Two days ago, the final of the Umberto Borsò Opera Singing Competition, now in its third edition, took place in the form of a public concert at the Teatro del Popolo in Castelfiorentino. Fifteen candidates were admitted to the final round, out of 115 entrants, chosen by the jury during the preliminary round and the two days of auditions for the semi-final held on 6 and 7 February.
The evening, presented by Elisabetta Vuocolo and Lucia Schincaglia, respectively Treasurer and Secretary of the association, opened with a welcome from Mayor Francesca Giannì, the Councillor for Culture Franco Spina, the President of the Cambiano Authority Paolo Regini and a brief introduction by Martina Barreca, president of the Amici della Lirica Umberto Borsò association, and Francesco Marchetti, Artistic Director.
The performances of the 15 finalists, who performed a demanding programme of mainly Verdi and post-Verdi arias (in line with the programme guidelines for this edition), went smoothly, punctuated by warm applause from a large and enthusiastic audience.
At the end of the concert, the winners were announced and prizes were awarded in the form of scholarships and artistic engagements with some of the associations and concert organisations that collaborated in the competition. First prize €3,000: ALESSIA BATTINI Soprano; Second prize €2,000: GRETA BUONAMICI Soprano; Third prize €1,200: JO WONJUN Baritone; Third prize €1,200: HOU YAOZHOU Tenor.
“Nuova Voce per Puccini” prize €1,000 in collaboration with the Simonetta Puccini Foundation for Giacomo Puccini in Torre del Lago: KIM MINJEONG Soprano
“Città di Castelfiorentino” Audience Award (awarded by direct vote of the audience present in the hall) €700: KWON SUJI Soprano
Ferruccio Busoni Music Study Centre Award: contract for the summer music season organised in Empoli: ALESSIA BATTINI Soprano
“The third edition of the Umberto Borsò International Opera Singing Competition” – emphasises Mayor Francesca Giannì – “brings talent to the stage in a triumph of arias, performances and art. A total of 115 artists from 20 countries around the world took part in the auditions to sing at our Teatro del Popolo, in this showcase of young talent sponsored by the Borsò family. Castelfiorentino Casa di Artisti confirms its rise in the national and international cultural scene, a place of choice for those who invest their lives in culture to flourish”.
“With this award”, emphasises the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina, “the Associazione Amici della Lirica “Umberto Borsò” contributes effectively to defining the artistic identity of our city of “musicians and storytellers”, confirming its cultural role in music and theatre. With Francesca, we are truly happy to support, in the spirit of civic patronage that has historically characterised us, this important part of our 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑓𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑎 𝑑𝑖 𝐴𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖, in the name of a culture that becomes a “work in progress”, a dynamic space for active construction, participation, new alliances and cultural transformation”.
These are the names of all the finalists and the programme performed:
1) Ramaj Angjela (soprano) C. Gounod: from Roméo et Juliette – Je veux vivre
2) Kim Minjeong (soprano) G. Puccini: from Suor Angelica – Senza mamma
3) Park Enrico (tenor) G. Verdi: from Luisa Miller – Oh! Fede negar potessi …Quando le sere al placido
4) Khalina Olena (soprano) G. Charpentier: from Louise – Depuis le jour
5) Borrelli Sara (soprano) A. Boito: from Mefistofele – L’altra notte, in fondo al mare
6) Buonamici Greta (soprano) G. Verdi: from I Masnadieri – Tu del mio Carlo… Carlo vive?
7) Greco Mario (tenor) G. Bizet: from Carmen – La fleur que tu m’avais jetée
8) Esposito Esterina (mezzo-soprano) G. Bizet: from Carmen – Chanson Bohème
9) Kwon Suji (soprano) U. Giordano: from Andrea Chénier – La mamma morta
10) Kuroda Miwa (soprano) G. Puccini: from Tosca – Vissi d’Arte
11) Jo Wonjun (baritone) U. Giordano: from Andrea Chénier – Nemico della Patria
12) Zhou Yujie (soprano) Puccini: from Manon Lescaut – Sola, perduta, abbandonata
13) Hou Yaozhou (tenor) G. Verdi: from Un ballo in maschera – Forse la soglia attinse…Ma se m’è forza perderti
14) Battini Alessia (soprano) G. Verdi: from Il Trovatore – Tacea la notte placida…Di tale amor che dirsi
15) Kwon Junpyo (tenor) G. Puccini: from La boheme – Che gelida manina
At the end of the finalists’ performances, a piano piece was played by the two accompanying pianists, Nicoletta Cantini and Beatrice Bartoli, and a tribute was paid to Umberto Borsò with a recording of his historic performance of the aria Addio Fiorito Asil.
Some of the prize-winning singers (as well as some finalists) will also be invited to perform in the opera Madama Butterfly, which will be held at the Teatro del Popolo in Castelfiorentino on 24/04/2026 (an opera on the theatre’s season programme for which tickets are already on sale), or in other subsequent concerts, currently being finalised, to hear the winning singers in Castelfiorentino and elsewhere.
The Borsò Prize, sponsored by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino and the Metropolitan City of Florence, has been created with the fundamental support of the Borsò family, the Ente Cambiano and the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, as well as the contribution of many members of the Associazione Amici della Lirica named after the famous tenor.