Announcement
The 3rd Black Sea International Vocal Competition
Opera‘s Golden Voice
Batumi 2026
We are happy to announce that on September 2026, 6-12 the festival “Batumian Rhapsody” and the Third International Competition “Opera’s Golden Voice” will be held traditionally in the beautiful city of Batumi.
Age limit 18-35 year.
Application/registration
until August 1, 2026.
Alongside the competition, jury members and invited guests, including American soprano Aprile Millo and Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova, will conduct masterclasses.
For application required:
(The recordings of two operatic arias must be of good quality, where the singer is visible in close-up. Not accepted downloadable „wetransfer“ link type)
Registration for the competition will be held in three stages:
Stage I – the applicant must send filled Application Form. (With A video recording (in a separate file or as Youtube link format) of two extended type of Aria (accompanied or a’capella). The applicant will receive an answer to the e-mail specified in the application form.
Stage II – The admitted applicant must send a copy of the ID card or a copy of the passport, together with a receipt confirming the payment of the competition contribution – 150 GEL for Georgian residents, and 150 EUR/USD for foreign residents – Until August 10;
Note: Laureates of the competition “Opera’s Golden Voice”, persons with the status of socially vulnerable and IDP are exempt from tax if the relevant document is presented.
III Stage – Final stage of Registration process will be held in Batumi, on September 4-5, In the foyer of the Z. Paliashvili Music School (20, Demetre Tavdadebuli str, Batumi).
The order of participants in the competition rounds will be determined by the organizing committee, based on the accompanists and alphabetical order.
Main and traditional locations of the Festival are: Z. Paliashvili Music School and Batumi Ilia Chavchavadze Professional State Drama Theatre.
Stage I – the applicant must send filled Application Form. (With A video recording (in a separate file or as Youtube link format) of two extended type of Aria (accompanied or a’capella). The applicant will receive an answer to the e-mail specified in the application form.
Stage II – The admitted applicant must send a copy of the ID card or a copy of the passport, together with a receipt confirming the payment of the competition contribution (150 GEL for citizens of Georgia, 60 EUR for non-residents) – Until August 10;
Note: Laureates of the competition “Opera’s Golden Voice”, persons with the status of socially vulnerable and IDP are exempt from tax if the relevant document is presented.
III Stage – Final stage of Registration process will be held in Batumi, on September 4-5, In the foyer of the Z. Paliashvili Music School (20, Demetre Tavdadebuli str, Batumi).
The order of participants in the competition rounds will be determined by the organizing committee, based on the accompanists and alphabetical order.
Main and traditional locations of the Festival are: Z. Paliashvili Music School and Batumi Ilia Chavchavadze Professional State Drama Theatre.
The competition will traditionally be held in three rounds (I-II round qualifying, III-final, accompanied by a symphony orchestra).
The mandatory program for entering the competition includes 2 Arias per tour (according to the list of composers of different eras and
styles: https://rhapsodyfest.ge/programme/
Note: in the third, final round, one aria is repeated from previous rounds; The organizing committee reserves the right to adjust the applicant’s repertoire in agreement with the applicant.
Competition Schedule
September 6 – Opening Ceremony
September 7–8 – Round I
September 9 (10) – Round II
September 11 – Final Round rehearsal with orchestra
September 12 – Final Round
Competition prize fund:
I Prize – 10 000 euros
II prize – 5 000 euros
III Prize – 3 000 euros