First Prize Winners 58th IVC Theatre in Song Laure-Catherine Beyers & Ana Ostojić "It's Complicated"

Soprano Laure-Catherine Beyers and pianist Ana Ostojić won the Van Riemsdijk Prize (First Prize) of the IVC 2025 Theatre in Song competition with their presentation of "It’s Complicated".

Laure-Catherine Beyers - Soprano | Belgium | 1994
Ana Ostojić - Piano | Serbia | 1996

🔶 Watch the post-performance interview with Laure and Ana here:
   • "Intimate nature of this art form has infi...  

🔶 Subscribe to discover all IVC performances, interviews, including the creative visions that are redefining the future of song!
🔶 Follow us on social media
Instagram:   / internationalvocalcompetition  
Facebook:   / internationalvocalcompetition  

🔶 Full program "It’s Complicated…" 🔶
Georges Aperghis *1945 Retrouvailles; MOV I
Vito Žuraj *1979 Mačka (Svetlana Marakovič)
David Philip Hefti *1975 Rosenblätter ; no. 7: Nachtstück – no. 13: Mit leeren Händen (Rose Ausländer)
François Sarhan *1972 Situations: Imagination – no. 7
George Crumb 1929 – 2022 Spanish Songbook II – Sun and Shadow; The Fly – no. 2 (Federico García Lorca)
Shasha Chen *1989 Conversation
Francis Poulenc 1899 – 1963 Fiançailles pour rire, FP 101; Violon – no. 5
(Louise de Vilmorin)
Claude Debussy 1862 – 1918 Chansons de Bilitis; La Chevelure – no. 2
(Pierre Louÿs)
Robert Schumann 1810 – 1856 Dichterliebe, op. 48; Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’ – no. 4 (Heinrich Heine)
Franz Schubert 1797 – 1828 Lob des Tokayers – D. 248 (Gabriele von Baumberg)
Georges Aperghis Retrouvailles; MOV VI & VII
Franz Schubert Du liebst mich nicht – D. 756 (August von Platen)
György Kurtág *1926 Requiem po drugu, op. 26); 1.: O Bozhe moi, kak tikho vdrug…- 2.: Zhestokii romans (spoken) - 3.: Ty zabral moju silu - 4.: Proshchai, moi dorogoi, prosti (Rimma Dalos)
Karmit Fadael *1996 When I Was
George Crumb Spanish Songbook II – Sun and Shadow; Dance of the Moon in Santiago – no. 4 (Federico García Lorca)

🔶🔶🔶

Theatre in Song – A New Stage for the Art of Song
Theatre in Song is a groundbreaking new competition by the International Vocal Competition (IVC) ’s-Hertogenbosch, celebrating innovation in classical singing. Instead of a traditional recital, singers and pianists are challenged to create theatrical 45-minute performances built around their own artistic concept — exploring themes such as love, memory, identity, and the human condition.

This unique format reimagines the classical song for today’s audiences, blending music, drama, and storytelling into one stage experience. Performers combine German Lieder, French mélodies, new works, and socially engaged repertoire, while the pianist or instrumentalist becomes an active stage partner — not just an accompanist.

Each finalist interprets the specially commissioned work When I Was by Karmit Fadael, offering a personal and contemporary reflection within their program.

Launched in September 2025, Theatre in Song marks a new chapter in IVC’s history — connecting the great song tradition with the theatrical imagination of the 21st century.