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Maestro Antonio Pirolli

Principal Conductor of the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra

Born in Rome, he studied piano, composition, choral music and orchestral conducting at the Santa Cecilia Academy. He trained with Zoltán Peskó, Vladimir Delman and Rudolf Barshai and won 3rd prize at the Arturo Toscanini Competition in Parma. From 1995 to 2001, he was music director at the Ankara Opera Theater, and from 2001 to 2005 he held the same position at the Istanbul State Opera. His past and most recent engagements include: Lucia di Lammermoor in Buenos Aires and Bari; La Gioconda in Santander; Andrea Chénier in Berlin and Catania; Macbeth in Lisbon; Aida in Copenhagen and Caracalla; Il trovatore, Anna Bolena and Ernani in Catania; Tosca in Florence and Bari; Turandot in Copenhagen, Verona and Catania; Aroldo in Bilbao; Il barbiere di Siviglia in Tokyo, Valencia and Verona; Carmen in Copenhagen and Avenches; Faust in Tokyo and Santander; Un ballo in maschera in Salerno and Lisbon; Madama Butterfly in Ancona; Medea on the As. Li.Co. circuit; Norma in Trapani and Spalato; Attila in Lecce and Rome; Otello in Lisbon; Manon Lescaut in Torre del Lago; Nabucco in Caracalla and Lisbon; Rigoletto in Tokyo; Falstaff in Shanghai; and La forza del destino in Lisbon. He is currently principal conductor of the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra.

Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa

Created in 1993, the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa (OSP) is one of the artistic resident ensembles of the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos and has developed its own symphonic activity, including a regular program of concerts and participation in national and international music festivals. It regularly collaborates with Rádio e Televisão de Portugal by broadcasting its concerts and operas on Antena 2, including the tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelungo, broadcast on RTP2, and by taking part in RTP’s own initiatives, such as the Pedro de Freitas Branco Prize for Young Orchestra Conductors, the RDP Young Musicians Prize and the International Tribune of Young Performers. As part of its operatic and symphonic seasons, the PSO has performed under the direction of notable conductors such as Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Alain Lombard, Nello Santi, Alberto Zedda, Harry Christophers, George Pehlivanian, Michel Plasson, Krzysztof Penderecki, Djansug Kakhidze, Milán Horvat, Jeffrey Tate and Iuri Ahronovitch, among others. The PSO’s discography includes two CD for the Marco Polo label, with Joly Braga Santos’ Symphonies Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 6, which it recorded under the direction of its first principal conductor, Álvaro Cassuto, and Crossing borders (works by Wagner, Gershwin and Mendelssohn), under the direction of Julia Jones, in a live recording by Antena 2.

 

In May 2022, a CD was released by Naxos with works by Fernando Lopes-Graça, conducted by Bruno Borralhinho. José Ramón Encinar (1999-2001), Zoltán Peskó (2001-2004) and Julia Jones (2008-2011) followed as principal conductor; Donato

 

Renzetti was the first guest conductor between 2005 and 2007. Joana Carneiro was principal conductor from 2014 to 2021. Antonio Pirolli, its principal conductor, is currently in charge of the musical direction. The Portuguese Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023.

Meet our Finalists

Step into the promising world of opera excellence with our unique lineup of talented finalists.

Ana Rita Coelho Portugal Mezzo-Soprano 30

Rita Coelho is a Portuguese mezzo-soprano. She has performed Second Witch in Dido and Aeneas by H. Purcell, Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann by J. Offenbach, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and La maestra delle novizie in Suor Angelica by G. Puccini, Mrs. Nolan in The Medium by G.C. Menotti and Mercedes in Carmen by G. Bizet. She is currently a member of the Wielki National Theater Choir.

Anna Tetruashvili Israel Mezzo-Soprano 27

Anna Tetruashvili is an Israeli lyric mezzo-soprano, currently in her second season at Gärtnerplatztheater’s opera studio in Munich (2023–25). She made her Salzburg Festival debut in 2024 as Annio in La Clemenza di Tito, earning recognition as a "Breakout Artist" by The New York Times. She has performed at Opéra de Monte-Carlo and taken on roles such as Hänsel, Zerlina, and Tisbe. A graduate of MDW Vienna, she has won top prizes in international competitions, including the 2023 Salzburg Mozart Competition.

Defne Celik Germany Soprano 21

Defne Celik, born in Germany, is currently studying at the Hanover University of Music (HMTMH) with Prof. Dr. Marek Rzepka. She discovered her passion for singing at the age of 13 and has been enrolled at HMTMH ever since, first in various pre study-programs. The 21-year-old soprano is the prizewinner of the third prize, the Young Artist Award, and the Audience Prize at the international singing competition DEBUT Concerts 2024, as well as the Special Prize for Voice from the Hamel Foundation in the 2023 German Music Competition. She actively performs in opera, oratorio, and art song.

JaeWoung Lee South Korea Bass 31

Jaewoung Lee studied under Prof. Wookyung Kim at Hanyang University and graduated with honors. Since October 2023, he has been studying under Prof. Thomas Quasthoff at HfM Hanns Eisler Berlin. He won 1st place in the 2022 Joongang Music Competition, Special Prize in the 2021 Daegu International Vocal Competition, and 2nd prize in the 2022 Gloria Opera Competition. In Korea, he has performed the role of Don Giovanni Teatr Wielki Don Giovanni, as well as the opera Gianni Schichi and opera Spring, Spring.

Laura Brasó Spain Soprano 29

Soprano Laura Brasó, born in Barcelona in 1996, began her musical training early, specializing in vocal studies at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu. She received guidance from renowned artists like Nelly Miricioiu and Miquel Ortega. She has won several awards, including 1st place at the 2019 International Music Competition of les Corts and 2nd place at the 2024 Logroño Singing Competition. Her operatic debut was in 2015 as Frasquita in Carmen. She will perform Micaela in Carmen in upcoming engagements.

Manhan Qi China Soprano 26

The Chinese soprano Manhan Qi is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Renate Faltin. In July 2024, she was invited to perform at the Excellent-Concert under the patronage of Daniel Barenboim. Since January 2025, Manhan has been a member of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Young Artist Program in Beijing. In the 2025/26 season, she will make her debut at the Wiener Kammeroper (Musiktheater an der Wien) as Tibrino in Cesti’s opera Orontea, under the baton of Wolfgang Katschner.

Sehyun Kyung South Korea Tenor 31

Sehyun Kyung is a tenor from South Korea, currently pursuing his master’s degree at the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Prof. Rainer Trost. In 2023, he participated in the masterclass of the Wiener Staatsoper Friends’ Association led by KS Neil Shicoff, further honing his artistry. He also completed an exchange program at the Hanover Staatopera. His operatic repertoire features roles such as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. He made his debut in Verdi’s Requiem in 2025 in Klagenfurt and at the Musikverein Wien in Austria.

Viktor Aksentijević Serbia Baritone 29

Viktor Aksentijević is a Baritone born in Serbia and based in Germany. In 2023 he graduated at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna in the class of Linda Watson. He’s the first prize winner of Gabriele Sima Singing Scholarship 2023. Beginning with the season 24/25 he’s a member of the Theater Lübeck Opera studio. Performed roles include Marcello in Puccini’s “La Bohème”, Aeneas in Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”, Graf Tiefenthal in Cimarosa’s “Die heimliche Ehe”, Moralès in Bizet’s “Carmen”, 1. SS Offizier in Weinberg’s “Die Passagierin”. He also performs a repertoire of art song.

Finals Repertoire

Finalist Composer Opera Aria
Orchestra Giuseppe Verdi
Abertura
La Forza del Destino
Anna Tetruashvili Charles Gounod
Gioachino Rossini
Roméo et Juliette
La Cenerentola
Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle
Nacqui all’affanno e al pianto... Non più mesta accanto al fuoco
Laura Brasó Charles Gounod
Giacomo Puccini
Roméo et Juliette
La Bohème
Je veux vivre
Sì, mi chiamano Mimì
Viktor Aksentijević Richard Wagner
Giuseppe Verdi
Tannhäuser
Don Carlo
Wie Todesahnung… O du mein holder Abendstern
O Carlo, ascolta
Defne Celik Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Giuseppe Verdi
Le nozze di Figaro
Falstaff
Giunse alfin il momento... Deh vieni, non tardar
Sul fil d’un soffio etesio
Orchestra Giacomo Puccini
Intermezzo
Manon Lescaut
Ana Rita Coelho Jules Massenet
Pietro Mascagni
Werther
Cavalleria rusticana
Werther! Qui m’aurait dit... Ces lettres!
Voi lo sapete, o mamma
JaeWoung Lee Gioachino Rossini
Giuseppe Verdi
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Macbeth
La calunnia è un venticello
Studia il passo... Come dal ciel precipita
Manhan Qi Giuseppe Verdi
Gaetano Donizetti
Rigoletto
Don Pasquale
Caro nome
Quel guardo il cavaliere
Sehyun Kyung Georges Bizet
Giacomo Puccini
Carmen
La Bohème
La fleur que tu m’avais jetée
Che gelida manina
Orchestra
Giuseppe Verdi
Abertura
La Forza del Destino
Anna Tetruashvili
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette
Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle
Gioachino Rossini
La Cenerentola
Nacqui all’affanno e al pianto... Non più mesta accanto al fuoco
Laura Brasó
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette
Je veux vivre
Giacomo Puccini
La Bohème
Sì, mi chiamano Mimì
Viktor Aksentijević
Richard Wagner
Tannhäuser
Wie Todesahnung… O du mein holder Abendstern
Giuseppe Verdi
Don Carlo
O Carlo, ascolta
Defne Celik
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Giunse alfin il momento... Deh vieni, non tardar
Giuseppe Verdi
Falstaff
Sul fil d’un soffio etesio
Orchestra
Giacomo Puccini
Intermezzo
Manon Lescaut
Ana Rita Coelho
Jules Massenet
Werther
Werther! Qui m’aurait dit... Ces lettres!
Pietro Mascagni
Cavalleria rusticana
Voi lo sapete, o mamma
JaeWoung Lee
Gioachino Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
La calunnia è un venticello
Giuseppe Verdi
Macbeth
Studia il passo... Come dal ciel precipita
Manhan Qi
Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto
Caro nome
Gaetano Donizetti
Don Pasquale
Quel guardo il cavaliere
Sehyun Kyung
Georges Bizet
Carmen
La fleur que tu m’avais jetée
Giacomo Puccini
La Bohème
Che gelida manina

Awards and Prizes

The following awards are lined-up to be attributed at the Cascais Opera – International Vocal Competition 2025.

GRAND PRIX ÉGIDE

10.000€
The winner of this prize will also receive a contract with São Carlos National Theatre and an Award designed by Leitão & Irmão Joalheiros
This prize is awarded by Égide – Portuguese Arts Association

First Prize “Teresa Berganza”

for female voice

7.500€

The winner of this prize will also receive an Award designed by Leitão & Irmão Joalheiros

This prize is awarded by Fundação “la Caixa” in collaboration with BPI

First Prize “Maurício Bensaude”

for male voice

7.500€

The winner of this prize will also receive an Award designed by Leitão & Irmão Joalheiros

This prize is awarded by Fundação Millennium BCP

2nd Prize

5.000€

3rd Prize

3.500€

Best Singer
under 25 Award

2.500€

Stage Skills Award

Contract with the National Opera Novi Sad – Serbia

This prize will be awarded by
Mr. Aleksandar Nikolić

1.500€

RTP Audience Prize

The RTP Audience Prize will be chosen by the members of the audience during the Final

1.500€

Finalist Award

This prize will be awarded to each finalist who has not been awarded other monetary prizes

1.000€

Diplomas of Participation • Some of the prizes and awards may not be attributed, depending on the decision of the jury

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Click on the button to vote on yout favourite Finalist for the Cascais Opera Competition.

Ficha Técnica

CASCAIS ÓPERA

Co-founder and General Manager
Alexandra Maurício

Co-founders and Artistic Directors
Adriano Jordão | Sergei Leiferkus

Consultant
Maria Amélia Albuquerque

Finance and Accounting
Cristina Prista

Executive Production
Madalena Braga Vidal | Ricardo Mendes

Production and Internacional Coodinator
António Sá-Dantas

Head of Communication | Sustainability
Ana Abrantes

Press Officer
Liliana Soares

Image and Web Design
Dimensão Global

Graphic Design
Joel Ribeiro

Co-designer
Madalena Couceiro Braga

Video and Photography
Ricochete Films

Social Media
UMA Agency

Content Editing
Flávia Brito

Assistant Production

Carlota Vidal

Cindy Valian

Edna Sousa

Iolanda Gradim

Joana Teixeira Vidal

Patrícia Lobo

Public Relations Office
Sara Machado

Pianist coordinator
Eduardo Jordão (coordinator)

Technical Direction
Pedro Rua

Pianos and Tuning
Paulo Pimentel

Piano Accompaniment

Eduardo Jordão (coordinator)

Gonçalo Simões

Natalia Riabova

Alessandro Praticò

Michael Sikich

Cascais Opera Documentary

João Moreira dos Santos, coordinator
Fernando Mendes, images
Paulo Seabra, editing
Inês Correia Santos, RTP producer

OPART – Organismo de Produção Artística, EPE

Conselho de Administração

Conceição Amaral –PRESIDENTE

Rui Morais – VOGAL

Sofia Meneses – VOGAL

Serviço Educativo e De Pedagogia
Pedro Teixeira da Silva

Direção Financeira e Administrativa
Marco Prezado – DIRETOR

Setor Financeiro

Fátima Ramos – CHEFE

Raquel Mergulhão

Rute Gato

Setor de Aquisições

Edna Narciso – CHEFE

Marta Gamito

Setor de Limpeza

Maria Teresa Gonçalves – ENCARREGADA

Maria de Lurdes Moura

Maria do Céu Cardoso

Maria Isabel Sousa

 

Setor Expediente e Economato
Anabel Segura

Setor de Bilheteira

Laura Barbeiro

Luísa Lourenço

Rita Martins

Direção de Recursos Humanos

Pedro Quaresma – DIRETOR

Jéssica Santos

Sofia Teopisto

Vânia Guerreiro

Zulmira Mendes

Direção de Manutenção

Vítor José – DIRETOR

Nuno Cassiano

Armando Cardoso

Artur Raposo

Carlos Pires

Carlos Santos

Miguel Cardoso

Nuno Estevão

Rui Ivo Cruz

Rui Rodrigues

Susana Santos

Direção de Comunicação e Marketing
Sara Gil – DIRETORA

Gabinete de Informática
Pedro Penedo

Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

ARTISTIC COMMISSION
João Paulo Santos – COORDINATION
Antonio Pirolli
Giampaolo Vessella

 

CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA DIRECTION
Margarida Clode – DIRETOR
João Carlos Andrade – ADJUNCT (accumulating)/
CHOIR COORDINATOR
Carolina Alves
Diana Gonçalves
Isabel Pina
Gonçalo Onofre
Jerónimo Fonseca
Maria Beatriz Loureiro
Nuno Guimarães
Sandra Correia

 

MUSICAL DOCUMENTATION OFFICE

Paula Coelho da Silva – COORDINATION
Tiago Flores

 

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING
Raquel Maló Almeida – COORDINATION
André Quendera
Carlota Pignatelli
Margarida Macedo de Sousa

Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa

MAESTRO TITULAR

ANTONIO PIROLLI

I VIOLINOS

ALEXIS HATCH

PAVEL AREFIEV

LEONID BYKOV

VELIYANA YORDANOVA

HASMIKE DUARTE

LAURENTIU IVAN-COCA

ISKRENA YORDANOVA

EWA MICHALSKA

ALEXANDER MLADENOV

JORGE GONÇALVES

LUÍS SANTOS

ANABELA GUERREIRO

II VIOLINOS

PAULA CARNEIRO

TOMÁS SOARES

INNA CALORI

FLÁVIA MARQUES

KATARINA MAJEWSKA

TOMÁS COSTA

SLAWOMIR SADLOWSKI

WITOLD DZIUBA

SARA CYMBRON

CARMÉLIA SILVA

VIOLAS

CECILIU ISFAN

CECILE PAYS

IRMA SKENDERI

SANDRA MOURA

VENTZISLAV GRIGOROV

MARIA INÊS MONTEIRO

ETELKA DUDAS

VLADIMIR DEMIREV

VIOLONCELOS

ALEXANDRE ALVAREZ

HILARY ALPER

LUIS CLODE

DIANA SAVOVA

GUEORGUI DIMITROV

EMÍDIO COUTINHO

CONTRABAIXOS

DUNCAN FOX

VANESSA LIMA*

JOÃO DIOGO

MARIA DELMAR

FLAUTAS

ANABELA MALARRANHA

ANA BAGANHA

RUI MATOS (Picc)

OBOÉS

JOÃO BARROSO

LUÍS PEREZ  

LUIS MARQUES

CLARINETES  

FRANCISCO RIBEIRO  

CÂNDIDA OLIVEIRA (ClB)

JOAQUIM RIBEIRO (ClMib)

FAGOTES

DAVID HARRISON

JOANA MAIA

ROBERTO ERCULIANI

TROMPAS

PAULO GUERREIRO

CARLOS ROSADO

LUIS VIEIRA

AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

TROMPETES

JORGE ALMEIDA  

PEDRO MONTEIRO

LATCHEZAR GOULEV

TROMBONES

HUGO ASSUNÇÃO   

JARRETT BUTLER  

JOAQUIM ROCHA (Trbn.B)

TUBA

ILÍDIO MASSACOTE

TÍMPANOS

ELIZABETH DAVIS

PERCUSSÃO

PEDRO ARAÚJO E SILVA

LÍDIO CORREIA

HARPA

EMANUELA NICOLI*

REFORÇOS *  

Over the past three decades, primarily in London, Portugal and Amsterdam, Dr Jorge Balça
has developed a strong portfolio of work and a unique combination of skillsets – as a stage
director (of theatre, opera, and hybrid forms), a teacher and workshop leader, a presentation
skills, acting and creativity coach, and practice-based researcher. His work in all these
domains is distinguished by his commitment to and skill in making fantasy and invention
emerge from precise knowledge and training – and by his ability to inspire a similar alchemy
in his collaborators.

Classically trained as an actor and countertenor, he studied theatre directing in London and
Moscow, specialising in Shakespeare, techniques of adaptation, Meyerhold and commedia
dell’arte. Jorge also holds a PhD exploring the dramatic training of opera performers.
With a love for site-specific projects and collaborative forms, and an equal flair for comedy
and drama, his work is dramaturgically inventive, visually striking, and physically engaged.
He was the artistic director of Bloomsbury Opera and associate director of The Opera
Makers, both in London. In Portugal, he has recently directed L’Heure Espagnole and The
Turn of the Screw at Centro Cultural de Belém, and Don Giovanni and La Voix Humaine at
Festival de Ópera de Óbidos.

Jorge is committed to his work as a teacher, having taught at the Dutch National Opera
Academy, Morley College London, Universidade de Évora and other institutions. He
maintains an international coaching private practice and is the acting coach at the Neil
Semer Vocal Institute in Italy.

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Over the past three decades, primarily in London, Portugal and Amsterdam, Dr Jorge Balça
has developed a strong portfolio of work and a unique combination of skillsets – as a stage
director (of theatre, opera, and hybrid forms), a teacher and workshop leader, a presentation
skills, acting and creativity coach, and practice-based researcher. His work in all these
domains is distinguished by his commitment to and skill in making fantasy and invention
emerge from precise knowledge and training – and by his ability to inspire a similar alchemy
in his collaborators.

Classically trained as an actor and countertenor, he studied theatre directing in London and
Moscow, specialising in Shakespeare, techniques of adaptation, Meyerhold and commedia
dell’arte. Jorge also holds a PhD exploring the dramatic training of opera performers.
With a love for site-specific projects and collaborative forms, and an equal flair for comedy
and drama, his work is dramaturgically inventive, visually striking, and physically engaged.
He was the artistic director of Bloomsbury Opera and associate director of The Opera
Makers, both in London. In Portugal, he has recently directed L’Heure Espagnole and The
Turn of the Screw at Centro Cultural de Belém, and Don Giovanni and La Voix Humaine at
Festival de Ópera de Óbidos.

Jorge is committed to his work as a teacher, having taught at the Dutch National Opera
Academy, Morley College London, Universidade de Évora and other institutions. He
maintains an international coaching private practice and is the acting coach at the Neil
Semer Vocal Institute in Italy.

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