Gesangswettbewerb

In preparation for the festive year, we organized a special competition on Viennese operetta with the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich as part of the MUT (Musikalisches Unterhaltungstheater, founded in 2009) series. The aim of the competition was to showcase exceptional talent and spread the fascination for the operetta genre. The three winners, Friederike Meinke, Verena Tranker and Marie-Dominique Ryckmanns, were able to impress the international jury of experts. The jury was chaired by Artistic Director Roland Geyer (Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna) and Artistic Director Josef E. Köpplinger (Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz).

From over 100 applicants, more than 40 participants competed in two semi-finals in Munich and Vienna in February 2024, from which 12 finalists qualified. On May 8, they performed live with the Strauss Festival Orchestra Vienna under the baton of Viennese conductor Hannah Eisendle in front of an audience at the MuTh to win one of the attractive prizes. They sang works from the Strauss operettas Wiener Blut, Der Karneval in Rom, Der Zigeunerbaron, Fürstin Ninetta, Die Fledermaus, Eine Nacht in Venedig, Waldmeister and Simplicius. At the end, “Im Feuerstrom der Reben” from Die Fledermaus was performed by all 12 finalists.

The winners of the singing competition are

1st Prize: Friederike Meinke
2nd Prize: Verena Tranker
3rd Prize: Marie-Dominique Ryckmann

Finalists

Sophie Bareis, Simon Burkhalter, Christoph Gerhardus, Nicole Lubinger, Martha Matscheko, Friederike Meinke, Carl Rumstadt, Marie-Dominique Ryckmanns, Antonia Schuchardt, Nataliia Shumska, Verena Tranker, Annika Westlund

In addition, Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna awarded a special prize to Verena Tranker and Christoph Gerhardus for their roles in the operetta production Indigo and the 23 Robbers during the 2025 festival year.

The expert jury for the final was made up of outstanding personalities from the local and international music theater scene: Jan Henric Bogen (Opera Director Concert and Theater St. Gallen), Daniela Fally (Kammersängerin/Univ. Prof.in Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien), Irene Girkinger (Intendant Landestheater Tirol), Peter Heilker (Stv. Intendant/Casting Director MusikTheater an der Wien), Bernhard Helmich (General Director Theater Bonn), Marie Huber (Curator Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna), Kathrin Kondaurow (Intendant Staatsoperette Dresden), Katrin König (Opera Director Landestheater Salzburg), Michael Lakner (Intendant Bühne Baden), Malte Puls (Artistic Director Volksoper Vienna), Dieter Senft (Artistic Director Aalto-Musiktheater Essen). The jury was chaired by Artistic Director Roland Geyer (Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna) and Artistic Director Josef E. Köpplinger (Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz Munich).