Pecs, Budapest to host Placido Domingo's world opera competition

This will be the first time that the competition founded in 1993 will be held in Central Europe, the organisers said. A total of 1,400 competitors from more than 30 countries have applied so far, including 50 from Hungary.

 

A four-member jury will select the 40 performers who will compete in the semi-finals in Pecs from July 25 on, said Alvaro Domingo, the founder's son. The finals will be held with up to 12 participants in Budapest on August 1, he added.

 

The jury to oversee the finals will comprise of directors from ten famous opera houses around the world, including Paris, Madrid and Vienna. Three awards will be granted for male and female singers each and the winners will also get cash prizes of 30,000 dollars, 20,000 dollars and 10,000 dollars, respectively. Singers can also compete in a separate zarzuela competition whose winner will also get 10,000 dollars.

 

Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: Dániel Kováts