Concours Ernst Haefliger
The Concours Ernst Haefliger is the first pure singing competition in Switzerland.
The idea and the concept for the competition came from Aviel Cahn , the then opera director of the city theater in the Swiss federal city of Bern . The competition is a joint production of the City Theater Bern and the Menuhin Festival Gstaad . The competition is dedicated to the tenor legend Ernst Haefliger , one of the most important opera singers in Switzerland. Until his death he was also present as president of the jury during the competition.
2006
On August 28th / 3rd September 2006 took place for the first time. The preliminary rounds of the competition were held during the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad . The finale took place in the Bern City Theater with the Bern Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the Chief Conductor of the Bern City Theater.
2008
The first prize of the 2nd Ernst Haefliger Concours, endowed with CHF 10,000, went to Seung Gi Jung (* 1979). The second prize (endowed with CHF 6,000) went to Gabriela Scherer (* 1981), the third prize (worth CHF 4,000) to Christina Dietzsch (* 1976).
Gabriela Scherer also won a scholarship worth 8,000 francs. Leila Pfister (* 1977) received a debut concert at the Lucerne Festival and Seung Gi Jung a concert at the Menuhin Festival. Christina Dietzsch received a role at the City Theater Bern.