Joyce DiDonato and Piotr Beczala won top prizes at the first annual Oper Magazine awards.

The singers won Best Female and Male singer of the year, while the Best Opera House award went to the Zurich Opera House. The awards also saw the Donizetti Opera Festival take home the Best Festival award, while Joana Mallwitz won the as Best Conductor award.

Edita Gruberova was also present to receive the lifetime achievement award, while Zanier Anduaga won the Best Newcomer award.

The Best Opera Recording award went to “L’Ange de Nisida” from Opera Rara while Jodie Devos took home the Best Solo album award for “Offenbach Coloratura.”

The Best Benefactor went to Palazzetto Bru Zane while the Best Education Program was awarded to Oper Cologne. The Bayerische Staatsoper took home awards from Best Choir and Best Orchestra while the Best Rediscovery award went to “Barkouf” by Jacques Offenbach at the Opera du Rhin. The Best World premiere went to the Deustch Oper Berlin’s production of Oceane by Detlev Glanert.

The Best production award went to Tchaikovsky’s “The Enchantress” from the Opera d’Lyon while the Best Director award was presented to Frederic Wake-Walker for his production of Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The Best Stage Designer and Dest Costume Designer award were won by Neo Rauch and Rosa Loy for their “Lohengrin” in Bayreuth .