The 10th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Borusan Sanat and Accademia Teatro alla Scala concluded with the final gala and award ceremony at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on Friday, 27 September 2024.
Presented by Yetkin Dikinciler, the final gala of the 10th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition took off with Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Intermezzo from Puccini’s opera Manon Lescaut under the baton of the Italian conductor Pietro Mianiti. Among the 42 competitors from 17 different countries who have participated in the final series, 8 competitors made it to the finals. During the final gala, all 8 finalists performed their arias accompanied by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. During the break for the jury's decision, the audience also voted to elect the winner of the Leyla Gencer Audience Award. After the break, the orchestra, conducted by Mianiti, performed the Overture from Verdi's opera La Forza del Destino, and the evening full of music and excitement ended with the award ceremony.
Stéphane Lissner announced the winners as the head of the jury at the end of the night. HuanHong Li (bass, China) won the first prize, Nazlıcan Karakaş (soprano, Türkiye) came second and Maria Knihnytska (soprano, Ukraine) won the third prize. 13,000 Euro monetary award in total (7,500 Euro for the first, 4,000 Euro for the second and 1,500 Euro for the third prize) was presented to the winners of the 10th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition.
Fernanda Allande (soprano, Mexico) won the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme Special Award that entails a week-long coaching sessions at the Covent Garden. HuanHong Li (bass, China) won the Deutsche Opera Berlin Special Award that allows the winner to take part in one of the opera’s productions. HuanHong Li (bass, China), winner of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra Special Award will get the chance to perform with Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, while the winner of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala Special Award, Nazlıcan Karakaş (soprano, Türkiye) will receive a three-month scholarship at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Anna Imedashvili (soprano, Georgia) won the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre Special Award that allows the winner to take part in one of the opera’s productions. Jennifer Mariel Velasco (soprano, Mexico) won the Naples Teatro di San Carlo Special Award (Surprise Award). In addition to the jury awards, Nazlıcan Karakaş (soprano, Türkiye) was presented with the Leyla Gencer Audience Award, determined by audience votes.
The 10th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition’s jury was presided by Stéphane Lissner and consisted of İlker Arcayürek (Tenor), Viviana Barrios (Associate to the Artistic Director at Deutsche Oper Berlin), Alessandro Galoppini (Teatro alla Scala Casting Manager), David Gowland (Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme Artistic Director), Badri Maisuradze (Tenor, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre Artistic Director) and Carlo Tenan (Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra Artistic Director and Principal Conductor).
The 10th Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Borusan Sanat and Accademia Teatro alla Scala. The resident orchestra of the competition is Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. This year, the competition is also supported by Kadıköy Municipality Süreyya Opera House and Istituto Italiano di Cultura.