Ekaterine Buachidze, mezzo-soprano from Georgia, and Mihai Damian, baritone from Romania, have been announced as joint winners of Operalia 2025, held at the Concert Hall of Sofia.
The competition, founded and presided over by Plácido Domingo, celebrated its 35th edition, accompanied by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nayden Todorov.
Winners
First Prize: Ekaterine Buachidze (mezzo-soprano, Georgia) and Mihai Damian (baritone, Romania)
Second Prize: Natalie Lewis (mezzo-soprano, United States) and Grisha Martirosyan (baritone, Armenia)
Third Prize: Samira Galimova (soprano, Russia) and Dave Monaco (tenor, Italy)
Birgit Nilsson Prize: Natalie Lewis (United States) and Alexander Grassauer (Austria)
Pepita Embil Prize of Zarzuela: Ekaterine Buachidze (Georgia)
Don Plácido Domingo Ferrer Prize of Zarzuela: Grisha Martirosyan (Armenia)
Rolex Prize of the Audience: Ekaterine Buachidze (Georgia) and Mihai Damian (Romania)
CulturArte Prize: William Thomas (United Kingdom)
Special Prizes by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture: Mihai Damian (Romania) and Dave Monaco (Italy)
A leading showcase for young singers
Founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo, Operalia aims to discover and promote young opera singers between the ages of 20 and 32. Each year, hundreds of applications are received and evaluated by a pre-selection jury, which narrows the field to around 30 to 40 participants. The 2025 edition began with 32 singers, from whom 11 reached the final round, accompanied by orchestra before an international jury of casting directors and opera managers.
The jury
The 2025 jury brought together artistic directors, casting managers, and professionals from major European and international opera houses:
Isamay Benavente – Artistic Director, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid
Sophie de Lint – Director, Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam
Marta Domingo – Stage Director
Jonathan Friend – Artistic Advisor, Irish National Opera, Dublin; Casting Consultant, Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm
Paolo Gavazzeni – Artistic Coordinator, Teatro alla Scala di Milano
Tobias Hasan – Opera Director, Staatsoper Berlin
Peter Katona – Director of Casting, Royal Opera House, London
Robert Körner – Casting Director, Wiener Staatsoper
Joan Matabosch – Artistic Director, Teatro Real, Madrid
Erik Malmquist – Head of Casting, Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich
Evamaria Wieser – Casting Consultant and Director of the Young Singers Project, Salzburg Festival; European Casting Consultant, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Sonya Yoncheva – Soprano, Founder of SY11 Events
An international tradition
Since its creation at the Palais Garnier in Paris in 1993, Operalia has travelled to leading theatres worldwide — from Los Angeles to London, Lisbon, Prague, and Mumbai. Over the decades, it has helped launch the careers of singers such as Erwin Schrott, Sonya Yoncheva, and Pretty Yende.
Watch
The final was streamed live on Medici.tv and remains available for replay.
We recommend this performance for its artistic value. Moto Perpetuo does not receive any benefit or commission from streaming platforms. A subscription to Medici.tv may be required to view the full content.
Subscribe to our newsletter