The Final of the competition took place this Sunday at the Grande Auditório of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. In front of a full house, the eight finalists performed at the highest level, accompanied by the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Antonio Pirolli.
Portuguese mezzo-soprano Ana Rita Coelho was the overall winner of the second edition of Cascais Ópera – International Vocal Competition. In addition to receiving the Grand Prix Égide, worth €10,000, and a contract with the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, the 30-year-old singer also won the RTP Audience Prize of €1,500.
Serbian baritone Viktor Aksentijević was awarded the First Prize “Maurício Bensaude” for Best Male Voice (€7,500), while Israeli mezzo-soprano Anna Tetruashvili received the First Prize “Teresa Berganza” for Best Female Voice (€7,500).
The Second Prize (€5,000) was awarded to Chinese soprano Manhan Qi, and the Third Prize (€2,000) went to young German soprano Defne Celik, who also received the Best Singer Under 25 Prize (€2,500).
The Stage Talent Prize (€1,500) was awarded to semifinalist Oksana Pynchuk, soprano from Ukraine, who also received a contract with the National Opera – Novi Sad, in Serbia.
In addition to the main awards, several contracts with renowned festivals and institutions were granted, reinforcing the international character of the competition, which received over 340 applications from 49 countries in this edition.
South Korean tenor Sehyung Kyung was offered a role in a production by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet in the 2025/2026 season. Semifinalist Ju Hyeok Lee, also a South Korean tenor, was selected for the 2026 Marvão International Music Festival, while bass JaeWoung Lee secured a contract with the Algarve International Piano Festival for the 2025/2026 season.
Spanish soprano Laura Brasó was awarded a contract with the Cascais and Oeiras Chamber Orchestra.
Semifinalists Madelena Oliveira Martins (soprano, Portugal), Ester Ferraro (alto/mezzo-soprano, Italy), Milan Perišić (baritone, Serbia), and Jean Miannay (tenor, France) were also awarded a contract with the Mafra Music Festival “Filipe de Sousa”.
The Carlos Gomes Prize, awarded in partnership with the Amazonas Opera Festival for its 2026 edition, was granted to South Korean baritone Sunu Sun, who will give four concerts in Brazil.
The evening celebrated not only the winners but also the international, inclusive, and high-calibre spirit that defines Cascais Opera, in a performance that, in addition to the prestigious international jury, was attended by several figures from the classical music and cultural world.
