The grand final takes place on May 4 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Grand Auditorium.
The Cascais Ópera – International Vocal Competition has just announced the 44 candidates selected to compete for the prizes in its 2nd edition. Hailing from 19 countries, these young talents were chosen from a record 340 entries from 49 countries, reinforcing the competition’s growing international profile.
The chosen singers represent Germany (3), Serbia (1), South Korea (6), China (4), Poland (1), Russia (5), Portugal (7), USA (2), Spain (2), Italy (1), Israel (3), France (1), Georgia (1), Ukraine (2), United Kingdom (1), Ireland (1), Australia (1), Finland (1) and Armenia (1). Portugal (7) tops the shortlist, followed by South Korea, Russia and China, highlighting the competitiveness of this edition and Portuguese talent in a demanding international context.
It will now be up to the internationally renowned jury, chaired by the prestigious baritone Sergei Leiferkus and made up of figures such as Anna Samuil (Berliner Staatsoper), Antonio Pirolli (titular conductor of the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra), Eline de Kat (Artistic Coordinator of the Monte-Carlo Opera), Ivan van Kalmthout (Senior Opera Executive), soprano Juliane Banse, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore, and Pal Moe (Glyndebourne), evaluate the contestants during the face-to-face auditions.
From April 23 to 30, Cascais will be the epicenter of operatic singing, welcoming the candidates for a week of qualifying exams, open to the public at the Cascais Cultural Center. During this period, there will also be masterclasses and a semi-finalists’ concert (at a venue to be announced), promoting the training and visibility of the participants.
The competition culminates in the live Grand Final, on May 4, at 5pm, in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Grand Auditorium, where the 8 finalists will perform some of the most iconic opera arias accompanied by the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Antonio Pirolli.
Tickets are now available.
The competition is co-organized by the CIVOC Association, Cascais Town Hall and the D. Luis I Foundation. It has the support of the “La Caixa” Foundation, Égide – Associação Portuguesa das Artes, Millennium bcp Foundation, Turismo de Cascais, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon City Council, SRS Legal, Cascais and Oeiras Chamber Orchestra, Leitão & Irmão Joalheiros and its institutional partner is the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos.
Cascais Ópera – The birthplace of the future of opera!
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