Edward Ficklin

Imagine, if you will, four composers of four operas before a panel of four judges and an enthusiastic and sophisticated audience. You have all the makings of Opera Vista's annual competition. This is a competition for new chamber opera in which the audience votes for the winner.

Yours truly was one of the four, but did not, alas, walk away with the prize. That honor went to the astounding Anorexia Sacra by Danish composer Line Tjørnhøj. Opera Vista will premiere the full work in their 2010 festival. A must-see for anyone and everyone in Houston.

Read more about this year's competition at the Houston Chronicle's chron.commons site.

Composers will be interested to know that there's still time to apply to next year's competition.