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Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q &A: Fundación Ibáñez Atkinson’s Andrés Rodríguez Spoerer on his Operatic Journey & Bringing Met Opera’s Laffont Competition Auditions to South America

https://operawire.com/q-a-fundacion-ibanez-atkinsons-andres-rodriguez-spoerer-on-his-operatic-journey-bringing-met-operas-laffont-competition-auditions-to-south-america/

(© Fundación Ibáñez Atkinson) This year, the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition held its first South American auditions in over 70 years. This historic event was several years in the making, with Andrés Rodríguez Spoerer as its main champion. As Music Director of Chile’s Fundación Ibáñez Atkinson (FIA), Rodríguez Spoerer spent years building the relationships, programs, and infrastructure that would make {…}

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Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition Announces Winners

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-eric-and-dominique-laffont-competition-announces-winners/

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the winners of the 2026 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition following its annual competition on March 22. The winners were sopranos Shannon Crowley, Elizabeth Hanje, Song Hee Lee, and Anna Thompson; and baritones Gabriel Natal-Báez and Robert Wente. Each winner receives a $20,000 cash prize and the prestige, exposure, and networking opportunities that {…}

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Metropolitan Opera Announces Finalists for 2026 Laffont Competition

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-announces-finalists-for-2026-laffont-competition/

(Photo Credit: Natalie Powers / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 10 singers that have advanced to the final round of the 2026 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The 2026 finalists are soprano Shannon Crowley (Great Lakes, Virginia Beach, VA), soprano Elizabeth Hanje (Northwest, Vestavia Hills, AL), soprano Song Hee Lee (Eastern, Seoul, South Korea), soprano {…}

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Metropolitan Opera Announces 23 Semifinalists for Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-announces-23-semifinalists-for-metropolitan-opera-eric-and-dominique-laffont-competition/

The Metropolitan Opera has announce the 23 semifinalists for the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The semifinals, which are set to be held on March 15, 2026, will be held on the Met stage before a panel of judges and will also be available for public viewing via livestream. Laffont alumni Brittany Olivia Logan and Miles Mykkanen will {…}

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Tulsa Opera Partners to Present Laffont Competition

https://operawire.com/tulsa-opera-partners-to-present-laffont-competition/

Tulsa Opera partners in presenting the 70th annual Metropolitan Opera National Laffont Competition for the Tulsa District on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The competition takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Artists will travel to Tulsa from across the United States, as well as from Mexico, Canada, and other countries, {…}

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Camila Romero & Valeria Delmé Win Inaugural South American Region Auditions for Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition

https://operawire.com/camila-romero-valeria-delme-win-inaugural-south-american-region-auditions-for-metropolitan-operas-laffont-competition/

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition has named Camila Romero of Chile and Valeria Delmé of Argentina as the winners of its inaugural South America Region auditions. Both sopranos will advance directly to the Semifinals of the competition, scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Romero and Delmé were selected {…}

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Sophie Baete, Song Hee Lee & Shiyu Zhou Win Laffont Competition Eastern Region

https://operawire.com/sophie-baete-song-hee-lee-shiyu-zhou-win-laffont-competition-eastern-region/

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Laffont Competition Eastern Region has announced the winners of its recent vocal competition. Three singers received top prizes of $5,000 and will advance to the semi-finals in March. The winners included mezzo-soprano Sophia Baete, soprano Song Hee Lee, and soprano Shiyu Zhou. Baete received the James McCracken and Sandra Warfield Opera Prize, sponsored {…}

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The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition Announces Slate for Annual Gala Recital at The Lotos Club

https://operawire.com/the-metropolitan-opera-eric-and-dominique-laffont-competition-announces-slate-for-annual-gala-recital-at-the-lotos-club/

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition will host its annual Gala Recital at The Lotos Club on Nov. 12, 2025. The evening begins with a welcome reception at 6 p.m., followed by the recital at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:45 p.m. The event will be hosted by Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel {…}

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Metropolitan Opera Announces Expansion of Laffont Competition

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-announces-expansion-of-laffont-competition/

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced that the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition is expanding to South America. The company will expand to Santiago, Chile, beginning in the 2025–26 season. The South America Region and the Districts will include Argentina, Chile, and Colombia Districts and will be supported by the partnering organization Fundación Ibañez Atkinson. {…}