Application guidelines | Concours international de chant

Who can apply ?

The competition is open to singers of all nationalities and without age limit.

When does the Competition take place ?

The competition period will take place at Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand from Monday 19 April (meeting at 6pm) to Saturday 24 April 2027 (final at 3pm). We ask the selected candidates to be available on those dates.

All the singers selected (L’Amour masqué and Ariodant) are expected on Monday 19 April 2027 at 6:00 p.m. at Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand for a check of their registration followed by the draw of the order of passage to the trials from 7pm. No late arrivals will be permitted.

All the singers and pianists selected (Piano-Voice Duo) are expected on Tuesday 20 April 2027 at 6:00 p.m. at Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand for a check of their registration and the draw determining the order of performance. No late arrivals will be permitted.

Age limit

There is no age limit for entering the Competition.

Which works to audition for ?

Depending on their voice type, candidates may apply for both L’Amour masqué and Ariodant. A candidate who chooses to apply for the Piano–Voice Duo category may not apply for L’Amour masqué or Ariodant.

Where to Apply?

Registration is done electronically only, using the online application form at www.concours.clermont-auvergne-opera.com. Registration opens in early October

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted no later than 15 December 2026 at midnight (GMT).
No applications received after the deadline will be considered. The applicant’s file must be complete, and the audition program must be in accordance with the regulations by that date.

Important:
It is recommended to register before the deadline and not on 15 December 2026: if the system were overloaded, your registration would not be considered. The registration file has several sections to complete. Please note that your application will not be considered valid until all sections are completed. You will receive a confirmation of your application by e-mail.

How to Apply ?

Required documents to apply for L’Amour masqué

• Via the online form
– Copy of passport or official identity card
– 1 portrait photo (1MB Minimum, Minimum size 4×6, Resolution 300 dpi, Format JPEG without copyright)
– 1 updated biography (no cv) – French, English or Italian (Word or PDF format, 1 page maximum)
– Scanned piano-vocal scores of the arias chosen by the candidate
– Audition program in accordance with regulations

• Required videos to apply for L’Amour masqué
Youtube or Vimeo or other viewing platforms links via the online form
– Video of an aria in French from a 20th-century operetta or musical comedy, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of an aria in French from the late 19th or 20th century, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of a spoken text chosen by the candidate – Total time 2 minutes maximum (fable, excerpt from a play, from a book, etc.). We advise you to choose an excerpt that highlights your sense of acting as well as your theatrical and dramatic personality.

Required documents to apply for Ariodant

• Required videos to apply for Ariodant
Youtube or Vimeo or other viewing platforms links via the online form
– Video of an aria in French from the late 18th or early 19th century, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of a Mozart aria in Italian, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of a spoken text chosen by the candidate – Total time 2 minutes maximum (fable, excerpt from a play, from a book, etc.). We advise you to choose an excerpt that highlights your sense of acting as well as your theatrical and dramatic personality.

Required documents to apply for L’Amour masqué and Ariodant

• Required videos to apply for L’Amour masqué and Ariodant
Youtube or Vimeo or other viewing platforms links via the online form
– Video of an aria in French from a 20th-century operetta or musical comedy, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of an aria in French from the late 18th or early 19th century, recorded in 2025 or 2026
– Video of a spoken text chosen by the candidate – Total time 2 minutes maximum (fable, excerpt from a play, from a book, etc.). We advise you to choose an excerpt that highlights your sense of acting as well as your theatrical and dramatic personality.

Required documents to apply for Piano-Voice Duo

• Via the online form
– Copy of passport or official identification document of each candidate
– 1 recent photograph of each artist or duo, (1MB Minimum, Minimum size 4×6, Resolution 300 dpi, Format JPEG without copyright)
– 1 updated biography of each artist or duo (no cv) – French, English or Italian (max. 1 page)
– Audition program in accordance with regulations

• Required videos to apply for Piano-Voice Duo
Youtube or Vimeo or other viewing platforms links via the online form
– Video of a lied by Franz Schubert, recorded by the duo in 2025 or 2026
– Video of an aria of the candidates’ choice, recorded by the duo in 2025 or 2026

Video recording requirements include:

Only piano or orchestra accompaniment will be accepted (the accompaniment of pre-recorded orchestra «karaoke» will not be accepted).

In the name of each video file, you must indicate: your name – the composer’s name – the title of the work.

The candidates must be clearly visible.

It is recommended that the sound be recorded professionally.

A video whose quality, visual and/or audio, does not allow the jury to assess the candidate’s abilities will be rejected.

If you are experiencing technical issues with your online application, please contact the Competition Secretariat regarding the issue as soon as possible by emailing concours@clermont-auvergne-opera.com

Selection

A pre-selection jury will listen to every recording submitted. The results of the selection process will be announced by January 25^th, 2027 on the Competition official website and social media and will be communicated via email to each selected candidate with practical information about their participation

Fee

The registration of selected singers (L’Amour masqué and Ariodant) must be confirmed by payment of a 60 € fee paid by bank transfer to the account of the Clermont Auvergne Opera.

The registration of selected singers and pianists (Piano-Voice Duo) must be confirmed by payment of a 60 € fee (amount including the registration for both artists) paid by bank transfer to the account of the Clermont Auvergne Opera.

Payments can be sent between January 25^th and February 8^th, 2027.

Any applicant who has not paid the fee by the deadline of February 8^th will be disqualified.

In case of cancellation by the candidates, for any reason whatsoever, Clermont Auvergne Opera will retain the administrative costs. In case of cancellation by the Clermont Auvergne Opera, for any reason and at any time, the costs will be refunded to the candidates.

Legal requirement

Clermont Auvergne Opéra, or any other representative expressly designated by it, reserves the right to photograph, film, and reproduce candidates’ performances on any existing medium throughout the duration of the competition. Candidates agree to transfer all rights to Clermont Auvergne Opéra.

In the event of a dispute, only the French version of these Rules shall have legal validity. Clermont Auvergne Opéra reserves the right to make any necessary modifications to these Rules for technical or organizational reasons.

Clermont Auvergne Opéra has full authority to make decisions on any matters not specified in these Rules.

Participation in the competition implies unconditional acceptance of these Rules.

For any questions, please send an email to concours@clermont-auvergne-opera.com
David M. Dufort
Coordinator
Clermont Auvergne Opéra
2 Rue Blatin – 63000 – Clermont-Ferrand