His goal is to attract singers of all voice tessituras and from every country in the world ranging from 18 to 32 years of age, to have them audition and be heard by a panel of distinguished international opera personalities, in the most prestigious and competitive showcase in the world. Each year, the Competition receives close to 1,000 applications. A select jury of three respected opera professionals listens to every recording submitted and rates them in a one to ten scale. This year’s July saw the competition take place in the Czech Republic for the first time. The prestigious competition of opera talents from all around the world was located in the historical building of the National Theatre. There were 40 selected competitors between 18 and 32 years of age, including Czech soprano Zdislava Bočková, who made it to the semi-finals.
