FIRST INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION LOUIS ROBILLIARD

LYON (FRANCE), SEPTEMBER 27TH – OCTOBER 1ST, 2023

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION LOUIS ROBILLIARD

Please note: due to the low number of applications for this first edition, the organizers have decided to postpone the competition until 2027, once the organ has been restored. The age limit will be 35.

Version française

English version

Download the procedure in PDF format: Version française│English version

1. PRESENTATION OF THE COMPETITION

The city of Lyon, located in France, disposes one of the most beautiful instruments by the great French organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1811-1899). Built in 1880, this instrument is preserved in its almost original state.

Inspired by the poetry of his sounds, Louis Robilliard, fine connoisseur of the symphonic repertoire for orchestra, has produced several magnificent transcriptions. The orchestral and pianistic works of Liszt, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Fauré and Rachmaninov thus take on a new sonic adornment, their transcriber expanding the repertoire for organ. Transcribing an orchestral score for organ is so much more than reducing it to a few staves. The transcriber needs to be imaginative. Under the pen of Louis Robilliard, this rewriting becomes an art, as evidenced by his recordings.

The First International Organ Competition Louis Robilliard offers young organists from all countries the opportunity to perform free programs and proposed works. They will thus be able to express their artistic personality by playing on quality instruments, all this under the attentive ear of the Maestro…

Franck Vaudray
Founder of the competition, president of the association Cavaillé-Coll à Saint-François.

2. PROCEDURE

The First International Organ Competition Louis Robilliard is open to organists of all nationalities, born from January 1st, 1993. It is going to take place in 3 stages:

  • An anonymous pre-selection on audio recording to be sent no later than July 5th, 2023.
  • A public semi-final in Lyon on September 27th and 28th, 2023.
  • A public final on the great organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll of Saint-François-de-Sales in Lyon, which is going to take place on Sunday October 1st, 2023.

The candidates selected for the semi-final need to be present in Lyon from Tuesday, September 26th, 2023, the rehearsal schedule that was communicated to them before.

3. PRICES

  • Grand Prix Louis Robilliard : 4500 €
  • Second Price : 2000 €

4. JURY

Jury of the pre-selection

  • Louis Robilliard (France)
  • Daniel Gottfried (Switzerland)
  • Loreto Aramendi (Spain)

Jury of Semi-Finale and Finale

  • Louis Robilliard, president (France)
  • Loreto Aramendi (Spain)
  • Jean Ferrard (Belgium)
  • Jan Willem Jansen (Netherlands)
  • Shin-Young Lee (South Korea)
  • Thomas Ospital (France)
  • Franck Vaudray (France)

The Jury deliberates at the end of each tour. In the event of a tie, the President’s vote will be decisive. The Jury reserves the right to interrupt the performance of a piece. The jury’s decisions are final. The order of appearance will be drawn by lots through the competitors before the performance.

5. PROGRAM OF THE COMPETITION

Playing from memory is not required (photocopies are forbidden).

5.1. PRE-SELECTION

1. Johann Sebastian BACH

Trio super Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 664

2. One of the following pieces, at the competitor’s choice: 

  • Prelude and Fugue in G major BWV 550
  • Concerto in d minor Bach-Vivaldi BWV 596 (complete)

3. One of the following pieces, at the competitor’s choice:

  • Marcel Dupré : Variations sur un Noël
  • Maurice Duruflé : Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain
  • Olivier Messiaen :  Alléluias sereins et Transports de Joie, from l’Ascension

The candidate records his program in the order he/she wishes.
Each piece must be recorded without any editing.

The pre-selection Jury will communicate the results to the candidates by email on July 20th.

Eight candidates may be admitted to compete for the semi-final in Lyon. Apart from the rehearsals on the competition organs, other instruments will be provided to the candidates. Each semi-finalist will receive a grant of 200 € for covering their expenses. Each finalist will receive an additional 100 €.

5.2. PUBLIC SEMI-FINAL

(Broadcast on big screen)

The semi-final will take place in two parts on instruments of different aesthetics that do not have combination action. Candidates who so wish may benefit from the presence of two assistants.

Saint-Vincent Church, Organ by Freitag-Aubertin-Tricoteaux, 1993.
(See description)

A free program not exceeding 30 minutes and including one of the following pieces:

  • Dietrich Buxtehude : Choral Nun freut euch, ihr lieben Christen g’mein, BuxWV 210
  • Nicolas Bruhns: Praeludium in e minor (the Great)
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: Passacaglia BWV 582

None of the works performed in the pre-selection will be included.

Rehearsal time per competitor: 2h30 + 45 minutes with the registrants.

Temple réformé des Terreaux, Organ by Joseph Merklin 1891 – Sauer 2001
(See description)

A free program consisting of one or several pieces by 19th century author(s), not exceeding 20 minutes and including obligatory the following piece:

  • Louis Vierne : Impromptu, from 3rd suite Op 54 of Pièces de Fantaisie

No piece already performed in previous rounds may be included.

Rehearsal time per competitor: 1h30 + 45 minutes with the registrants

At the end of the tests and after deliberation, the jury will announce the names of the candidates admitted to compete for the final (maximum 4).

5.3. PUBLIC FINAL

(Broadcast on big screen)

Saint-François-de-Sales Church
Grand historic organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, 1880.
(See description)

A recital program not exceeding 45 minutes and including at least one transcription by Louis Robilliard (see the list below).

No piece already performed in previous rounds may be included.

Transcriptions by Louis Robilliard:

  • César Franck: Rédemption (13’), éditions Delatour
  • Gabriel Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande (17’), éditions Delatour
  • Franz Liszt: Saint François de Paule marchant sur les flots (14’), éditions Delatour
  • Franz Liszt: Orphéus (11’), éditions Delatour
  • Franz Liszt: Funérailles (13’), éditions Musicales Rubin

The registrations indicated in the musical scores have been outlined for the organ of Saint-François-de-Sales.

Rehearsal time per competitor: 5 hours + 1h30 with the registrants

6. APPLICATION

WITH THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT NO LATER THAN JULY 5th, 2023 TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS.

This address can be used in case of questions from candidates.

concours@lyon-cavaillecoll.org

  • Motivation letter (in French or in English).
  • Copy of identity document, or passport, or any official document.
  • Curriculum vitae (in French or in English) mentioning the candidate’s diplomas.
  • A recent artistic photo free of rights.
  • Programs chosen by the candidate for the various selection rounds and the final.
  • For the final, the candidate attaches a text (in French or in English) presenting his program. This text will appear in the booklet distributed to the public.
  • An audio recording of the pre-selection program in high quality in wav or mp3 format. The recording will be transmitted by a Google Drive or Dropbox type link sent by email with the application file.
  • A description of the instrument (or the instruments) used during the performance of the program for the pre-selection.
  • Registration fee of 50 €: After reception of the application file, the bank details of the association will be sent to the candidate. Application will be validated when the candidate has paid the registration fees. Registration fees are non-refundable, except in case of cancellation of the competition.