PLACIDO DOMINGO PRESENTS OPERALIA 2007
THE WORLD OPERA COMPETITION
June 24 to 30, 2007 � PARIS, FRANCE


Operalia, The World Opera Competition was founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo to discover and honor the best new young Opera singers of today. His goal is to attract singers of all voice categories and from all around the globe and make them be heard by a panel of distinguished international Opera personalities, in the most prestigious and competitive forum in the world. Hosted in a different international city every year, Operalia 2007 will take place in Paris, for its Fifteenth Season (Paris was also the host city for its first and tenth season). Above and beyond the prize money awarded to the finalists, it is Plácido Domingo�s commitment to pave and support the career of any and all worthy contestants through further personal guidance, consideration and recommendation.

Under the artistic guidance of Plácido Domingo, Operalia 2007 is a competition open to all voice categories for singers from 18 to 30 years old who are ready to perform on the world�s great opera stages. Operalia 2007 will be held in Paris from June 24 to 30, 2007. There is no fee to enter the competition. The 40 applicants selected to participate in Operalia 2007 will receive round trip travel arrangements to Paris, and accommodations in this city by the Competition�s Organization Committee.

All contestants must have 2 opera arias prepared in the original language. They may add, if they wish, 1 or 2 Zarzuela arias. Pianists will be provided and available to the contestants during the competition. Contestants are also permitted to bring their own personal pianist, at their own expense.

Operalia 2007 will take place over several rounds. These are:


1. Preliminary Selection by Application Package:

Applicants must submit their application package by the March 15, 2007 Deadline* to the address stated below. The Application Package must include the following:

a) Photocopy of current passport or official identity card.
b) A professional resume in English language.
c) A personal photograph (Head Shot).
d) A completed and signed application form. Please download below and print the application form in pdf format.
e) 2 recorded opera arias of the applicant’s choice in the original language. Applicants may add, if they wish, 1 or 2 recorded Zarzuela arias.

* These recordings can be submitted in any of the following formats: Video Tape, Audio Cassette, CD or DVD. Please note: Submitted materials will not be returned.

Applicants and their respective packages will be reviewed by a Committee of three Judges who will select the 40 selected contestants who will be invited to Paris, for the competition. (The Committee will choose also 10 extra contestants who may substitute the regular contestants in case they can not perform. These extra contestants should remain available if necessary.) Both the regular contestants and the alternate contestants will be notified by e-mail, telephone or by fax.

During the intermission of the Finals, a video presenting the finalists will be shown. Therefore, chosen applicants will be required to further send to us the following materials:

Photographic material: Whenever possible photo(s) from childhood, at school or music conservatory, in costume and make-up, back or on stage, everyday life in your home country or elsewhere.


2. Quarterfinals Round - Preliminary Live Auditions with piano � June 24 and 25, 2007

The 40 selected contestants must have prepared 4 opera arias in the original language. They may also have prepared, if they wished, 1 or 2 Zarzuela arias. Each contestant will have to sing 2 arias from among the 4 arias prepared. The first aria to sing should be one of the contestant�s own choosing and the second aria will be chosen for the contestants by the official Jury. The Zarzuela aria will be also requested by the Jury in case the contestants have prepared it in addition to 4 opera arias.
The Jury will audition 20 contestants on June 24 and 20 others on June 25. In the evening of June 25 the Jury will select 20 contestants to move forward to the next round.

3. Semifinals Round � Live Auditions with piano - June 28, 2007

The selected 20 contestants will each have to sing 1 aria among the 4 arias prepared, chosen for them by the official Jury, and 1 Zarzuela aria if necessary.
The Jury will then select 10 contestants to move forward to the final round.

4. Final Round � Live Auditions accompanied by full orchestra - June 30, 2007

The 10 finalist contestants will each have to sing 1 aria of their own choosing from among the prepared arias and 1 Zarzuela aria if necessary.
Under the leadership of Plácido Domingo, a panel of distinguished international Judges (directors of the world�s great opera houses) will select the winners of the Operalia 2007 Competition.

PRIZES

A Grand Total of US$175,000.00 in prize money will be awarded in the following categories (there might be also equally placed winners):

  • Two First Prize Winners, one for the best Female Singer, US $ 30,000.00, one for the best Male Singer, US $ 30,000.00.
  • Two Second Prize Winners, one for the Female Singer, US $ 20,000.00, one for the Male Singer, US $ 20,000.00.
  • Two Third Prize Winners, one for the Female Singer, US $ 10,000.00, one for the Male Singer, US $ 10,000.00.
  • The Pepita Embil Domingo Zarzuela Prize for the best Zarzuela Female Singer � US $ 10,000.00.
  • The Don Plácido Domingo Zarzuela Prize for the best Zarzuela Male Singer � US $ 10,000.00.
  • The Audience Prize awarded by the audience attending the Final Competition on June 30, 2007 � US $ 10,000.00 � will be offered by one of the sponsors.

(Broadcast and Recordings: The 3 Round Live Auditions may be broadcast via television, Pay-TV, cable, radio and/or internet streaming video or recorded for commercial release on VHS, DVD or CD. By submitting their application, the applicants grant Operalia the right to make use of their name, voice, image, likeness and biographical materials in connection with any broadcast and/or recording.)

Please, send your Application Package to the following address :

Operalia
230, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré,
75008 Paris, France
Telephone: (+33-1) 5375-0082
Telefax:     (+33-1) 5376-0092

Email: [email protected]

Application Deadline: March 15, 2007
CONSIDERING VERY LONG POSTAL DELAYS FOR SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FROM DISTANT COUNTRIES, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE APPLICATION DEADLINE (RECEIVED DEADLINE) IS POSTPONED FOR ALL CANDIDATES TO MARCH 30, 2007.

download application form (46 kb)

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©2007 Operalia