3rd Tbilisi International Voice Competition OPERA CROWN

November 25, 2023 marked the conclusion of the 3^rd Tbilisi International Voice Competition OPERA CROWN.

The competition’s jury consisted of some of the leading names and the heads of the world’s top opera houses and agencies: Peter Mario Katona, Casting Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Samuel Gelber, Head of Artistic Planning of the Washington National Opera; Robert Körner, Casting Director of the Vienna State Opera; Szilveszter Ókovócs, General Director of the Hungarian State Opera; Sarah-Jane Davies, Head of Casting of the Scottish Opera; Peter Theiler, Artistic Director of the Dresden Opera; Henning Ruhe, Artistic Director of the Gothenburg Opera; Olga Rostropovich, President of the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation; Virginio Fedeli, Producer and Manager of Atelier Musicale International Agency; and the Chairman of the Jury – Badri Maisuradze, Artistic Director of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre.

The winners of the 3^rd Tbilisi International Voice Competition OPERA CROWN are:

1^st Prize – Elmina Hasan (Georgia-Azerbaijan)

2^nd Prize – Ana Palavandishvili (Georgia)

3^rd Prize – Dinmukhamed Koshkinbayev (Kazakhstan)

The winner of the competition was awarded the first prize by Tamar Tsulukidze, the Head of the Creative Process Promotion Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia, the second prize was awarded by the founder and General Director of “Al-Mutfarrda,” Abdulaziz Hassan Zakri, and the third prize winner was awarded by the founder of “Gemuani,” Archil Jaliashvili. The Artistic Director of the Theater, Badri Maisuradze, presented a prize on behalf of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre to Alikhan Zeinolla (Kazakhstan).

Peter Mario Katona, Casting Director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden:

“The contest has very fine level. And what is particularly good for me to see that so many singers from Georgia and other countries nearby meet here who may have not the chance to go to other competitions in America or western Europe or other places. So, for them this is an important platform to compare with their peers, where they stand, what happens, what matters, what is successful, is it just voice, is it polished technique or is it the personality. Also the jury cannot always agree on those things with each other. So, it’s not the clear judgment necessarily. I am very happy to come here because it is such a hospitable place and it opens some new perspectives and new horizons “.

Olga Rostropovich, President of the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation:

“OPERA CROWN has definitely developed. And I will never be tired of admiring of the organization of the entire competition, because I know how difficult it is to organize everything and I must say great admiration to the director of the competition Eliso Chirakadze, because she and her team had done a fantastic job. It’s really incredible. We have fantastic jury, really international jury, Artistic Directors of all major theatres of Europe and USA. Here is very good cast of singers and I think few of them will have an international career in a short time. So, congratulations to Georgia, congratulations to Tbilisi. Opera Crown is a fantastic competition. I wish all the best and I am sure that this competition will have very, very long and happy life.”

Samuel Gelber, Head of Artistic Planning of the Washington National Opera:

“The competition is of very high level this year. There is a great tradition of singing in Georgia, very high level and we heard that here, not only from Georgia but from the international competition, from the singers which come from the whole world. And also to be in this beautiful theatre it is a great pleasure.”

Badri Maisuradze, the Chairman of the Jury, Artistic Director of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre:

“This competition is important because directors of the best theaters are in the jury. Can you imagine, young people from 20 countries were represented this year. It is noteworthy that after the OPERA CROWN competition there is great interest to our participants. We have many examples of this and we are happy about it. Even the winners and non-winners of our competition have interesting careers and sing in international theaters. We hope to expand further.”

Mr. Sultan Bin Abdulrahman Al-Bazei CEO of Theater and Performing Arts Commission (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia):

“I am happy to be in Georgia. I am here for the first time. I love this country; I love these people. It was a great occasion to be the part of this competition. Here we listened to the talents from all around the world. I think that this competition is very well organized. I thank Georgian people for hosting this competition and would like to come back and be part of this event again.”

Supporters of the 2023 competition: