Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition Returns to Eastern Europe in July 2017

By David Salazar

Kazakhstan will play host to the 25th Operalia Competition in July 2017.

The famed competition will be making its return to Eastern Europe after making an appearance there in 2011 at Moscow. It also took place in Pécs and Budapest in 2009. Otherwise the competition has mainly done rounds in Western Europe, North America and Asia (Tokyo and Beijing). Last year’s competition was held in Guadalajara, making the return of the competition of Mexico where its second year took place. Los Angeles and Paris have taken on the competition a record three times with Madrid showcasing it twice.

Operalia is one of the premiere opera competitions in the world. Created by Plácido Domingo in 1993, the competition has seen the emergence of major superstars that include Joseph Calleja, Rolando Villazon, Joyce DiDonato, Sonya Yoncheva, Nina Stemme, Ana María Martinez, Eric Owens, Erwin Schrott, Ludovic Tezier, Giuseppe Filianoti, Carmen Giannattasio, Mikhail Petrenko, Ailyn Pérez, Pretty Yende and Brian Jagde among others.

The competition is open to singers between ages of 18 and 32. Only 40 submissions are invited to compete with a jury of 10 opera directors. Competitors have to prepare four aria for the competition and are joined with piano accompaniment for the first three rounds. The Astana Opera Orchestra, under the direction of Plácido Domingo, will accompany the final round.

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