1. The Maria Callas Grand Prix in Opera, Oratorio-Lied is open to singers of all nationalities:
   a) Female singers born between March 1979 and March 1991.
   b) Male singers born between March 1977 and March 1991.
2. An application form, properly filled in, must be sent by registered airmail to the secretariat of the Athenaeum International Cultural Centre, 3, Adrianou St., GR - 105 55 Athens, by 10 December 2008.
3. Application forms must be accompanied by:
   a) Curriculum vitae.
   b) Detailed information on the musical studies of the applicant (schools attended, seminars, diplomas etc.) as well as names of the applicant's music professors in particular during the last two years.
   c) Prizes won at international competitions
   d) Two letters of recommendation by musicians of international standing
   e) Recent videotape or DVD.
   f) Repertoire (Cycles of Songs, Oratorios, Operas etc.).
   g) The overall artistic activity of the applicant until today.
   h) Programs and reviews.
   i) List of the applicant's LPs, CDs or any other recordings, if you have any.
   j) Two recent black and white photographs, size 9x12cm.
   
4. The applicant, upon receipt of the Athenaeum’s official confirmation for his acceptance in the competition, has to pay, the latest until January 10, 2009, the amount of €120 at the Grand Prix’s account with the Bank of Attica, (Panepistimiou Branch, - IBAN GR 7701600650000000028383321, SHIFT code ATTIGRAAXXX) representing his registration fees. This amount is not refundable.
   Please note that copy of this payment receipt should be sent to the Athenaeum by January 10, 2009. If not, the candidate’s participation will be cancelled.
5. The Athenaeum will provide foreign candidates with a formal certificate of participation, which may be used also for the issuance of a visa
6. Participants must present their passport or any other official document to the Secretary as a proof of their date of birth
7. Singers accepted to participate in the Maria Callas Grand Prix must report at the ATHENAEUM on 5/3/2009.
8. Participants must send the latest by 10 December 2008:
   a) their program formed in stages. Also to be specific about the title and the act of each aria that they would perform in different stages and
   b) to give exactly the title of the arias, the composers and the edition of the works they will perform with Orchestra.
   
   Note: Candidates who will not follow these requests will not be accepted in the competition.
   
   
9. The Athenaeum reserves the right to have any or all phases of the performances taped, broadcasted by radio and television, or published without paying any compensation to participants. Also in case of a CD release or cassette release with singer’s performances from any stage of the Maria Callas Grand Prix, participants are not entitled to any fee or compensation.
10. Singers who have been accepted in the Grand Prix, but are unable to participate, are kindly requested to notify the Secretariat within a reasonable time.
11. The administration will not accept any changes in the program after December 10, 2008

1. The "Maria Callas" Grand Prix comprises the following categories:
   a) Opera
   b) Oratorio-Lied
   Candidates must specify on their application form the category to which they belong, as well as the type of their voice (soprano, mezzo-soprano etc.)
2. The "Maria Callas" Grand Prix consists of three stages. The sequence of the participants' appearance will be in alphabetical order, this year starting from the letter P.
3. All works should be performed in their original language and key. The sole exception to this rule will be those works which have been transposed into another key in internationally known editions.
4. All works should be sung by heart, except the oratorio arias.
5. Composers not included in the competition's program requirements cannot be selected by candidates (see list below).
6. Singers who will not succeed to pass in the 2nd Cycle may ask the members of the Jury Committee for their advice & counseling on their performance.
7. The decision of the Jury is irrevocable.
   

1st STAGE (preliminary examination)

CATEGORY OPERA

Singers must know thoroughly a whole leading role from an opera by Mozart, Puccini or Verdi. The Jury will ask parts of this role to be performed at the 2nd stage of the competition.

In addition:

· One aria from group A

· Four arias from group B (arias of the leading role cannot be included)

· Four Lieder from group D

ORATORIO-LIED CATEGORY

Singers must thoroughly know an entire Oratorio, Mass, Requiem or Cycle of Songs by composers from groups D and E. The Jury will ask the performance of parts of these works to be performed at the 2nd stage of the competition.

In addition:

· One aria from group A

· Four arias from group C (arias of the complete work cannot be included)

· Four Lieder from group D

SECOND STAGE (semi-final - recital)

CATEGORY OPERA

· Five arias from group B (arias of the leading role cannot be included)

· Three Lieder from group D

CATEGORY ORATORIO-LIED

Five arias from group C (arias of the complete work cannot be included)
One Lied by Schubert
One melody (Lied) by the French composers from group D
One Lied from group E

· The arias and lieder of 2nd stage must be different to those of the 1st stage.

· The arias and lieder of 1st and 2nd stages must not be from the opera, oratorio, mass, requiem or the cycle of songs already chosen.

THIRD STAGE (final - with orchestra)

OPERA CATEGORY

Three arias from group B, one of which must be by Mozart.

ORATORIO-LIED CATEGORY

Two arias from group C, one of which must be by Bach.
One Lied for Orchestra by Berlioz, Brahms, Britten, Mahler, Ravel or R. Strauss

1. Members of the Jury will be musicians and pedagogues of international standing from abroad and Greece
2. The final stage of the competition will be attended by agents, opera artistic directors and other entities involved in music having interest to promote the young laureates of the Maria Callas Grand Prix.

• One hour's duration rehearsal prior to the 1^st and 2^nd stages. Participants wishing to have more than two rehearsals will have to undertake financially the accompanist's engagement. Participants may be escorted by their own accompanist. The Athenaeum however will not undertake any financial or other obligation (fee, accommodation etc.) except the daily free meals offered on the set dates.
• Possibility of one hour's daily practice, during the set period of the competition.

• When sending in their application form to write clearly in capital letters or type, their surname, name as well as their program.
• To use French, English or German, in which languages we will be corresponding.