Operalia competition concludes in Shanghai

The 34th edition of the Operalia competition, founded by renowned tenor Plácido Domingo, concluded on Sunday, November 1, in Shanghai. American soprano Emma Marhefka and Ukrainian bass-baritone Vladyslav Buialskyi were awarded first prizes, each receiving $30,000 and a Rolex watch from the public prize.

Final performances held in Shanghai

The competition took place from October 26 to November 1 at the Shangyin Opera House. The final performance featured the Shanghai Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nayden Todorov. The event was broadcast on medici.tv, reaching a global audience.

Emma Marhefka's achievements

Emma Marhefka, from Pennsylvania, performed "Ah, non credea mirarti" from Bellini's La sonnambula and won the Pepita Embil zarzuela prize for her performance of "Mulata infeliz" from María la O by Ernesto Lecuona. She has also been awarded the Laffont competition of the Metropolitan Opera for 2025.

Vladyslav Buialskyi's background

Vladyslav Buialskyi, born in 1997 in Berdiansk, performed "Sia qualunque delle figlie" from Rossini's La Cenerentola. He previously reached the semifinals of Operalia in 2021 and has since performed at the Metropolitan Opera in Eugene Onéguine. He also won the first grand prize at the Tenor Viñas competition in Barcelona this year.

Other prize winners

Second prizes were awarded to American soprano Tessa McQueen and South Korean baritone Junhyeok Felix Park, both of whom had competed in the Viñas competition. Tessa McQueen shared the Birgit Nilsson prize, for Wagner and Richard Strauss interpreters, with British tenor Robert Lewis. Ukrainian bass Roman Chabaranok received the third prize.

Additional awards and jury

The Cuban baritone Eleomar Cuello won the Don Plácido Domingo Ferrer zarzuela prize, and the Spanish soprano Sofía Esparza received the CulturArte prize. Neither of the two French contestants, Léontine Maridat-Zimmerlin and Lauren Mimouni, reached the final. The jury, led by Plácido Domingo, included twelve international opera figures.

Operalia's legacy

Operalia, founded in 1993, has recognized notable artists such as Sonya Yoncheva, Pretty Yende, Rolando Villazón, and Ludovic Tézier. Finalists who did not win any awards received $5,000 each as a prize.