On October 29, HE Claude Cottalorda, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco in France, accompanied by his wife, represented Prince Albert at the finals of the ninth Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition, which is held in the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art in Paris.
The competition took place over three days and brought together 33 duos of 17 different nationalities. Each of the six finalist teams presented a programme that included a “Sonnet” by Benoît Mernier, a piece composed especially for this ninth edition and a melody by Lili or Nadia Boulanger
This year, the Duo Chant-Piano Grand Prix, Monaco’s Rainier III Prize of €12,000, awarded with the support of the Sovereign Prince, was awarded to the French mezzo-soprano, Ambroisine Bré, 29, and Chinese pianist Qiaochu Li, 28. The duo also received a Special Mention for the best interpretation of “Sonnet”.
The German Lied Prize (€6,000) honoured soprano Sophia Burgos and pianist Daniel Gerzenberg and the Prix de Mélodie, the French song prize (€6,000) soprano Marie-Laure Garnier and pianist Cécilia Oneto-Bensaid.
The Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition is a springboard for the career of these young musicians, opening the doors to various festivals in France and abroad.