site.btaBulgaria to Host Operalia Competition, Founded by Placido Domingo

Bulgaria will host the Operalia opera competition, founded by Placido Domingo, from October 20 to 26, according to SY11 Events, the organizer of the event in Sofia.

Over the years, the competition has been held in Milan, Paris, London, Moscow, Madrid, Mexico City, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Beijing, and Cape Town, among others. By hosting Operalia this autumn, Sofia secures its place on the A-list of global opera capitals, the SY11 Events said.

The competition

Operalia was founded in 1993 by Placido Domingo to help launch the careers of the world’s most promising young opera singers. Two Bulgarians have won first prizes in the prestigious competition so far: bass Orlin Anastasov (1999) and soprano Sonya Yoncheva (2010).

The competition has recognized some of today’s most renowned opera singers, including Joyce Di Donato, Rolando Villazon, Jose Cura, Erwin Schrott, Joseph Calleja, Aida Garifullina, Pretty Yende, and Lise Davidsen, to name but a few.

Two of these opera stars will perform at Sofia’s Bulgaria Hall at the invitation of Sonya Yoncheva: Rolando Villazon (April 2) and Joyce Di Donato (May 31), the organizers added.

Prizes

Operalia's first prize awards USD 30,000 each to one female and one male singer, followed by a second prize of USD 20,000, and a third prize of USD 10,000. Additional honours include the Birgit Nilsson Prize, granting USD 15,000 to both a female and male singer, the Pepita Embil de Domingo prize, which awards USD 10,000 to a female singer, and the Don Plácido Domingo prize, which grants USD 10,000 to a male singer. The CulturArte Prize also grants USD 10,000. The Rolex Audience Prize recognizes one female and one male singer. Finalists who are not prize winners receive an Encouragement Award of USD 5,000.