_ The video 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. Under the artistic guidance of Plácido Domingo, Operalia 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. The jury of 10 opera directors, presided by Plácido Domingo as a non-voting member, convenes in the host city to listen to all forty finalists during two days of quarter finals. Each singer begins by selecting one opera aria, followed by a choice made by the jury. If they are competing in the the category, the singer also interprets a zarzuela aria. Twenty finalists are then invited to participate in the semi-final, singing one aria of the jury’s choice and, if they are competing in the category, a zarzuela aria. The quarter and semi finals are accompanied by pianists, whilst the gala final concert is accompanied by a symphonic orchestra conducted by Plácido Domingo. Plácido Domingo is present throughout the competition; he does not vote, but he supervises the proceedings and is available to give artistic and career advice to all the participants. Competing or winning a prize is only the beginning of each singer’s relationship with Operalia. Since the jury is comprised for the most part of opera house directors, each jury member often invites the singers to perform in future productions in their theatres. Plácido Domingo himself, both as a singer, as a conductor and as director of the Operas in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., takes a sincere interest in the career development of Operalia singers.
Operalia takes place every year in a different city in the world.
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