Vienna Festival opens with classical contest

The Eurovision Young Musicians Competition will open the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwoche) this week on the 11th of May.

The Eurovision Young Musicians Competition is one of the most important international contests for classical music, which since 1982 has been taking place every two years.

The competition wants to extend cultural exchange beyond national borders with the aim of discovering and honouring exceptional talents. Up-and-coming European artists under 19 years of age are eligible for participation.

After 2006, 2008 and 2010, the event is now being hosted by Vienna for the fourth time.

Against the backdrop of Vienna City Hall and with an audience of tens of thousands, seven finalists will again engage in a musical tournament.

The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its musical and artistic director Cornelius Meister, will accompany the young soloists. The best young musician of 2012 will be chosen by an international jury.

In addition to the performances of the contest participants, the inauguration concert will feature outstanding brass music presented by the Mnozil Brass septet and percussion art interpreted by Martin Grubinger and his nine-person group The Percussive Planet Ensemble. Percussionist Martin Grubinger will also host the evening as the presenter.