It is always good to remember the importance of Singing Competitions in the career of young artists who can become better known to professionals and the public. While the final of the Voix des Outre-mer competition is scheduled on 10 January 2022 at the Opéra national de Paris, former winners have just made a name for themselves at the Concours Opéra Jeunes Espoirs Raymond Duffaut which took place in Avignon last October 2021. Indeed, the Prix Jeune Espoir was won by Auguste Truel, baritone, while Livia Louis Joseph Dogué, soprano, and Axelle Saint-Cirel, mezzo-soprano, won the Prix des Étudiants and the Prix Club Soroptimist International France Sud-Est (ex-aequo with Marion Bauwens, soprano). The jury awarded Eugénie Joneau, mezzo-soprano, the Revelation Prize and Juliette Mey, the Young Talent Prize. The 21-year-old mezzo-soprano also received the Prize for the best performer of the Italian repertoire and the Audience Prize. Adrian Autard tenor, Bruno Khouri baritone and Mathilde Guedj soprano also received awards. Another competition took place in October, in Angers. The Georges Liccioni International Competition noticed Héloïse Poulet soprano and Elsa Roux-Chamoux mezzo, by awarding them the 1st and 2nd Grand Prix. A Special Jury Prize was awarded to Floriane Derthe soprano and the French Melody Prize to James Williams baritone. Gabrielle Savelli mezzo and Mathilde Lemaire soprano also received awards. This competition was created in 2016 in honour of the great French tenor Georges Liccioni and the very first President of the Jury, Mrs Christiane Eda-Pierre, Martinique native and immortal Voix des Outre-mer.

Photograph : Christiane Eda-Pierre © Pierre Decca