Cascais Opera – International Vocal Competition is taking part in the 23rd Daegu International Opera Festival in South Korea, with its co-founder and General Director, Alexandra Maurício, serving on the international jury of the Global Young Artist Casting Audition, alongside participation in the Daegu Global Opera Market. This presence strengthens the competition’s international profile and opens up new prospects for collaboration with artistic institutions and professionals across the global opera scene, particularly in the Asian market.
Taking place from 9 to 11 October, the Global Young Artist Casting Audition, part of the The Next Cast programme, brings together young international opera singers in a selection process designed to identify emerging talent and connect artists with professional opportunities.
Alexandra Maurício joins an international jury bringing together artistic leaders and representatives of leading institutions from several countries. Its members include Roberto Mauro, Artistic Director of the Canadian Opera Company; Luke O’Shaughnessy, Associate Director of Opera Europa; Kertu Orro, Director of Arvo Pärt Concert Hall; Barbara Minghetti, Vice-President and Programming Director of Teatro Sociale di Como / AsLiCo; Shi Heng, Founder and Artistic Director of the Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Argelès-sur-Mer; Hiroaki Muto, Secretary-General of the Japan Opera Foundation; Nils Braun, Artistic Administrator and Stage Director at Oldenburgisches Staatstheater; Sophie Louise Roland, Director and Professor at Western University; Asako Ishida, Professor at Showa University of Music; Samuel Youn, bass-baritone and professor at Seoul National University; and Kyoungjae Lee, Artistic Director of Daegu Opera House. The panel also includes Cindy Leung, from Musica Viva HK / Tutti HK, and Cheul Choi, Artistic Director of Jeonnam Metropolitan City Opera.
The diversity of backgrounds and institutions represented gives the jury a particularly strong international dimension, bringing together expertise in artistic direction, programming, vocal training, opera production and career development.
As part of this initiative, Cascais Opera will select two singers who will gain direct access to the in-person stage of the 2027 edition of the competition. This opportunity reinforces the competition’s commitment to discovering and supporting young talent and marks the first step towards developing pre-selection stages in other regions of the world.
On 12 and 13 October, Alexandra Maurício and Ricardo Mendes, Executive Producer, will also represent Cascais Opera at the Daegu Global Opera Market, an international marketplace bringing together around 200 professionals, including directors of opera houses and companies, as well as representatives of cultural institutions. The programme features presentations of new productions, project pitches and one-to-one meetings designed to encourage artistic exchange, establish contacts and develop future partnerships.
On 13 October, Cascais Opera – International Vocal Competition will be presented to participants at the Daegu Global Opera Market. The presentation and accompanying business meetings will provide an opportunity to introduce the competition, its operating model, its patrons, its commitments and the opportunities it offers to support singers’ professional development, while fostering new collaborations with institutions and professionals in the sector.
Cascais Opera’s presence in South Korea forms part of its internationalisation strategy, which aims to strengthen artistic and institutional partnerships, promote the international mobility of talent and create new opportunities for singers taking part in the competition.
