Operalia was founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo to discover and help launch the careers of the most promising young opera singers of today. Operalia’s goal is to attract singers between the ages of twenty and thirty-two, of all voice types from and all over the world, to have them audition and be heard by a panel of distinguished international personalities, in the most prestigious and competitive showcase in the world.

 

Each year, the Competition receives hundreds of applications. A pre-selection jury listens to every recording submitted and chooses the top candidates (between 30 and 40) to participate in that year’s competition. The international jury, presided by Plácido Domingo, listens to each of the chosen participants during two days of quarterfinals. Twenty participants are then selected to continue on to the semifinals, and ten singers are chosen for the finals. The quarterfinals and semifinals are carried out in audition form, but the final round is presented in the form of a gala concert accompanied by full orchestra.

 

Participating or even winning a prize in this competition is only the beginning of every singer’s relationship with Operalia. Since the jury is comprised, for the most part, of international opera managers and casting directors, these distinguished jurors often invite and engage some of the singers to perform in productions that are being scheduled in their respective theatres. 

See where Operalia has been

2022 Riga, Latvia – Latvian National Opera

2021 Moscow, Russia – The Bolshoi Theatre

2019 Prague, Czech Republic – National Theatre

2018 Lisbon, Portugal – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

2017 Astana, Kazhakstan – Astana Opera

2016 Guadalajara, Mexico – Teatro Degollado

2015 London, England – Royal Opera House

2014 Los Angeles, United States – Dorothy Chandler Pavillion

2013 Verona, Italy – Teatro Filarmonico

2010 Milan, Italy – Teatro alla Scala

2009 Pécs and Budapest – Pécs National TheatreHungarian State Opera

2008 Québec, Canada – Palais MontcalmGrand Théâtre de Québec

2007 Paris, France – Théâtre du Châtelet

2006 Valencia, Spain – Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

2005 Madrid, Spain – Teatro Real

2004 Los Angeles, United States – Dorothy Chandler Pavillion

2003 Lake Constance Region, Austria, Germany and Switzerland 

2002 Paris, France – Théâtre du Châtelet

2001 Washington D.C., United States – Lisner AuditoriumGeorge Washington University

2000 Los Angeles, United States – Royce Hall, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

1999 San Juan, Puerto Rico – Centro de Bellas Artes, Luis A. Ferre

1998 Hamburg, Germany – Musikhalle

1997 Tokyo, Japan – Yuport Kan-I Hoken Hall

1996 Bordeaux, France – Grand Théâtre

1995 Madrid, Spain – Teatro de la Zarzuela

1994 Mexico City, Mexico – Televisa Recording Studios

1993 Paris, France – Palais Garnier

Operalia Logo 22.17.1 3

Operalia was founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo to discover and help launch the careers of the most promising young opera singers of today. Operalia’s goal is to attract singers between the ages of twenty and thirty-two, of all voice types from and all over the world, to have them audition and be heard by a panel of distinguished international personalities, in the most prestigious and competitive showcase in the world.

 

Each year, the Competition receives hundreds of applications. A pre-selection jury listens to every recording submitted and chooses the top candidates (between 30 and 40) to participate in that year’s competition. The international jury, presided by Plácido Domingo, listens to each of the chosen participants during two days of quarterfinals. Twenty participants are then selected to continue on to the semifinals, and ten singers are chosen for the finals. The quarterfinals and semifinals are carried out in audition form, but the final round is presented in the form of a gala concert accompanied by full orchestra.

 

Participating or even winning a prize in this competition is only the beginning of every singer’s relationship with Operalia. Since the jury is comprised, for the most part, of international opera managers and casting directors, these distinguished jurors often invite and engage some of the singers to perform in productions that are being scheduled in their respective theatres. 

See where Operalia has been

2022 Riga, Latvia – Latvian National Opera

2021 Moscow, Russia – The Bolshoi Theatre

2019 Prague, Czech Republic – National Theatre

2018 Lisbon, Portugal – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos

2017 Astana, Kazhakstan – Astana Opera

2016 Guadalajara, Mexico – Teatro Degollado

2015 London, England – Royal Opera House

2014 Los Angeles, United States – Dorothy Chandler Pavillion

2013 Verona, Italy – Teatro Filarmonico

2010 Milan, Italy – Teatro alla Scala

2009 Pécs and Budapest – Pécs National TheatreHungarian State Opera

2008 Québec, Canada – Palais MontcalmGrand Théâtre de Québec

2007 Paris, France – Théâtre du Châtelet

2006 Valencia, Spain – Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

2005 Madrid, Spain – Teatro Real

2004 Los Angeles, United States – Dorothy Chandler Pavillion

2003 Lake Constance Region, Austria, Germany and Switzerland 

2002 Paris, France – Théâtre du Châtelet

2001 Washington D.C., United States – Lisner AuditoriumGeorge Washington University

2000 Los Angeles, United States – Royce Hall, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

1999 San Juan, Puerto Rico – Centro de Bellas Artes, Luis A. Ferre

1998 Hamburg, Germany – Musikhalle

1997 Tokyo, Japan – Yuport Kan-I Hoken Hall

1996 Bordeaux, France – Grand Théâtre

1995 Madrid, Spain – Teatro de la Zarzuela

1994 Mexico City, Mexico – Televisa Recording Studios

1993 Paris, France – Palais Garnier