plácido domingo

Chad Batka
Plácido Domingo

Singer and conductor, tenor and baritone, eclectic artist with more than 150 roles, acclaimed by the public on stages all over the world.

Defined Renaissance man, awarded with honorary titles and prizes also for his humanitarian commitment.

Promoter of young talents and founder of Operalia. Worldwide Ambassador of Spanish Culture and Zarzuela.

Extraordinarily versatile, he has been general director and promoter of opera with Carreras and Pavarotti.

Performer of world premieres of operas, starred in opera movies, pioneer of crossover and winner of 12 Grammy Awards.

Conductor with more than 600 performances.

His career has continued for more than half a century and for this he has been celebrated at the Operas of New York, Vienna, Verona and Milan.

Plácido Domingo is a world-renowned, multifaceted artist. Recognized as one of the finest and most influential singing actors in the history of opera, he is also a conductor and a major force as an opera administrator. His repertoire now encompasses more than 150 roles, with over 4000 career performances.

aida garifullina

Simon Fowler
Aida Garifullina

Aida Garifullina is a celebrated Russian lyric soprano, born in Kazan in 1987. She gained international recognition after winning the first prize in Operalia 2013. She is a regular guest artist of the world’s leading opera houses and concert venues, including the Royal Opera House (London), La Scala (Milan), the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Paris National Opera, Arena di Verona (Italy) and Salzburg Festival and is also known for her appearances at major events like the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

"One of the most exciting opera divas of today and tomorrow," ~ Plácido Domingo

"A subtle debut album that announces a star in the making… each time she is asked to go to a high note, the voice gleams with vibrant colors." ~ Francisco Salazar, OperaWire

joseph calleja

Decca Classics
Joseph Calleja

Joseph Calleja is a world-renowned lyric tenor known for his "golden-age" timbre and expressive musicality. He began formal vocal training at age 16 and made his professional debut as Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth at 19—a pivotal year that also saw him win the 1998 Caruso Competition and the CulturArte Prize in Operalia 1999.

"Only one lyric tenor on the scene today has the honeyed tone and ingratiating style to make comparisons to Pavarotti and Gigli seem serious, and it is Calleja… now maturing into an artist of the first rank." ~The New Yorker

"Joseph Calleja’s voice reminds many of the golden-age tenors of the past… a young singer with an old-school sensibility." ~ NPR’s Tom Huizenga, Deceptive Cadence

"The chief virtue is the voice itself: a firm, even and true tenor with that heroic Italianate ingredient that draws comparisons with Pavarotti." ~ The Guardian

sonya yoncheva

Javier del Real
Sonya Yoncheva

The recipient of the 2021 Opus Klassik as Singer of the Year is an acclaimed fixture on the most important stages of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, Bayerische Staatsoper, Berlin Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsoper, and the Opéra de Paris. Her unforgettable portrayals of iconic roles have received tremendous acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Sonya Yoncheva’s extensive repertoire includes jewels of the Baroque canon, as well as works by Bellini, Cherubini, Giordano, Mascagni, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Verdi. Celebrated for her distinctly beautiful voice and exceptional dramatic presence, Sonya is equally at home on the concert and recital stage, having performed to critical acclaim in cities including Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Dresden, Hamburg, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Monte-Carlo, Montevideo, Moscow, Munich, New York, Paris, Santiago de Chile, São Paulo, Salzburg, Tokyo, and Vienna.

In November 2021, Sonya Yoncheva became a UNICEF Ambassador in Bulgaria, standing up for children’s rights.

Ms. Yoncheva is also a global ambassador for Rolex.

Sonya Yoncheva is a Bulgarian operatic soprano, born in 1981 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. She is known for her powerful voice and dramatic interpretations, with a career spanning both early and Baroque music as well as traditional Romantic-era works. She has won numerous awards, including the top prize at Plácido Domingo's Operalia competition in 2010.

arturo chacon cruz

Arturo Chacón-Cruz is a celebrated Mexican-American lyric tenor acclaimed for his rich, heartfelt portrayals in works by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Offenbach, and more. After completing studies in voice performance and participating in young artist programs with San Francisco Opera and Houston Grand Opera, his career surged in 2005 when he won both the Zarzuela and CulturArte prizes at the prestigious Operalia competition founded by Plácido Domingo—a breakthrough that opened doors to major engagements across Italy, France, Spain, Japan, and beyond. Since then, he has graced leading stages worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, LA Opera, and the Bolshoi, earning accolades for roles such as Rodolfo, Alfredo, Hoffmann, Werther, and Manrico, while also championing Mexican music through recordings and performances with mariachi ensembles.

Winner of the 2024 International Opera Awards coveted "Readers' Award".

 Arturo is an advocate for music education and celiac disease research.

"His was a concert with no equal… the warm radiance of his mid-range continues to bloom as his voice ascends to his confident upper register." ~ Ken Herman, San Diego Story

"He sailed through ‘Di quella pira’, topping it off with a ringing high C… a far richer and fuller voice than expected." ~ Rick Perdian, Seen and Heard International

"Winning the Operalia opened the gate for me… I was suddenly getting contracts to sing in Italy, France, Spain, and Japan." ~ Arturo Chacón-Cruz, quoted in an interview with Ken Herman, San Diego Story

rachel willis-sørensen

Olivia Kahler
Rachel Willis-Sørensen

Rachel Willis-Sørensen is an American lyric soprano known for her powerful voice, expressive phrasing, and wide-ranging repertoire that spans from Mozart and Strauss to Verdi and Wagner. She earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance from Brigham Young University and refined her artistry at the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Her breakthrough came in 2010 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, followed by top honors at the Operalia competition in 2014. Since then, she has appeared on the world’s leading opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera, performing major roles such as Donna Anna, the Marschallin, Rusalka, Leonora, and Elsa. In 2025, she received the Beverly Sills Artist Award from the Met, affirming her status as one of the most compelling sopranos of her generation. Alongside her operatic work, she records and performs concert repertoire internationally as a Sony Classical artist.

"…the American soprano has without a doubt one of the most impressive voices in the opera world. The timbre, of marmoreal beauty, is striking, the projection telluric…" ~ Le Monde

"As Antonia, Rachel’s ample soprano lived perfectly on the edge … Her voice allowed to soar into full flight, growing more passionate with each line until she ascended all the way to a thrilling climactic high note …" — OperaWire, reviewing her portrayal of Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann

nicholas brownlee

Fay Fox
Nicholas Brownlee

Nicholas Brownlee is an American bass-baritone acclaimed for his commanding stage presence and rich vocal tone. A graduate of the University of South Alabama and Rice University, he has performed at esteemed opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Oper Frankfurt, and Santa Fe Opera. His repertoire encompasses roles such as Wotan (Das Rheingold), Amonasro (Aida), and Escamillo (Carmen). Brownlee is a first-prize winner of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, recipient of the Zarzuela Prize at Operalia, grand prize winner of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Winner of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award in 2025.

"Brownlee’s voice is a thing of beauty—rich, dark, and full of nuance." ~ Musical America

"His dark, luxurious tone and impeccable technique make him one of the most compelling bass-baritones on stage today." ~ OperaWire

"A commanding presence with a voice that combines power and finesse, Brownlee’s performances captivate from first note to last." ~The New York Times

ganqun yu

Jiyang Chen
Ganqun Yu

Guanqun?Yu is a celebrated lyric soprano who has risen to prominence on the world’s leading opera stages. Trained at the Shanghai Conservatory and refined through the Young Artist Program at Teatro Comunale di Bologna, she first attracted attention by winning the 2008 Belvedere Competition and second Prize in Operalia 2012.

Yu is particularly admired for her interpretations of Mozart heroines such as Fiordiligi, Donna Anna, and Elettra, while her Italian roles—including Leonora (Il trovatore), Desdemona (Otello), Mimì (La bohème), and Liù (Turandot)—have garnered widespread acclaim. She has performed at top-tier venues like the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Paris Opera, Hamburg State Opera, and the Bregenz Festival.

Recently, Yu has continued to impress with major role debuts including Marguerite in Faust (Toronto) and Medora in Il corsaro (Bari), further cementing her reputation for vocal elegance, emotional depth, and versatility.

"Guanqun?Yu’s soprano voice also has a seemingly impossible combination of elements. She has a fast, light sweet vibrato like the fluttering wings of a bird, surrounding a core that is robust like the trunk of a tree… Yu’s realization of this timeless character was impeccably complex and relatable." ~ BroadwayWorld, Keira Grant

"The most perfect singer of the evening… What an absolutely gorgeous, expressive voice she has, with perfect, even phrasing and a luscious sweetness of tone. Even when reaching to the highest register, there is never any strain." ~ Intermission, Stephen Low

"Guanqun?Yu’s Donna Anna projected a majesty that suggested the Countess in Figaro and demonstrated a choreographic grace at reacting physically to emotionally dramatic moments… On opening night, it was Yu’s performance that shone most brightly." ~ Bachtrack & San Francisco Classical Voice

pavel petrov

Daniil_Rabovsky
Pavel Petrov

Pavel Petrov is a Belarusian tenor known for his elegant lyric voice, musical sensitivity, and compelling stage presence. A graduate of the Belarus State Academy of Music, he gained international recognition after winning First Prize and the Zarzuela Prize at Operalia 2018. He has performed leading roles such as Alfredo in La Traviata, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Rodolfo in La Bohème, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. Petrov has appeared at major opera houses including the Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, and the Salzburg Festival. With his warm timbre and refined technique, he continues to build a prominent international career.

"Pavel Petrov is a sensational artist—his richly resonant tenor soared effortlessly in Puccini’s La Bohème, capturing both technical mastery and heartfelt emotion." ~ Belarusian Telegraph Agency

"His triumph at Operalia was no surprise—Petrov’s performance demonstrated poise, clarity, and dramatic flair that set him apart from the other finalists." ~ Euronews

pretty yende

Kim Fox
Pretty Yende

Pretty Yende is a South African soprano renowned for her radiant voice and captivating stage presence has quickly become one of the brightest stars of the classical music world. She gained significant recognition after winning First, Zarzuela Prize and Audience Prizes in Operalia 2011.  Plácido Domingo has since been a mentor and supporter throughout her career. Yende’s versatile repertoire spans coloratura roles as well as lyric soprano parts, and she is celebrated for her technical precision, emotional depth, and vibrant artistry.

She has been seen at nearly all of the major theaters of the world, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Opernhaus Zürich and Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Vienna Staatsoper as well as many major concert venues.

"Yende’s voice is delightful, her personality sparkles, and her story is inspiring." ~ AP News

"Her voice has a luminous sheen combined with steely resolve... she delivered some of the most difficult coloratura passages with scintillating precision." ~ The New York Times

"Yende’s Violetta emerged as a vibrant blend of heedless gaiety, rich emotion and haunted tragedy." ~ San Francisco Chronicle

ana maría martínez

Promethean Artists
Ana María Martínez

Ana María Martínez is a Grammy-winning lyric soprano celebrated for her rare blend of technical clarity, expressive warmth, and dramatic presence. She trained at both the University of North Texas and the Houston Grand Opera Studio, earning early acclaim for her interpretations of operatic and zarzuela repertoire. Martínez's international breakthrough came with roles such as Fiordiligi, Pamina, and Mimì, performed at prestigious houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, and Bayerische Staatsoper. Known for her dedication to Latin American music, she has championed works by composers like Chávez, Villa-Lobos, and Henríquez Ureña, both in live performance and recording, earning her distinction as a cultural ambassador for her heritage.

Ms. Martínez won the Zarzuela Prize in Operalia 1995.

"A beautiful woman with a fascinating voice, full of velvety mezzo-ish half-tints in the middle and bottom ranges, with a gleaming top." ~ London Times

"Ana María Martínez sung an enchanting Fiordiligi. Martínez sailed through the triplets in 'Come scoglio' with precision and grace, and her exquisitely shaped, deeply felt 'Per pietà' was amongst the most beautiful musical interludes of the evening." ~Opera News

"Martínez's Micaëla was radiant and poised, her voice pure and expressive, capturing the character's innocence and inner strength." ~ The New York Times

elena stikhina

ksenia-paris
Elena Stikhina

Elena Stikhina is a Russian soprano acclaimed for her powerful voice, emotional depth, and magnetic stage presence. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory and a former soloist with the Mariinsky Theatre, she has emerged as one of the most exciting dramatic sopranos of her generation. Stikhina has earned international acclaim for roles such as Tosca, Salome, Aida, and Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, appearing at major opera houses including the Paris Opera, Teatro alla Scala, and the Metropolitan Opera. Her performances are praised for combining vocal strength with sensitivity, and she continues to gain recognition as a leading voice in both the Russian and international operatic repertoire.

Ms Stikhina she won the Audience and CulturArte Prizes in Operalia 2016.

"The gifted young Russian soprano Elena Stikhina’s voice has unusual allure…a combination of glow and penetration, lightness and strength, at times floating above the orchestra, at times slicing through it." ~ The Boston Globe

"The performance was dominated by…Stikhina, who after a few rough notes at the beginning displayed an ample and, at times, huge voice, pure and crystalline…All of Tosca’s fragility and sensitivity emerged with grace and emotion…One thing is certain: a new star has appeared." ~ Art & Culture Today