New Scenes for music theatre. Deutsche Oper Berlin, in cooperation with the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music, is announcing the seventh NEUE SZENEN International Composition Competition. 

The competition is primarily aimed at teams of two people (composition and text). Applications in the composition category alone are possible; applications in the text category only will not be admitted to the competition. 

Up to three winning teams of the competition will receive 
a) a scholarship to write a text for
b) a scholarship for the composition of
a music theatre work of 20 to 30 minutes
(cast: max. 4 singers and max. 15 instrumentalists). 

During the development process, close cooperation with the directorial teams of the productions is sought by means of several workshops.

The music theatre works will premiere in April 2025 in the Tischlerei of the Deutsche Oper Berlin as part of the production NEW SCENES VII, staged by three directorial teams and featuring vocal and instrumental students, all from the Hanns Eisler School of Music. 

Prizes 

Up to three team prizes may be awarded. One prize includes a grant (9,000 euros each) for the composition of a 20- to 30-minute music theatre work, as well as a grant (4,500 euros each) for the writing of the texts / libretti for the 30-minute music-theatrical work. 

Application 

For the jury's assessment, a representative, preferably music-theatrical and/or vocal work as well as a text for a stage play should be submitted as work samples. 

Optionally, visual and audio material (concert or rehearsal recordings) may also be submitted. 

Furthermore, the application documents must include CVs and contact details (address and e-mail address) of all applicants. 

Conditions of participation 

The participating composers and authors transfer to the Deutsche Oper Berlin the right to premiere the works and provide the performance material free of charge and free of third-party rights. 

After the performance series, one copy of the score will remain with the Deutsche Oper Berlin as archive material. 

Submission of materials (work samples and application documents) only electronically, by e-mail or file sharing, to: 
Deutsche Oper Berlin 
Dramaturgy 
Sebastian Hanusa 
hanusa@deutscheoperberlin.de 

Closing date: 31 July 2023 

Further procedure: 

Announcement of the winning teams: 01 September 2023 
Submission of piano scores / study material for the music theatre work: 01 September 2024 
Delivery of scores and parts: 01 October 2024 
First performance and further performances: April 2025 in the Tischlerei of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. 

Jury 

Sarah Nemtsov (Composer) 
Uljana Wolf (Author) 
Peter Meiser (Musical Director, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin) 
Prof. Claus Unzen (Director, Hanns Eisler Academy of Music, Berlin) 
Sebastian Hanusa (Dramaturge, Deutsche Oper Berlin) 

Contact address: 
Deutsche Oper Berlin 
Dramaturgie 
Kompositionswettbewerb “New Scenes VII” 
Richard-Wagner-Str. 10 
D - 10585 Berlin 

Contact person: 
Sebastian Hanusa
hanusa@deutscheoperberlin.de 

The judges’ decision is final