Singing competitions - Has the jury reached a verdict?

In this episode of Opera Road Trip, host Sebastian Schwarz turns the spotlight from national operatic traditions to a crucial gateway for emerging artists: singing competitions.
Against the backdrop of increasingly opaque casting processes, the episode explores why competitions continue to play a decisive — and controversial — role in operatic careers today.

Schwarz is joined by key figures from some of Europe’s most influential competitions, including Beata Klatka (Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition, Warsaw), Lars Flaaten (Queen Sonja Singing Competition, Oslo), and Andrew Watts (International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch).
They discuss what distinguishes serious, transparent competitions from flawed or purely instrumental ones, and how juries actually think.

The episode also features first-hand perspectives from internationally active singers Kristina Mkhitaryan and Shira Patchornik, reflecting on how competitions shaped their careers — for better and for worse.
Through live excerpts, career data, and candid discussion, this episode offers young singers realistic insight, practical guidance, and a nuanced view of competitions as one — but not the only — path into the operatic profession.

 

Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d’Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.

 

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Music extracts for Episode 5:

 

Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72

 

Cisza dokoła from Straszny Dwor – The haunted manor (Stanisław Moniouszko): Samuel Stopford, Stanisław Moniouszko International Vocal Competition, 2025

 

Das war sehr gut, Mandryka from Arabella (Richard Strauss): Kathleen O’Mara, Queen Sonja Singing Competition, 2025

 

Non so le tetre immagini from Il Corsaro (Giuseppe Verdi): Kristina Mkhitaryan,  Valencia

 

Mon cœur s’ouvre a ta voix from Samson et Dalila (Camille Saint Saens): Claudia Ribas, International Voice Competition s’Hertogenbosch, 2024

 

Se pietà per me non senti from Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Georg Friedrich Händel): Shira Patchornik, International Singing competition for Baroque Opera Pietro Antonio Cesti, 2021

 

 

 

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Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

 

 

ABOUT OPERA ROAD TRIP Opera Road Trip is OperaVision’s new two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d’Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.