OPERALIA Prizes

A total of US$ 175,000 in prizes will be awarded. Two first, two second and two third prizes will be awarded, for the best Female and Male Singers. In addition, there will be two Zarzuela Prizes and the Audience Prize.



Most important, Plácido Domingo is in a sense a patron not only of the winners but of many of the competitors, whether engaging them for his own companies and projects, or recommending them for other engagements around the world.

Nine prizes are awarded by OPERALIA:

  • Two First prizes
  • Two Second prizes
  • Two Third prizes
  • Zarzuela prizes
  • The Audience prize



"Zarzuela Prizes"
Plácido Domingo was born in Madrid and he had the luck to have parents who were musicians and theater people. His father Plácido Domingo Sr. and his mother Pepita Embil were stars of the zarzuela, the Spanish form of operetta. In 1949, when he was eight, they created a company of their own in Mexico, and his younger sister and he joined them there. The "Zarzuela Prizes" are in honour of Plácido Domingo’s parents.

"The Audience Prize"
During the final, the audience votes for a finalist of its choosing. The audience receives a ballot and scores each of the finalists. During the final interval, OPERALIA tabulates these votes while the Jury members are deliberating and selecting their winners. Plácido Domingo then announces the results both of the Jury and the public votes, and announces the awards.


©2005 Operalia