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It's complicated!

Competitions

High caliber and courageous repertoire choices: Soprano Laure-Catherine Beyers and pianist Ana Ostojić win the 2025 IVC “Theatre in Song” in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

After a highly successful debut edition, he International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch (IVC) declared soprano Laure-Catherine Beyers and pianist Ana Ostojić, of Duo Ardea winners of “Theatre in Song” 2025.

The new format represents a significant shift for the renown Dutch competition. “Theatre in Song” is a direct response to the need for classical music to engage contemporary audiences. It consciously moves away from the conventional ‘parking and barking’ recital model, challenging duos to integrate theatricality, narrative, and visual storytelling into a cohesive 40-minute programme. The eleven finalist duos each developed their own concepts, supported by mentorship from performing arts experts, and were given free rein in their repertoire choices beyond a single required work.

The winning programme, titled "It's complicated," by Duo Ardea was praised by the jury, chaired by Iain Burnside, for its “high caliber and courageous repertoire choices” , with the programme described as “intimate exploration of the complex layers of human relationships”. The required piece for all participants, When I Was by Karmit Fadael, received its world premiere during the event, with the Van Amelsvoort Prize for its best performance awarded to soprano Justyna Khil and pianist Rozalia Kierc.

Artistic Director Andrew Watts noted the high artistic level of all participants and called the event “a true feast for the senses.” The audience response seemed to validate the competition’s core premise: that in a world saturated with digital content, live performance must offer a unique, immersive experience to captivate listeners.

Duo Ardea, winner of the 2025 IVC

This inaugural edition of “Theatre in Song” is more than an isolated event; it is the manifestation of a long-term strategy for the IVC. Faced with global challenges to cultural education and the need to strengthen local engagement, the competition is proactively reinventing itself. As previously stated, the IVC aims to be more than “just another competition,” seeking to build a vibrant and sustainable future for the art form. The debut of this format, which the IVC calls a “global first,” signals a confident step in that direction. By empowering artists to feel free in their artistic decisions and creating a platform that values theatrical innovation alongside musical excellence, the IVC has provided a compelling answer to its own question of how to ensure classical vocal music not only survives but thrives for a new generation.

Duo Ardea, formed in 2024 in Graz, Austria, is the ensemble of Soprano Laure-Catherine Beyers and pianist Ana Ostojić. Specializing in music from the Romantic period, the 20th century, and contemporary works, the ensemble focuses on interdisciplinary projects, chamber music, and art song.

 

Prizes: 
First Prize/ Van Riemsdijk Theatre in Song Prize: Laure-Catherine Beyers (soprano,) & Ana Ostojić (piano)
Second Prize/ Staetshuys Fund Prize: Madeline Saputra (soprano/ukelele) & Apollon Kalamenios (piano/violin)
Third Prize/ Bierens Foundation of Arts Prize: Noëlle Drost (soprano) & Jorian van Nee (piano)

Jury:
Iain Burnside (Chair), Corné Ran, Andrew Comben, Paul Kildea, Robert Holl, Yvonne Kenny, Lisenka Heijboer Castanón

 

©WFIMC 2025