Debut

DEBUT is an international Classical Singing Competition, which supports young opera singers embarking on their career. The contest is open to the following voice types: soprano, mezzo-soprano & alto, tenor, countertenor and baritone & bass. It gives young soloists an opportunity to appear in a competition with a strong international profile in the presence of a distinguished judging panel. The event is held every second year in Weikersheim, which following a three-month entry phase serve as the venue for the preliminary rounds and the competition.

The next DEBUT Classical Singing Competition will take place in September 2026. 

Vision

Since 2016, Artistic Director Clarry Bartha has shaped the DEBUT Classical Singing Competition with a distinct artistic signature and a forward-thinking vision. Under her leadership, the competition has developed a unique profile: every edition now centers on a specific thematic focus, artistically distilled through a specially commissioned composition.
These commissioned works—complemented by a dedicated prize for their interpretation and a prize for Art Song (Lied)—place the stylistic range, expressive power, and artistic personality of the singers at the forefront. DEBUT views singing not merely as vocal excellence, but as a comprehensive artistic philosophy.
 

Clarry Bartha is particularly committed to the sustainable development of young talent. The competition week is designed as a space where participants can flourish in an appreciative, collegial atmosphere, balanced with healthy competitive pressure. It is not just about winning prizes; it is about artistic maturation, encounters, inspiration, and gaining experiences that sustain a long and fulfilling professional career.
2026 will be a landmark year in this context, marking the conclusion of a ten-year artistic cycle under her leadership. This final edition led by Clarry Bartha is intended as both a conscious highlight and a transition. The thematic focus on Scandinavian music sets a clear accent to close this cycle. The repertoire represents a unique tonal language between tradition and modernity, offering participants new interpretative perspectives. At the same time, it serves as a reflective conclusion of her work and a bridge to the future of the competition.
For Clarry Bartha, it remains a great gift to move others with the human voice—and to be moved by it. In this spirit, DEBUT serves as a springboard for extraordinary young artists: a place of artistic quality, personal growth, and the beginning of professional careers on the world's stages.

Tebogo Monnakgotla

Lieder Prize

Since 2018, DEBUT has placed a particularly high value on the Lied as an art form. As a central pillar of classical vocal training, it demands the highest precision in language, style, and musical phrasing.
From the semi-finals onwards, participants perform a compulsory contemporary song, commissioned specifically for the competition. During the public DEBUT Liederabend (Art Song Evening), two Lied prizes are awarded for outstanding interpretation.

Previous commissioned works document the stylistic diversity of this concept:

  • DEBUT 2018: Konstantin Heuer – „Über uns beide“ (based on a poem by Else Lasker-Schüler)
  • DEBUT 2020: Giorgio Battistelli – „Ja, lauft nur“ (composition and text)
  • DEBUT 2022: Lucia Ronchetti – Scenes from the opera „Inferno“
  • DEBUT 2024: Adrian Mocanu – „…y mis tristes ojos ciegan, hechos río“

 

For DEBUT 2026, the compulsory contemporary work will be composed by the Swedish composer Tebogo Monnakgotla. One of the most influential voices in contemporary Scandinavian music, her work combines tonal refinement with structural clarity. A central focus of her artistry is her engagement with poetry—an approach that aligns perfectly with the competition's emphasis on the Lied.


Through the continuous commissioning of new works and dedicated prizes, DEBUT strengthens the Lied as an independent and essential form of expression within the competition—and as a benchmark for artistic maturity, stylistic sensitivity, and interpretative individuality.

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Initiator

Initiator

The DEBUT Classical Singing Competition is supported by regional companies and institutions and has successfully operated without public funding in past editions.
DEBUT was initiated by Manfred Wittenstein, Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of WITTENSTEIN SE. His primary goal is to provide outstanding young vocal soloists with professional performance opportunities at the start of their careers, to help them build networks, and to introduce them to a wider public.
 

Thanks to his long-standing commitment and the support of numerous sponsors from the "Liebliches Taubertal" region, the competition is now in its 13th edition and has established itself as an international platform for promising young singers.
Before a world-class jury, participants present a demanding program of opera arias and art songs, showcasing themselves as versatile artistic personalities. DEBUT sees itself as a springboard into the profession and onto the world's great stages.

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Locations

Locations

Weikersheim Castle and the TauberPhilharmonie at Weikersheim are the perfect setting.

Both the qualifying rounds and the semifinal will take place against the historic backdrop of Weikersheim Castle while the location for the lieder recital will be the “Roter Saal” of the Deutschordensschlosses Bad Mergentheim . The week will end with the traditional gala concert and in the new TauberPhilharmonie in Weikersheim.

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Orchestra

The young singers are accompanied by the Würzburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Würzburg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by GMD Mark Rohde, will abandon the orchestra pit to demonstrate its excellent qualities as a concert orchestra.

Participation

The next DEBUT Classical Singing Competition will take place from 20th to 26th September 2026. 

The competition is open worldwide to opera singers who are currently studying or have completed professional training.
Eligible applicants must still be 34 years old on 20 September 2026 (born in 1991 or later).
Accepted voice categories: Soprano, Mezzo-soprano/Alto, Tenor, Countertenor, Baritone, and Bass.


The competition will take place from 20–26 September 2026 in Weikersheim, Germany.
Key dates:

  • 21–22 Sept: Qualification rounds
  • 23 Sept: Semifinal
  • 24 Sept: DEBUT Song Recital
  • 26 Sept: Gala concert with orchestra at the TauberPhilharmonie Weikersheim

Applications are submitted online only via www.debut.de.


Application period: 01 April – 30 June 2026


Applications are only valid once the registration fee has been paid.
Incomplete or incorrect applications will lead to disqualification.
 

The jury selects candidates at the end of July 2026 based on submitted video recordings (2 opera arias or 1 opera aria + 1 art song).
Requirements for videos:

  • High-quality audio and video (min. HD)
  • Each piece recorded in a single take
  • Piano or orchestral accompaniment required
  • Recordings not older than 1 year

Applicants must submit:

  • 6 arias
    • 3 compulsory arias from the official repertoire list
    • 3 freely chosen arias
  • 5 art songs (Lieder)
    • 1 contemporary compulsory song (commissioned by DEBUT; to be performed in the semifinal)
    • 4 songs from the specified Scandinavian composers:
      • Agathe Backer-Grondah
      • Adolf Fredrik Lindblad
      • Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
      • Gunnar Frumeri
      • Ture Rangström
      • Wilhelm Stenhammar
      • Hugo Alven
      • Carl Nielsen
      • Emil Sjögren (nur) Op 12 Tannhäuser, Text Julius Wolf
      • August Söderman
      • Lars-Erik Larsson 
      • Jean Sibelius
      • Edward Grieg (nicht Op 48)

At least three different composers must be represented in the song selection.

The jury expressly welcomes repertoire selections that include lesser-known or contemporary works alongside established pieces. Such diversity may have a positive impact on the evaluation. Suggestions can be found in the repertoire list.

Additional requirements:

  • At least three languages and musical periods across the program
  • At least two different song composers
  • Each opera work may only appear once
  • Arias must be sung in the original language
  • Bring piano scores in two copies, clearly legible and page-turn friendly
  • Technical skill
  • Musical interpretation (rhythm, phrasing, expression)
  • Voice quality
  • Artistic personality / presence
  • Registration fee: €45 (upon submission of the application)
  • Participation fee: €220 (after invitation to the qualification rounds)

Both fees must be credited to the DEBUT Concerts GmbH account by the stated deadlines.

  • Free accommodation and full board (minimum three nights)
  • Free shuttle between Würzburg main station and Weikersheim
  • Free rehearsal accompaniment (pianists provided)
  • Workshops free of charge
  • Optional jury consultation after elimination
  • Optional professional artist photoshoot (selectable option)

Private accompanists are not allowed.

Awards

1st prize: Golden Victoria and  € 10,000                  
2nd prize: Silver Victoria and € 7,500     
3rd prize: Bronze Victoria and € 5,000     


Various Lieder- and special prizes
 

  

 

  

Artistic Director

Clarry Bartha
Clarry Bartha

Artistic Director

Clarry Bartha

Clarry Bartha

Clarry Bartha was born in Västeras (Sweden) to Hungarian-Swedish parents in 1956. At the age of 16, she moved to Rome to study at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia under Maria Teresia Pediconi. She obtained her masterclass diploma under Giorgio Favaretto at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and subsequently pursued further studies in London under Vera Rosza. She won first prizes at the Beniamino Gigli and Vincenzo Bellini international singing competitions in Italy.

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Pia-Marie Nilsson

The opera singer Pia-Marie Nilsson once again accompanied and supported all participants of the 2026 DEBUT qualification rounds. The focus of their collaborative work was primarily on tips for voice training and stage presence.

Ralf Tiedemann

For DEBUT 2026, Ralf Tiedemann - holistic coach and longtime editor-in-chief of „Das Opernglas“. - was once again invited to hold a workshop for the participants during the qualification rounds on the topic of "Mental strength for opera singers". 

Ralf Tiedemann website
Ralf Tiedemann

Accompanists 2026

Michael Schütze

Michael Schütze

Michael Schütze studied piano and Lied accompaniment at the Hochschule für Musik Dresden and continued his education at the Tanglewood Music Center (USA). He performs as a soloist, serves as a pianist for international singing competitions, and accompanies renowned singers. Since 2011, he has been a professor at the Hochschule für Musik Dresden and, since 2019, holds a piano professorship at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden.
Eberhard Leuser

Eberhard Leuser

Eberhard Leuser has been a répétiteur in the vocal department at the Stuttgart State University of Music and Performing Arts since 1993. He is a fellow of the Richard-Wagner-Foundation and has distinguished himself as a piano accompanist at various international competitions, as well as a chamber music partner to renowned singers.
Gaiva Bandzinaite

Gaiva Bandzinaite

The Lithuanian pianist Gaiva Bandzinaite works as a vocal coach in the singing department at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. She regularly gives masterclasses and performs as an accompanist with various singers, such as at the Vienna Musikverein, Vienna Konzerthaus, and numerous festivals.
Doriana Tchakarova

Doriana Tchakarova

Doriana Tchakarova, born in Varna, Bulgaria, is a successful Lied pianist and chamber musician who regularly performs on prestigious concert stages and festivals throughout Europe. Various CD recordings with multiple award nominations highlight her chamber music activities. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she serves as a lecturer in vocal accompaniment at the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart and artistic director of the PoeMus Art Song Festivals.

Review 2024

Soprano Lubov Karetnikova won 1st prize and the “Golden Victoria” and received 10,000 euros.

The 2nd prize and the “Silver Victoria” as well as 7,500 euros went to Pete Thanapat from Thailand. The “Bronze Victoria” and 5,000 euros went to Defne Celik.

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Review 2024