Article 1

The 8th International Rostropovitch Cello Competition 2005 is to be held in Paris, from 9 to 20 November 2005, as part of the Concours internationaux de la Ville de Paris. The Competition is organised by the Association pour la Création et la Diffusion Artistique (ACDA).

The Jury will be comprised of international personalities and will be presided over by Mstislav Rostropovitch.

Article 2

The Competition is open to cellists of all nationalities born after 9 November 1972.

Article 3 – Dossiers for admission to the Competition

For admission to the Competition a completed entry form must be sent to the competition address, the latest date for entries is May 16, 2005 (postmark date validates) and it must include the following documents:

- the entry form, duly completed, dated and signed, -

- a photocopy of the candidate’s identity card or passport, or any other equivalent official identity document,

- a curriculum vitae written in French or English (maximum 2 typed pages) stating names of schools of music attended, the main teachers, awards/diplomas obtained, the competitor’s current professional situation,

- 2 original letters of recommendation from recognised musicians, written for the purposes of this competition,

- a colour photo taken within the last 6 months of minimum dimensions: 3.5 x 4.5 centimetres,

- the required payment or a document confirming payment of the entry fee (article 12).

Candidates who are not admitted on the basis of their dossiers may be given the opportunity to take a qualifying test. The Competition Organisers shall be the sole judges of the qualifying test and successful competitors shall receive personal notification of acceptance from 6 June 2005.

Article 4 – Qualifying test

The qualifying tests will take place in July and August 2005 in Paris, Washington, Moscow, and Tokyo.
The schedule and the exact location for these tests will be posted on the web site before 15 March 2005.

A – The Organisers of the Competition will take note of each competitor’s choice of place for qualifying and will decide the date and time of his/her participation. They will advise the candidates by post from 6 June 2005. The choice of place will not, in any case, have influence on the decision of the jury.

B – Programme for the qualifying test (maximum: 15 minutes)

a –Jean-Sébastien Bach : Prelude (obligatory) and other movements (to be selected) from a series of six Suites for solo cello (without repeat)

b – ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

- Benjamin Britten : Suite for cello opus 72 (IV.Canto terzo, V.Bordone, VI.Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto) Ed. Faber Music

- Benjamin Britten : 3rd Suite for cello, opus 87 (VII.Recitativo, VIII.Moto perpetuo, IX.Passacaglia) Ed. Faber Music

- George Crumb : Cello Sonata Ed. Peters

- Henri Dutilleux : Trois Strophes sur le nom de SACHER (First Strophe) Ed. Heugel-Leduc

- Paul Hindemith : Cello Sonata, opus 25, n°3 Ed. Schott

- György Ligeti : Cello Sonata Ed. Schott

- Witold Lutoslawski : Sacher Variations for solo cello Ed. Chester

N.B. The works selected for the qualifying test cannot be played again in the first eliminatory round of the Competition. The qualifying tests will be open to the public.

C – The competitors will be responsible for making their own arrangements in respect of accommodation needs. A list of accommodation will be made available on the web site.

The Competition Organisers will refund qualifying competitors their travel and accommodation expenses, incurred as a consequence of taking part in the qualifying test, subject to the preliminary acceptance of an estimate relating to these expenses.

D – Candidates having successfully passed the qualifying test will be personally notified of their results from 5 September 2005.

These results will also be posted on the web site.

Article 5 – The Competition Programme

First round (maximum : 20 minutes) – Conservatoire supérieur de Paris - CNR

A –Jean-Sébastien Bach : Prelude (obligatory) and other movements (choose from) one of the six Suites for Solo Cello (without repeat)

B – ONE OF THE THE FOLLOWING:

- Gilbert Amy : Quasi scherzando* Ed. Universal

- Benjamin Britten : Suite for cello opus 72 (IV.Canto terzo, V.Bordone, VI.Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto) Ed. Faber Music

- Benjamin Britten : 2nd Suite for cello opus 80 (I.Declamato, II.Fuga, III.Scherzo) Faber Music

- Benjamin Britten : 3rd Suite for cello opus 87 (VII.Recitativo, VIII.Moto perpetuo, IX.Passacaglia) Ed. Faber Music

- Rodion Shchedrin : Russian Fragments* Ed. Sikorski

- George Crumb : Sonata for solo Violoncello Ed. Peters

- Henri Dutilleux : Trois Strophes sur le nom de SACHER (First Strophe) Ed. Heugel-Leduc

- Paul Hindemith : Cello Sonata op.25 n°3 Ed. Schott

- György Ligeti : Cello Sonata Ed. Schott

- Witold Lutoslawski : Sacher Variations for Cello solo Ed. Chester

- Krzysztof Penderecki : Per Slava* Ed. Schott

- Kaija Saariaho : Spins and Spells* Ed. Chester Music

- Alfred Schnittke : Improvisations for solo cello* Ed. Sikorski

- Marco Stroppa : Ay there's a rub* for solo cello Ed. Ricordi

- Iannis Xenakis : Kottos* Ed. Salabert

*works commissioned for previous Rostropovitch Competitions

Second Round – Amphithéâtre de l’Opéra Bastille

A – ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

• Ludwig van Beethoven : Cello Sonata op. 102 for piano and cello n°1

• Johannes Brahms : Sonata for cello and piano in E minor op. 38

• Robert Schumann : Fünf Stücke im Volkston op. 102 for piano and cello

B – ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

• Serge Prokofiev : Sonata for cello and piano, in C major, opus 119 (2nd et 3rd movements)

• Claude Debussy : Sonata for cello and piano, in D minor

• Igor Stravinsky : Suite italienne pour violoncelle et piano (Introduzione, Serenata, Aria, Tarantella, Minuetto e finale)
Transcription from Pulcinella for Cello and Piano, arr. I.Stravinsky & G.Piatigorsky. Boosey & Hawkes

C – Franghiz Ali-Zadeh : work for solo cello, composed for the Competition (about seven-eight minutes) (commissioned by musique nouvelle en liberté)

The score will be sent to the competitors one month before the rounds start.

D – David Popper : Elfentanz, opus 39

Final Round –Théâtre du Châtelet

ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

• Anton Dvorák : Concerto for Cello and Orchestra opus 104

• Robert Schumann : Concerto for Cello and Orchestra op. 129

• Dimitri Shostakovitch : 1st Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, op. 107

• Serge Prokofiev : Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra op. 125

The final round will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet on Saturday 19 November 2005, with the Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Janos Fürst.

Article 6

Lots shall be drawn on 8 November 2005 to determine the order of play. Contestants are obliged to be present in person on this occasion.

A second drawing of lots shall be held to determine order of play in the final round.

All rounds shall be open to the public.

Article 7

For the first two rounds, competitors may choose the order of works to be played. Candidates wishing to change their choice of repertory must advise the Competition Organisers in writing by e-mail or by post not later than 30 September 2005.

The competitors will be allowed to play with the scores except in the final round.

Article 8 – Rehearsals

The Competition Organisers will provide a pianist to accompany the contestants. Only one rehearsal session will be provided for. Contestants may bring an accompanist, at their own expense.

Article 9 – Prizes

1st Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris: 12 000 €

The winner of the Grand Prix will be invited to take part in a soirée in honour of the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris (Salle Gaveau in Paris), and will benefit from various engagements offered by:

The Orchestre de Paris
The Orchestre d'Auvergne
The Bavarian Symphonic Radio Orchestra
The Spanish Symphonic Radio and Television Orchestra (recording and broadcasting of concert)
The Roumanian National Radio Orchestra
The Philharmonic Orchestra of Saint Petersbourg
The Orchestre de Lille
The Festival Messiaen au pays de la Meije
The Festival Antibes Génération Virtuoses
The Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian
The Rencontres d'Ensembles de Violoncelles

2nd Grand Prix : 8 000 €, offered by the Académie des Beaux-Arts de l'Institut de France

3rd Prize: 4 500 €

4th Prize: 3 000 €

5th Prize: 2 000 €

6th Prize: 1 500 €

Prize for the best interpretation of the 1st Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, op. 107 by Dimitri Chostakovitch: 2500 € offered by the Rostropovich Cello Foundation

Prize for the most promising contestant offered by Sacem: 2 000 €
The winner of this prize will benefit from an engagement offered by the Rencontres d'Ensembles de Violoncelles

Prize for the best interpretation of the work by Franghiz Ali-Zadeh: 1 500 €
The winner of this prize will benefit from an engagement offered by the Rencontres d'Ensembles de Violoncelles

The Pierre Fournier prize for the best interpretation of one of the three works of the 19th century from the second round: 1 500 €

One of the winners will receive a complete set of accessories (pegs - tailpieces - endpins), offered by Bois d'Harmonie.

Within the framework of a partnership to the competition with France Festivals, the French Federation of International Music Festivals, the following festivals will propose engagements to the winners of their choice:

- Itinéraires de Musique et d'Histoire - Braux-sous-Valmy

- Festival de l'Orangerie de Sceaux

- Festival de Strasbourg

- Septembre Musical de l'Orne

- Sinfonia en Périgord

The Orchestre National d’Ile de France, the Orchestre Régional de Cannes Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, the Azerbaijan National Symphonic Orchestra, Festival Emilia Romagna (Italy), Estivales de Musique au cœur du Médoc and the Opéra-Théâtre d’Avignon will offer an engagement to the winners of their choice.

One of the winners will benefit from an engagement in the series “Les nouveaux Solistes aux Serres d'Auteuil”.

Article 10 – Jury

- The Jury shall deliberate at the end of each round. In the event of a tie, the Jury Chairman’s decision shall carry the vote.

- The Jury reserves the right not to award all prizes.

- The 1st Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris cannot be shared.

- The Jury may issue special distinctions.

- The Jury shall not award a prize to any contestant who fails to attain the second round.

- The Jury's decision is final.

Article 11

A concert, at which certain of the prizewinners selected by the Jury, will participate will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet on Sunday 20 November 2005.

Article 12 – Entry fee

The entry fee is fixed at 25 €. This must be sent with the entry application, covering -if necessary- any qualifying test contribution. This fee cannot be reimbursed.

Candidates must send this sum net of any extras charges or costs relating to participation in the Competition.

Method of payment:

- by French cheque made out to ACDA

- by a foreign bank drawn on a French account made out to ACDA in Euros

- by international postal mandate in favour of ACDA

- by money transfer (via international agencies)

- by cash

Article 13 – Registration fee

The registration fee is fixed at 40 €. Candidates selected must pay the registration fee at the time of the drawing of lots; details of the method of payment will be supplied later.

Article 14 – Accommodation

The Competition Organisers can organise accommodation in university residences (single or twin rooms) for competitors living outside of Paris, or the Paris region, and who have made a request for such accommodation on the entry application form.

Those contestants who successfully pass the first eliminatory round will have their accommodation expenses paid for during the rounds in which they will compete. In this case, the contestants will receive a daily allowance of 30 €.

Article 15

Competition rounds and the prizewinners’ concert may be broadcasted by radio or television without remuneration to the contestants.

Article 16

The fact of participating in the competition shall indicate the contestants' acceptance of the rules. Should any dispute arise, only the French edition of the rules shall be held valid.