Plácido Domingo’s Operalia 2010 at La Scala, Milan
27 April 2010
Plácido Domingo(Photo: Richard Haughton)
Plácido Domingo’s Operalia 2010 ‘World Opera Competition’ was launched on Sunday at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
40 singers aged 18 to 30 were heard in the first two days, out of whom 20 have been selected for today’s semi-finals.
10 finalists will go through to perform an aria of their choice on 2 May, each accompanied by the Filharmonica della Scala under Domingo and watched by a live audience of up to 3,000 people.
This year’s prizes include USD $30,000 for the two top winners (one male, one female) plus casting opportunities through Domingo and the option of joining his new Operalia Agency.
Operalia was founded in 1993 and takes place in a different city each year. Milan was chosen for 2010 because Domingo is currently celebrating his 40th anniversary at La Scala with six performances in the title role of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra.
The Competition attracts more than 1,000 applications each year and is one of the most prestigious international platforms for young opera singers. Past winners who have gone on to achieve worldwide success include soprano Elizabeth Futral, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and tenor Rolando Villazón.
