Two days ago, the final of the Umberto Bors\u00f2 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The evening, presented by Elisabetta Vuocolo and Lucia Schincaglia, respectively Treasurer and Secretary of the association, opened with a welcome from Mayor Francesca Giann\u00ec, 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 Bors\u00f2 association, and Francesco Marchetti, Artistic Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u20ac3,000: ALESSIA BATTINI Soprano; Second prize \u20ac2,000: GRETA BUONAMICI Soprano; Third prize \u20ac1,200: JO WONJUN Baritone; Third prize \u20ac1,200: HOU YAOZHOU Tenor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNuova Voce per Puccini\u201d prize \u20ac1,000 in collaboration with the Simonetta Puccini Foundation for Giacomo Puccini in Torre del Lago: KIM MINJEONG Soprano
“Citt\u00e0 di Castelfiorentino” Audience Award (awarded by direct vote of the audience present in the hall) \u20ac700: KWON SUJI Soprano
Ferruccio Busoni Music Study Centre Award: contract for the summer music season organised in Empoli: ALESSIA BATTINI Soprano<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The third edition of the Umberto Bors\u00f2 International Opera Singing Competition” \u2013 emphasises Mayor Francesca Giann\u00ec \u2013 “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 Bors\u00f2 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”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“With this award”, emphasises the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina, “the Associazione Amici della Lirica \u201cUmberto Bors\u00f2\u201d contributes effectively to defining the artistic identity of our city of \u201cmusicians and storytellers\u201d, 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 \ud835\udc36\ud835\udc4e\ud835\udc60\ud835\udc61\ud835\udc52\ud835\udc59\ud835\udc53\ud835\udc56\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc5f\ud835\udc52\ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc61\ud835\udc56\ud835\udc5b\ud835\udc5c \ud835\udc36\ud835\udc4e\ud835\udc60\ud835\udc4e \ud835\udc51\ud835\udc56 \ud835\udc34\ud835\udc5f\ud835\udc61\ud835\udc56\ud835\udc60\ud835\udc61\ud835\udc56, in the name of a culture that becomes a \u201cwork in progress\u201d, a dynamic space for active construction, participation, new alliances and cultural transformation”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the names of all the finalists and the programme performed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Ramaj Angjela (soprano) C. Gounod: from Rom\u00e9o et Juliette – Je veux vivre
2) Kim Minjeong (soprano) G. Puccini: from Suor Angelica \u2013 Senza mamma
3) Park Enrico (tenor) G. Verdi: from Luisa Miller \u2013 Oh! Fede negar potessi \u2026Quando le sere al placido
4) Khalina Olena (soprano) G. Charpentier: from Louise \u2013 Depuis le jour
5) Borrelli Sara (soprano) A. Boito: from Mefistofele \u2013 L\u2019altra notte, in fondo al mare
6) Buonamici Greta (soprano) G. Verdi: from I Masnadieri \u2013 Tu del mio Carlo\u2026 Carlo vive?
7) Greco Mario (tenor) G. Bizet: from Carmen \u2013 La fleur que tu m\u2019avais jet\u00e9e
8) Esposito Esterina (mezzo-soprano) G. Bizet: from Carmen \u2013 Chanson Boh\u00e8me
9) Kwon Suji (soprano) U. Giordano: from Andrea Ch\u00e9nier \u2013 La mamma morta
10) Kuroda Miwa (soprano) G. Puccini: from Tosca \u2013 Vissi d\u2019Arte
11) Jo Wonjun (baritone) U. Giordano: from Andrea Ch\u00e9nier \u2013 Nemico della Patria
12) Zhou Yujie (soprano) Puccini: from Manon Lescaut \u2013 Sola, perduta, abbandonata
13) Hou Yaozhou (tenor) G. Verdi: from Un ballo in maschera \u2013 Forse la soglia attinse\u2026Ma se m\u2019\u00e8 forza perderti
14) Battini Alessia (soprano) G. Verdi: from Il Trovatore \u2013 Tacea la notte placida\u2026Di tale amor che dirsi
15) Kwon Junpyo (tenor) G. Puccini: from La boheme \u2013 Che gelida manina<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 Bors\u00f2 with a recording of his historic performance of the aria Addio Fiorito Asil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bors\u00f2 Prize, sponsored by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino and the Metropolitan City of Florence, has been created with the fundamental support of the Bors\u00f2 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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