Competition

About competition

On September 24, 2022, was established and ceremonially opened the International Black Sea Festival – „Batumian Rhapsody “ in Batumi at the Summer Theatre. As a part of the festival, also in the frame of the project solemnly founded the International Opera Competition – „Opera’s Golden Voice“ which reveals young talented opera singers. The 1st International competition “Opera’s Golden Voice” in 2024 was located on the 2 main stages: Ilia Chacvhavadze State Drama Theatre of Batumi, and Batumi Summer Theatre. This stages hosted up to 100 young vocalists from all over the World. An international jury evaluated the contestants. The jury contained world-class opera stars, heads of opera houses around the world, opera agents, and so on.

The competition aims to recognize exceptionally talented young vocalists, support their professional development and career growth, and promote their activities in major opera houses and institutions across the world.

The competition is expected to be held once in a two years, and vocalists aged 18 to 35 will be eligible to compete.

Participants of the festival and competition can find out the necessary information and details about the documents for registration on the official website and Facebook page of the festival (#BatumianRhapsody #Opera’sGoldenVoice). 

Within the framework of the competition, participants have the opportunity to rehearse with experienced pianists, meet and work with famous singers, attend public lectures and master classes of famous singers and artists, and in case of reaching the third round of the competition, work with the orchestra.

The International Opera Competition “Opera’s Golden Voice” consists of three rounds. From 2022, the main locations of the event are Batumi Summer Theatre, Ilia Chavchavadze Batumi State Drama Theatre and Batumi Zakaria Paliashvili music school. The project is free to attend public events, including rounds, auditions, master classes and lectures.

At the solemn opening of the 2022 September 24 Festival-Competition, about 100 contestants appeared in front of the public and on the basis of voting, the order of their participation in the competition rounds was determined. Within the opening ceremony, the founder of the festival – Soprano Tamar Iveri greeted the audience, presented the jury members and in the end of the Evening there was performed World musical masterpieces by famous singers. 

According to the provision of competition, contestants perform their compulsory program (2-2 different style Arias) accompanied by piano in rounds I and II. The finalist participants repeat one aria from previous rounds and perform one new Aria accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Fans and interested individuals from all around the world have the opportunity to track the news and current processes of the competition, also, get to know the project sponsors and the activities of their companies on various platforms: Facebook, TikTok, etc. 

In 2022, the award of the laureates of the competition “Opera’s Golden Voice” and the solemn gala concert were covered live on the official page of the festival.

Founder and president of the competition: laureate of Giuseppe Verdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart International Competitions, the owner of the honorary medal of the Vienna State Opera, performer of the world opera stages, Soprano Tamar Iveri.

The main supporters of the festival are the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Batumi City Hall and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Adjara, the Ministry of Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce of Adjara.
The Golden Voice competition, within the framework of Batumian Rhapsody, aims not only to attract, identify and promote talented young singers worldwide but also to assist further development in the field of culture and tourism of the Adjara region and, in particular, of Batumi around the world.
Moreover, the competition will give our country’s emerging singers a rare opportunity to present their art before the world’s leading opera representatives without leaving the country (which is connected to great expenses).