While our artistic ensembles are currently performing across various venues, and the Opera Ensemble is preparing for its appearance at the prestigious Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland\u2014an achievement that, according to General Manager Marin Bla\u017eevi\u0107, marks the greatest success of Croatian opera in recent decades\u2014the stage of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka continues to offer opportunities and support to those just beginning their careers: the Fourth International Competition for Young Opera Singers \u201cZinka Milanov\u201d is taking place.<\/p>\n
PK-Palfinger Kran d.o.o. has been a long-time supporter of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka. The company has recognized both the \u201cSummer Classics\u201d project and the International Competition for Young Opera Singers as outstanding opportunities for young artists to connect with audiences. It is particularly gratifying to see how this Rijeka-based event has served as a springboard for talented singers from around the world.
The competition was launched in 2015 with the core mission of supporting young opera singers from Croatia as well as from far beyond its borders. This year, more than a hundred singers from across Europe, Asia, and the United States applied. Of those, 65 took part in the first round, and 23 advanced to the semifinals. The most exceptional among them will perform in the final gala concert, held on Thursday, July 14, accompanied by the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra and conducted by maestro Simon Kre\u010di\u010d, Chief Conductor of the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the concert, the winners will be announced and prizes awarded.
In addition to the three monetary prizes awarded by the professional jury and the Audience Award, this year introduces a new set of special awards in collaboration with three regional opera houses. These include future performance opportunities for selected singers in opera or concert productions at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana, the Slovenian National Theatre Opera in Maribor, and of course, at the Opera of the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka. <\/p>\n
The competition\u2019s Artistic Director, renowned soprano and professor at the Music Academy, Vlatka Or\u0161ani\u0107, presented the jury members\u2014esteemed figures from the international opera world. Joining her on the jury are legendary soprano Dunja Vejzovi\u0107, who stepped in after Cheryl Studer was forced to withdraw due to illness; soprano and incoming General Manager of the CNT in Zagreb, Iva Hraste So\u010do; Mariano Horak, founder of the Ammann-Horak Agency in Zurich; Patrick Wurzel, Artistic Director of Theatre Chemnitz Opera; Tobias Truniger, Music Director of the Opera Studio at the Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper); Christian Carlstedt, casting advisor to numerous German opera houses; director and Metropolitan Opera veteran Fabrizio Melano, a contemporary of Zinka Milanov; Marin Bla\u017eevi\u0107, General Manager of the Rijeka CNT; and Valentin Egel, Chief Conductor of the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press, all jury members emphasized the importance of this Rijeka-based competition, which has already launched international careers for several past participants, including Mojca Bitenc from Slovenia. They praised the outstanding organization and announced an exciting final, having already recognized several exceptional talents in the very first round.<\/p>\n
“This competition is important for young singers for several reasons,” said Dunja Vejzovi\u0107, explaining: “In addition to being able to evaluate themselves against others, which raises adrenaline and further motivates them, they also have the rare opportunity to be heard by such a respectable international jury.”<\/p>\n
Iva Hraste So\u010do called the competition a winning combination for both singers and theaters, and emphasized that this cooperation between the Rijeka and Zagreb HNKs is a kind of upgrade of the K-HNK Consortium, within which the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra and the awarded contestants will perform at the upcoming Opera Festival, next June in Zagreb.<\/p>\n
Honor and pleasure, as well as congratulations to the organizers for such an international event, a unique cultural project whose numerous participants will certainly spread the word about Rijeka and Kvarner and return again, were also expressed by representatives of the sponsors, co-financiers and patrons of the three cash prizes: Nata\u0161a Rakovac Rustja, director of the company PK-Palfinger Kran doo; Irena Per\u0161i\u0107 \u017divadinov, director of the Kvarner Tourist Board and Marko Mika\u0161inovi\u0107, head of product development at the Rijeka Tourist Board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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