Szilveszter Ókovács
chair of jury
Opera singer, television executive, general director of the Hungarian State Opera. After completing his musical studies at the Ferenc Liszt College of Music in Győr, where he qualified as a teacher of vocal soloists, Szilveszter Ókovács went on to study opera singing at Budapest's Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Following stints teaching singing and opera history, he took up his first positions with the Opera: first as manager of the Erkel Theatre, and later as its director of communications. He then spent a few short years away from the Opera to fill key positions at Hír TV (as senior fellow) and Duna Television (as chief executive officer) between 2005 and 2011, but even during that period wasn't completely removed from it. Since 2011, the Hungarian State Opera has again been at the centre of his life: after first being named government commissioner and later acting general director, he was in 2012 appointed to the position on a permanent basis, where he continues to labour on behalf of Hungarian opera performance.
Prof. Dr. Mária Temesi
jury member
Opera singer, opera ambassador and master teacher of the Hungarian State Opera, university professor and head of voice department at University of Szeged Faculty of Music. Founder and competition director of the famous Hungarian ’József Simándy’ International Singing Competition.
Graduated as singing and piano teacher in her hometown, Szeged. In 1981 received Master’s degree with honour from ’Franz Liszt’ University of Music in Budapest as an opera singer.
Debuted as Elsa in Lohengrin by Wagner in the Hungarian State Opera in 1981. Production was conducted by Giuseppe Patané and following critique was published: “… is a sensation! Her beautiful voice, her sophisticated singing, her self-confident, yet feminine essence raise her the ideal designer of this great role. Ms. Temesi never abused the vast penetration of her voice, so she also preserved the beautiful singing in the Wagnerian starring. She is an extraordinary promise – or already more than that.” (1982)
In the very same year her international career also started in Dresden, Berlin, Milano, New York and Nice, and appeared in leading opera and concert stages all over the world (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, England, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, USA, Egypt, Brazil, Uruguay, China). Winner of two major singing competition: SBRAC Singing Competition Rio de Janeiro 1981 and Pavarotti Singing Competition Philadelphia 1985. Through her successful operatic career she sang several major roles in the Hungarian State Opera and opera houses all over the world (Mozart – Donna Anna, Vitellia; Verdi - Aida, Desdemona, Elisabetta, Alice, Elena, Leonora, Amelia; Puccini – Tosca, Mimí, Manon, Gheorgetta; Cilea – Adriana; Mascagni – Santuzza; Wagner – Elsa, Gutrune, 3. Norne, Senta, Elisabeth, Ortrud, Sieglinde, Brünnhilde; Janacek – Kostelnicka; R. Strauss: Freihild, Herodias, Chrysothemis, Marianne, Adelaide, Haushälterin).
For her work received numerous awards: Bartók-Pásztory Award (1992), Mihály Székely Plaque (1995), Juventus Award (1996), Franz Liszt Award (2000), Artisjus Award (2003), Jubilee Medallion for „Outstanding Teaching and Artistic Achievement” (2010), György Melis Award (2013), Award for „Excellent School Founding Activity” (2015), Award for „International Artistic and Teaching Activity” (2016), Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2016).
Her recordings with noted conductors, artists and orchestras often broadcasted by Bartók Radio the Hungarian classical music channel. Her solo aria album Wagner Heroines was released by HUNGAROTON in 2004.
As university professor she teaches numerous young artists and helps them to get on the opera stage. Often invited jury member in international singing competitions as well as a guest professor at master classes.
In 2019 she held Master classes and solo concerts in different universities in Florida, Ohio and in Shanghai.
Atilla Kiss-Balbinát
jury member
Kossuth Prize Winner and Liszt Prize Winner opera singer (tenor), academician, member of the board of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, full member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, General director of Budapest Operetta Theater, lecturer at the Liszt Academy of Music.
Mr. Kiss-B. graduated in singing and opera at the Gheroghe Dima Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca as student of Ágnes Kriza, Alexandru Fcrcas and Gheorghe Rosu. For two years, he studied singing and opera at the Conservatoire de Musique de ville de Luxembourg with Ionel Pantea. At the Mozart Academy in Prague he was a student of Eva Blahova, Kerstin Meyer and Ionel Pantea and also attended Luise Bosabalian and Mariana Nicolesco's master classes. In 1991 he made his debut in Cluj-Napoca, then in 1992 he premiered in the title role of Ferenc Erkel's opera ’Bánk bán’ at Castle Theater in Gyula.
His first appearance at the Hungarian State Opera was in 1999 as in the role of Sattjavan in opera of Hungarian contemporary composer Sándor Szokolay. Primarily sings heroic tenor roles. In addition to the classical repertoire, he also considers interpreting the works of contemporary composers of Hungarian and universal opera literature; He has performed at the Barcelona Liceu Opera, Berlin at the Komische Opera, Berne, Bucharest National Opera, Prague, Warsaw, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Tokyo National Opera, Paris National Opera, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen, Monte Carlo, Toronto.
Atilla Kiss-B. won the title role of Csaba Káel's film, Bánk ban, shot from the opera by Erkel. The film was shot by Oscar-winning Vilmos Zsigmond
Prof. mr. Tamara Marković
jury member
Opera singer (mezzo), teacher and deputy director of the Subotica Music School. She graduated in solo singing in Novi Sad, then graduated from the Belgrade Academy of Music. As a Fellow of the Romanian State Ms. Markovic continued further studies as student of Maria Slatinaru - Nistor in Bucharest as specialist in solo studies. In 2011, she attended Masterclasses at the Curtis Institute (USA) in Philadelphia with teachers such as Vera Rose, Thomas Quasthoff and Mikael Eliasen. Featured guest performer at international opera festivals: New York Festival, Festspiele Berlin, Bucharest Enescu Festival, Interfest Bitola, Romus in Rovinj, Nomus in Novi Sad, Bemus in Belgrade, Ljubljana, Opatija, Rijeka, Constanta and Dolphin. In 2003 she performed in Japan, in 2004 she was a guest on the Opera in Magdeburg. Her repertoire includes roles of Eboli/Don Carlo, Amneris/Aida,Carmen,
Tamás Bátor
jury member
Opera singer (bass), senior artistic advisor of Müpa and advisor of Hungarian State Opera.
Graduated from Béla Bartók Secondary School of Music in 1981 and was a student of Zsolt Bende at the Liszt College of Music. Mr. Bátor graduated in 1986 and became a member of the Hungarian Opera House where he made his debut in Wagner's Parsifal. In 1986 won scholarship at La Scala in Milan, where he continued his studies under the guidance of, among others, Giulietta Simionato and Luciano Silvestri. In 1989 he accepted the invitation of Stadt theater in Luzern, where he appeared in several opera productions. Until 2006 Mr. Bátor sang in many cities around the world, and for nearly twenty years he was a regular guest performer at the Hungarian State Opera. His wide repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary works, from Russian operas to Italian operas to German operas, and he sings oratorios and songs.
Mr. Bátor has worked with several world-renowned conductors: Daniele Gatti, Adam Fischer, Kobayasi Ken-Ichiro, Yuri Simonov, Zoltán Kocsis and Tamás Vásáry. He has been a recurring guest in a jury of several international vocal competitions.
From 2003 to 2011 Mr Bátor was the director of the Miskolc International Opera Festival, from 2007 to 2011 he was an advisor to the National Philharmonic Orchestra, from 2007 he was an advisor to the Hungarian State Opera, and from 2011 he was co-production director of the Palace of Arts (Müpa).
In 2017, he received the Hungarian Gold Cross of Honor in recognition of his work.
Sándor Gyüdi
jury member
Liszt Prize - winner Hungarian conductor, director of the Symphony Orchestra of Szeged, music director of the National Theater of Szeged, and conductor of the Vaszy Choir. Born in Szekszárd in 1959, raised in Pécs, graduated from high school at faculty of physics, he learned to play the cello in his childhood and later to sing. By winning the TV boradcasted „Who knows what?” competition with his own ensemble, Canticum Chamber Choir in 1983, whole Hungary got to know his name. Later on Maestro Gyüdi and his choir won numerous international competitions as well.
Mr. Gyüdi graduated from the University of Szeged as high school teacher of mathematics and physics, then graduated from the Liszt Academy of Music in 1988. In the very same year he became choir master of the National Theater of Szeged. From season 1989/90 conducting operas; his repertoire covers the whole opera literature. In 1992 he worked as a guest choir master at the Teatro Region in Turin. Maestro Gyüdi has worked reguraly the best Hungarian operasingers like József Gregor, Ilona Tokody or Andrea Rost, among others he was the conductor of Monserrat Caballé's gala concert in 2003 and conducted the Tosca performances of José Cura in 2009.
In addition to his theatrical work, he has been conducting orchestral concerts since 1990, and has now toured almost throughout Europe, and has performed in Israel, Mexico, China and South Korea. In 1999 he was elected director of the Symphony Orchestra of Szeged. His repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary music. Maestro Gyüdi has been a jury member of several international music competitions and festivals since the 1990s.
