A multidisciplinary annual competition for violinists, pianists and singers, based on chamber music, Vibrarte celebrates the second year of its existence between the 3rd and 9th of February in Paris.

The competition is aimed at musicians of all nationalities whose training is already advanced and who are ready to begin an international career.

The final round of the competition will present the finalists in the framework of a freely chosen recital, giving each candidate a better possibility to display his or her personal artistic choices.

The overall repertoire aims at promoting French music especially 20th and 21st century works.

What are the special features of this year's competition?

-Seeking a high quality of music making, we would like to treat the final of the competition as a meeting of musical personalities. Violinists and singers will have the possibility of being accompanied by celebrated chamber musicians, and the pianists will be able to collaborate with an ensemble of international renown, thus recreating the special atmosphere of a festival.

-We have tried to unify the outline of the repertoire for the three sections with references to a wide variety of Baroque music and 20th century French chamber music. Above all we pay homage to vocal music of all sorts: from its most pure form - the lied and the mélodie, to the most celebrated operatic arias and original and virtuoso transcriptions and paraphrases.

- The age limit for the candidates has changed, 28 for the instrumentalists and 32 for the singers.

- The prize winners' concert will be broadcast live from the Théâtre des Champs Elysées across Europe by the Mezzo television channel.

I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of last year's competition, friends and colleagues, patrons and private donors, the jury, candidates and public. Thanks to you the 2009 competition is possible and augurs well.

Radu Blidar
Vibrarte President

Professor of the Royal College of Music - London