Africans fade in Operalia final
OperaOnly one host-country singer has made it into Sunday’s Capetown final of Placido Domingo’s Operalia competition.
The opera finalists are:
Semyon Antakov, baritone, Russia
Caitlin Gotimer, soprano, USA
Navasard Hakobyan, baritone, Armenia
Eugénie Joneau, mezzo-soprano, France
Taehan Kim, baritone, South Korea
Omer Kobiljak, tenor, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stephano Park, bass, South Korea
Julie Roset, soprano, France
Luke Sutliff, baritone, USA
Elena Villalón, soprano, USA
Nombulelo Yende, soprano, South Africa
Siphokazi Molteno is also in the Zarzuela finals…
I’ll be rooting for Siphokazi to win the Zarzuela prize, and Nombulelo for the big one. At Cardiff Singer of the World earlier this year, both those singers impressed me more than the eventual winner.
What does it matter anyway. Dominic Domingo has been repping one of the singers (Navasard Hakobyan) quietly for six months plus. I bet as soon as he gives his client the award, Askonas will officially announce the signing.
My money is on Navasard Hakobyan, Elena Villalón, and Nombulelo Yende (Pretty’s sister) being among the main competition medal winners. Omer Kobiljak as a dark horse possibility.
??? your list above shows three:
Caitlin Gotimer, soprano, USA
Luke Sutliff, baritone, USA
Elena Villalón, soprano, USA
The competition is in Cape Town, South Africa.
Why would any singer want to affiliate themselves with Domingo after all that has come out about his abusive and sexist behavior? People in this business talk a good game when it comes to equality and progressive ideals, but when there’s money to be made, they put it all aside.
For Heaven’s sake, stop that woke nonsense!
But this title, though… there are actually 2 of 5 in the finals, which I think is a great percentile retention for such a prestigious event.
The winners of this contest are already decided. It’s a vicious game amongst Placido Domingo, agents (his grandson already works for a big agency) and the artistic directors who play along and sit on the jury.
I’ll give you a clear cut example of what I mean. In 2016 I attended the finals of this buffoonery in Guadalajara Mexico. There was a tenor named Rame Lahaj from Kosovo, who ended up winning third prize. One of the jury members was Mr Joan Matabosch who at the time was already at Teatro Real Madrid but had already engaged Mr Lahaj at Teatro Liceu in Barcelona. Does anyone in their right mind believe he would have voted against or raised any objection about a singer whom he had already offered a lucrative contract and a lead role (Pinkerton) at an important European theatre?