Three Baritones scooped up the major awards at the 2019 Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo.

Twenty-seven year old Sergey Kaydalov from Russia won first prize with the cache of € 50.000, with precocious 21-year old Stefan Astakhov winning both the second prize (€10.000) and special award for Lieder. Polish baritone stole the final third prize (€5.000).

Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway presented the prizes, including a diploma with original artwork created by Her Majesty to the First Prize winner. The remaining finalists soprano Meigui Zhang (China, 26), tenor Theodore Browne (Germany, 28) and Soprano Natalia Tanasii (Moldova, 28) each received €1500.

In a night of surprisingly, composed singing, the six highly competent singers all held to their strengths in the arias and duets chosen by the jury from their repertoire list. There was little of the do or die feeling that one often finds in a competition final and while disarming you could partly account for it by the fact that these career-hungry singers are serial competitors running from competition to competition, playing their chances by lottery. There was a general lack of daring both with repertoire choice reflecting mostly the traditional canon and nothing unexpected in the interpretation.

There were jolts of the personal, a reminder that there is an individual inside the music. Kaydalov revealed his comedic flair in Taragalia’s aria “Quella è una strada” from Mascagni’s rarely performed “Le Maschere,” and Theodore Brown’s Nemorino in his duet from Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’amore” with Meigui Zhang alerted us of his acumen in precision coloratura, distinctive strength in his high register, physical agility and engagement with character.

The Queen Sonja International Music Competition is a vital international event for this relatively young nation where classical opera was only introduced as late as the 1930s. Relying on its own resources this impressive competition is achieving recognition beyond its borders. The 2019 edition attracted 304 singers with Director Lars H. Flaeten securing some of the most influential names in opera today: Chaired by Annilese Miskimmon soprano Sumi Jo, baritone Sergei Leiferkus, Metropolitan Opera’s Diane Zola, Robert Körner (Director of Artistic Production, Opera Lyon) and Tatjana Kandel who heads Artistic Planning for Danish Ensembles.

The gracious venue of the Oscarshall Palace, built on the initiative of Kind Oscar I, offered by Her Majesty Queen Sonja presented an incandescent recital by Mari Eriksmoen, accompanied by the Sveinung Bjelland.

In this industry-aware competition, a number of master-classes, professional industry workshops and recitals were produced, with the most razor sharp advice heard at the career development panel. The distinctive career development program allows every singer who participates at any level of this competition an excellent motivation. The next Queen Sonja International Music Competition takes places in 2021.