Cascais Ópera took part in the 18th Annual Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) Conference, held from June 17 to 20 in Valencia, Spain, at the iconic Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía.
Under the theme “Theatres: Audiences and Ideas for the Future,” the event brought together over 45 OLA members — including theatre directors, cultural managers, artists, and creative industry experts from Ibero-America and Europe — to discuss current and future challenges facing the opera and performing arts sectors.
As a member of the OLA network, Cascais Ópera used this opportunity to strengthen its presence on the international operatic scene, highlighting its commitment to artistic excellence, the development of young talent, and cultural, social, and environmental sustainability.
During the conference, the Portuguese project presented its mission and journey, which has been increasingly recognized as a platform for discovering, supporting, and promoting new voices on the global stage. Alexandra Maurício, General Director of Cascais Ópera, emphasized:
“We came to present Cascais Ópera and to invite OLA members to join us in creating new opportunities for our candidates — with more prizes, tours across Latin America, invitations to join our Jury in future editions, and more Latin American singers in the competition. Let’s do more and better for opera.”
The event encouraged broad reflection on the role of cultural institutions in contemporary society, addressing topics such as new programming models, audience diversification, female leadership, professional development, and both digital and environmental transitions. A key highlight was the launch of the “Green Book for Theatres”, a strategic guide aimed at supporting organizations in adopting more sustainable practices.
Cascais Ópera’s participation in this conference reaffirmed its role as an agent of transformation within the opera sector, promoting new international collaborations and strengthening Portugal’s presence in the Ibero-American operatic network.
