ABAO Bilbao Opera Receives Ópera XXI Award

By Afton Wooten

ABAO Bilbao Opera received the Honorary Cultural Institution award at the Ópera XXI Awards ceremony.

The company as well as the Bilbao Association was recognized for utilizing an “efficient and sustainable management model.” This model has become a characteristic of the Basque and Spanish cultural sector. The general director of INAEM, Paz Santa Cecilia, presented the award to Juan Carlos Matellanes, president of the Association. Matellanes showed his gratitude by saying that this award, “highlights the contribution and commitment of ABAO Bilbao Opera to the service of culture and opera, and projects Bilbao and its lyrical space to the whole of society.”

The company, which supports the cultural, artistic and social project of ABAO Bilbao Opera as a collaborator, also received the Honorary Award for the Best Patronage Initiative, which was collected by Jesús and Fernando Encinar. Bilbao was also in luck thanks to the Teatro Arriaga, which received the Award for New Contemporary Lyrical Creation for its production of “Orgia” by Calixto Bieito and Hèctor Parra.

A total of 18 awards were presented at a gala conceived by director Bárbara Lluch. Soprano Ángeles Blancas who will star in ABAO’s production of “Il tabarro,” took home the award for Best Female Singer. Ermonela Jaho will play Desdemona in the company’s “Otello” was awarded Best Foreign Artist, and resident costume designer Jesús Ruiz was recognized for Best Costume Design.

This year marked the sixth edition of the Ópera XXI Awards.

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