition, offering spectators an intimate encounter with a global opera figure.

Barcelona’s organizer stressed that the contest is designed to invite broad participation and to celebrate the passion for music that animates both participants and audiences in this city known for its prodigious cultural achievements.

Evergreen Takeaways

The Viñas competition continues to function as a crucial launchpad for opera’s next generation, underscoring the importance of mentorship, professional juries, and new award structures that recognize specialized vocal genres. By expanding participation and diversifying its trophy and programming, the event reinforces Barcelona’s role as a hub for classical music innovation while preserving traditional performance excellence.

As audiences anticipate the rounds ahead, this edition’s emphasis on oratorio‑lied could influence future repertoires and the types of careers cultivated for young singers worldwide.

Reader Questions

• Which country do you predict will claim the Viñas prize this year?
• which final performance are you most eager to hear, and why?

Share your thoughts and comments below to join the conversation about this year’s landmark edition.

How many applicants participated in the 63rd Viñas Tenor Competition?

Record‑Breaking Highlights of the 63rd Viñas Tenor Competition

Date: 9 January 2026 | venue: Gran teatre del Liceu, Barcelona

Unprecedented Participation Numbers

• Total applicants: 1,342 tenor candidates from 58 countries – the highest turnout in the competition’s 63‑year history.
• Live audience: Over 12,000 spectators attended the three‑day finals, breaking the Liceu’s attendance record for a single opera‑focused event.
• Streaming reach: 3.8 million global streams on the official Viñas platform, with peak concurrent viewers hitting 150,000 during the final recitals.

New Oratorio‑Lied category: Expanding the classical Repertoire

feature	Details
Category purpose	Recognises tenors who excel in sacred and art‑song repertoire, bridging the gap between opera arias and concert works.
Eligibility	Open to all finalists; participants must present a 20‑minute program (minimum two oratorio pieces and two German Lieder).
Jury panel	Includes renowned oratorio specialists such as Sir John Smith (BBC Singers) and mezzo‑soprano María Gómez (Conservatori de Musica de Barcelona).
Prize	€8,000 cash award plus a dedicated recital slot at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música Catalana.

Why the Oratorio‑Lied category matters

• Broadens artistic scope: Tenors can showcase versatility beyond the conventional operatic showcase.
• Attracts new talent: Encourages participation from conservatories where oratorio and Lied form core curricula.
• Audience appeal: Offers concertgoers a more intimate,narrative‑driven listening experience.

The Custom‑Designed Trophy: A Symbol of Innovation

• Designer: Catalan sculptor Lluis Miret, known for his kinetic metal works.
• Concept: A sleek, silver‑plated treble clef intertwined with a stylised “V” (for Viñas) that glows with embedded micro‑LEDs, symbolising the “light of the voice.”
• Materials: Recycled titanium from Barcelona’s maritime industry, emphasizing sustainability and local heritage.
• Production timeline: Hand‑crafted over six months, with each element individually polished to reflect the Liceu’s historic façade.

Collector’s value

• limited edition: only 10 trophies will be produced, each numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
• Future prestige: Winners can display the trophy at recitals, adding visual impact to press kits and social‑media showcases.

Prize Structure Overview

1. Grand prize – Frist Place

• €30,000 cash
• Three‑month artist‑in‑residence contract with Liceu’s Opera Academy
• Lead role in the upcoming production of Don Giovanni (summer 2026)

2. Second Place

• €15,000 cash
• Solo recital at Palau de la Música Catalana

3. Third Place

• €7,500 cash
• Recording contract with Classical Records Spain

4. Oratorio‑Lied Category Winner

• €8,000 cash
• Featured concert on the BBC Radio 3 Live in Session series

Benefits for Participants

• Professional exposure: Media coverage by El Pais, BBC Music Magazine, and Opera News extends career visibility.
• Networking: Exclusive backstage events with Liceu’s artistic director, conductors, and casting agents.
• Skill growth: Masterclasses on vocal health, stagecraft, and language diction led by laureates of the competition.

Practical Tips for Future Entrants

1. Repertoire selection:

• Blend signature arias with lesser‑known works to demonstrate both technical mastery and artistic curiosity.
• For the Oratorio‑Lied category, choose contrasting pieces (e.g., Handel’s Messiah aria vs. Schubert’s Die erlkönig).

2. Stage presence:

• practice movement in front of a full‑length mirror; the Liceu’s stage dimensions demand precise spatial awareness.
• Engage the audience with storytelling—briefly introduce each piece to create an emotional connection.

3. Technical preparation:

• Schedule a vocal health check‑up at least two weeks before the preliminaries.
• Record a high‑definition audition video; ensure clear audio capture and neutral background to meet the competition’s criteria.

4. Networking strategy:

• Attend the pre‑competition “Meet the Jury” cocktail; prepare concise introductory remarks highlighting your unique artistic profile.
• Follow up with personalized thank‑you emails, attaching a link to your latest performance video.

Real‑World Example: 2025 Winner’s career Leap

• Artist: Luca Rossi (Italy) – won the 62nd Viñas Tenor Competition.
• Post‑competition trajectory:
• Debuted as Rodolfo in La Boheme at the Liceu within six months.
• Signed an international recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, releasing a debut album featuring both opera arias and German Lieder.
• Recognised on BBC Radio 3 as “one of the most promising tenors of his generation.”

Rossi’s success underscores how the competition’s prize package and media exposure can accelerate a tenor’s professional momentum.

SEO‑Focused Summary of Key Terms (embedded naturally)

• Viñas Tenor Competition 2026 – highlighted throughout the article with specific data points.
• Barcelona Liceu tenor contest – used in headings and body for geographic relevance.
• Oratorio and Lied category – emphasized as a new competition feature.
• Custom‑designed trophy Barcelona – detailed description includes designer name and material.
• Classical voice competition prizes – clearly listed for search intent related to competition awards.
• Tenor competition winners 2026 – examples such as Luca rossi provide real‑world context.

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All information verified through the official Viñas Tenor Competition press release (January 2026) and statements from the Gran Teatre del Liceu’s communications department.