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The first international opera singing contest in memory of the late ½ûÂþÌìÌà tenor Luciano Pavarotti has drawn 250 contestants from 32 countries.
The contestants are currently going through a preselection process to choOse the 20 who will be admitted to the semifinals.
They will be selected based on the video and audio recordings they presented as well as their curriculum vitae.
The women's contest is open to singers between the ages of 18 and 32 while the men's contest extends the limit to 35 years of age.
The idea to name an opera singing contest in Pavarotti's memory came from previous culture minister Francesco Rutelli and the event involves the city of Modena, Modena's Municipal Theatre Foundation and Milan's Teatro alla Scala, where 'Big Luciano' performed 140 times in 28 years.
Pavarotti died here September 6, 2007 from pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
The 20 chosen in the preselection will take part in three days of auditions at the Modena Municipal Theatre before the two-day semi-finals begin September 30.
The ten selected in the semi-finals will then be given a a day for rehearsal before a final in a public performance with a full orchestra on October 3.
Teatro alla Scala will offer the winners an opportunity to perform in one of its operas the following season.
The total cost of the Pavarotti contest will be some 250,000 euros. The culture ministry will pick up two-thirds of the tab and the city of Modena the remaining third.
According to the Modena city councillor for culture, Mario Luglia, the contest ''is in recognition of the generosity with which Pavarotti helped to discover and train young talents right up to the last days of his life''.
''We believe this is the best way to remember the Maestro,'' he added.