Forty-two young opera singers from 26 countries have successfully competed in the preliminary auditions for the NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition. They have been invited to participate in the event's final round, which will be held from October 7 to 14, 2017, in Gütersloh. "We have discovered young opera talents from a wide range of cultures and nations. What they share across all linguistic and cultural borders is their talent and passion for opera. The NEUE STIMMEN final round will allow them to measure themselves against each other while continuing their artistic and personal development," said Liz Mohn, president of NEUE STIMMEN and vice-chairwoman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board.
The singers traveling to North Rhine–Westphalia come from five different continents. Six performers are from German-speaking countries. The number of men and women who will participate is the same: 21 female singers and 21 male singers, with sopranos making up the vocal range with the greatest number of contestants, at 14. Below you will find an overview of all selected participants, including nationality and vocal range.