The Fundació Castell de Peralada announced that “A Bathroom Opera” has won the fourth edition of the Carmen Mateu Young Artist European Award, Opera and Dance, in the opera category.

“A Bathroom Opera” is conceived as a short, intimate, interactive opera set in a nontraditional performance space—a bathroom—transformed into a theatrical environment. The work combines music, visual media, and audience participation, with a format designed to be flexible and adaptable to a wide range of venues and contexts.

The project is conceived and directed by Franciska Éry, with music and sound design by Natalie Szende, set design by Basia Bińkowska, and visuals and projection design by Kati Katona. The work was selected for its innovative artistic and educational approach, which introduces opera to adolescent audiences through an immersive and participatory format. The jury —comprising Richard Brunel, Vania Cauzillo, Barbara Minghetti, Rafael R. Villalobos, and Oriol Aguilà—praised the project’s artistic quality and its ability to create a strong individual and collective audience experience.

The award carries a €40,000 commission for the creation of a new educational opera project for teenagers and includes a sculptural prize by artist Santi Moix, produced by creative jeweler Bagués Masriera. The winning project will premiere at a future edition of the Festival Perelada and is designed for touring beyond the festival.

The Carmen Mateu Young Artist European Award, Opera and Dance, was established in 2019 and alternates annually between opera and dance. The fourth edition focused on newly created, multidisciplinary educational opera projects for adolescents under the theme “The Opera Is for You.” The 2025 call attracted 40 applications from 15 nationalities, with 12 projects selected as finalists.

Read Related Stories

• Sonya Yoncheva, Anna Pirozzi, Piotr Beczala & Sara Blanch Lead Festival Castell de Peralada’s 2024 Season

• Jakub Józef Orliński & Freddie De Tommaso Lead Festival Castell Peralada’s 2023 Season