(Credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

The assembly of Ópera XXI announced that baritone Juan Pons, ABAO Bilbao Ópera, and the company Idealista will receive a special honor.

The announcement was made during a meeting on Oct. 26, 2023, at the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Pons was honored for his career trajectory. The baritone, who retired from the stage in 2012, had a notable international career that saw him appear with such companies as the Metropolitan Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Teatro alla Scala, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House, and all the major Spanish theaters.

Meanwhile, ABAO Bilbao Opera received the honor of a major cultural institution following the celebration of its 70th anniversary season in 2022-23.

Finally, Idealist was honored for its patronage and support of cultural projects in Spain.

The jury of Ópera XXI will reconvene in January 2024 to decide the matter of the next edition of the Premios Ópera XXI.