{"id":238,"date":"2021-10-03T11:24:17","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T11:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cicakraus.com\/?page_id=238"},"modified":"2025-04-16T12:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T12:50:52","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cicakraus.com\/en\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Concurso Internacional de Canto Alfredo Kraus <\/i><\/b><\/span>(Alfredo Kraus International Singing Competition), created by tenor Alfredo Kraus, was conceived from the start as a biennial event. First held in May 1990, the competition continued in 1992, 1994 and 1996, followed by a three-year gap until 1999 after a cancellation in 1998 due to a bereavement in the tenor\u2019s family. In line with Alfredo Kraus\u2019 wishes, the first five competitions were hosted in the city of his birth, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with the support and sponsorship of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria<\/i> (Gran Canaria Island Council), an unfailing supporter of this initiative. During this first phase, the competition was organised by the Fundaci\u00f3n Orquesta Filarm\u00f3nica<\/i> (Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation). <\/span><\/p>\n

For the nine years the competition was held under the guidance of Alfredo Kraus as Chair, the CICAK<\/i> became a hallmark among international events of its kind, earning global recognition not only among conservatories, theatres, auditoriums and orchestras, but also in the context of cultural tourism to Gran Canaria. Other institutions joined the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Fundaci\u00f3n Orquesta Filarm\u00f3nica as collaborators: Spanish Ministry of Culture (INAEM); Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs \u2013 Directorate General of Cultural and Scientific Relations; Canary Islands Government \u2013 Regional Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Deputy Ministry of Culture and Sports; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council; Madrid City Council – Education Department; SOCAEM – Canary Islands International Music Festival; RTVE Symphonic Orchestra and Choir; SGAE \u2013 Spanish General Society of Authors and Publishers; University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna; Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, Milan; Queen Sof\u00eda School of Music, Madrid; Higher School of Singing, Madrid; and Royal Opera House of London<\/i>. The competition is sponsored by UNELCO, with the collaboration of IBERIA<\/i>, the International Federation of Friends of Alfredo Kraus<\/i>, local firms Domnel<\/i> and \u00d3ptica Ja\u00e9n<\/i>, and private benefactors. <\/span><\/p>\n

From 1990 to 1999, the preliminary rounds were held in Milan, Vienna, New York, London and Madrid, with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria hosting the Semi-final and Final rounds. Alfredo Kraus acted as Chair and was joined by jury members who were invited to Gran Canaria, including sopranos Edda Moser, Ingrid Bjoner, \u00c1ngeles Gul\u00edn, Tatiana Menotti and Marcella De Osma; mezzosopranos Christa Ludwig, Fedora Barbieri, Alicia Naf\u00e9, Mabel Perestein and Mar\u00eda Isabel Tor\u00f3n; tenors Pedro Lavirgen, Juan Oncina and Jes\u00fas (Suso) Mari\u00e1tegui; baritones Sesto Bruscantini and Antonio Blancas; and basses Walter Berry and Antonio Camp\u00f3.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the presence of Alfredo Kraus and the added attraction of the CICAK<\/i> being held in the city of his birth, an average of 85 applicants signed up for the preliminary rounds of the first five competitions. The competition archives show that applicants were of 30 nationalities, from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Russia, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Japan, China and South Korea. <\/span><\/p>\n

The five competitions from 1990 to 1999 included the categories of Opera and Zarzuela and Lied and Oratorio. The original six official prizes (three winners in each category) were complemented by special prizes from public institutions and private patrons, in addition to the audience prize. The prize-giving took place after the televised concert of the Final Round with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra<\/i>. From 1990 to 1996, the final was held in the P\u00e9rez Gald\u00f3s Theatre<\/i>. In 1999 the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus<\/i> became the competition venue. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2017, 18 years after the death of the Gran Canarian tenor, the <\/span>FIAK<\/i><\/b><\/span> and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria<\/i><\/b> revived the CICAK<\/i>. The second phase continued with the valuable participation of the Orquesta Filarm\u00f3nica de Gran Canaria <\/i>and the holding of the final public gala in the Sala Sinf\u00f3nica <\/i>of the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following is a summary of the four previous competitions:<\/span><\/p>\n