60 of 99 applicants to compete in national Eurovision contest

The first stage to select Moldova's representative at Eurovision Song Contest 2011 will take place on Saturday, January 22, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a communique, the national public broadcaster Teleradio Moldova says the best competitors will be chosen in three stages. At the first stage, a jury composed of nine members will analyze the 99 songs taking part in the contest in the absence of the participants and will select 60 of them. At the second stage on January 29, the competitors will perform the songs live during maximum three minutes. There will be chosen 25 singers or bands. The national final will take place on February 26. The finalists will also perform live. The winner will be decided jointly by the jury and by televoting. Teleradio Moldova will broadcast live the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 that will be held in Germany's Dusseldorf on May 10 and 12 and the final – on May 14.