Mr. Li Shuobing and Mr. Louis Gouend Invited as Honorary Guests of Prestigious International Italian Opera Vocal Competition
On New Year's Eve, Moscow hosted a gathering of the world's leading opera luminaries. On December 21, the grand finale of the Competizione dell'Opera, one of Europe's most esteemed vocal competitions, was held at the Zaryadye Concert Hall. Mr. Li Shuobing, President of FBA EAC, and Louis Gouend, Partner of the Association, President of the African Business Club, and Expert of the Council for the Development and Support of Comprehensive Partnership with African Countries at the State Duma of the Russian Federation, were honored guests at the event.
The Competizione dell'Opera, established in 1996, is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in the upcoming season. The competition's permanent artistic director is Hans-Joachim Frey, an internationally acclaimed art director and producer from Germany. Under his stewardship, the competition, which originated in Hamburg and is registered in Dresden, has evolved into a global project with a special affinity to Russia. The first winner of the competition was Russian soprano Marina Meshcheryakova, and this year's second prize was awarded to soprano Alexandra Zotova. In 2011, the competition expanded its geographical footprint for the first time by being hosted at the New Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, subsequently broadening its reach to include the world's premier opera venues.
More than 400 aspiring singers from 25 countries participated in the competition, showcasing their exceptional vocal prowess. Among the finalists was Chinese vocalist Ma Enguang, who is honing his skills at the Far Eastern State Institute of Arts, exemplifying the robust cultural and educational exchange between Russia and China.
The performances of the 12 most distinguished finalists were adjudicated by a distinguished international jury comprising 17 influential figures in the world of musical theater:
– Makvala Kasrashvili, People's Artist of the USSR.
– Anton Getman, Director of the Moscow Novaya Opera Theatre.
– Ivan Rudin, Artistic Director of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and CEO of Zaryadye.
– Ramiz Usmanov, People's Artist of Uzbekistan and Guest Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre.
– Marina Meshcheryakova, the inaugural winner of the competition (1996), Honored Artist of Russia, and Director of Stage Production Company (Austria).
– Cristina Presmanes (Spain), Hartmut Schorghofer (Austria), Franz Justus (Germany), Jiang Shangrong (China/Russia), Evgeny Morozov (UAE), and other esteemed experts.
The winners of the 2025 competition were Navruz Mamaradzhabova (soprano, Uzbekistan), Alexandra Zotova (soprano, Russia), and Medea Chikashvili (mezzo-soprano, Georgia). The Competizione dell'Opera, supported by The Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, has once again demonstrated its role as a significant cultural nexus, uniting talents and traditions from diverse countries under the banner of Italian opera heritage.