Tenor Viñas Contests

Breaking: Ukraine Dominates the Tenor Viñas Final At Barcelona’s Liceu

Ukraine swept the top awards at the 63rd Concurs Tenor Viñas, staged Friday at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. The edition attracted 712 entrants from 64 countries, underscoring the competition’s global reach and the continued strength of emerging opera talent.

The judges crowned vladyslav Buialskyi, a bass-baritone, as the First Grand Prize winner, awarding him 30,000 euros and a contract to perform in upcoming seasons at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. He secured the top honor amid a field of international contenders with a standout performance that impressed the jury and audiences alike.

In second place, soprano Yuliia Zasimova earned 15,000 euros, with the prize funded by Grup Amics del Concurs Tenor Viñas. The Third prize went to baritone Vlad Tlusch, who received 11,000 euros for his compelling rendition, a prize named in honor of Maria Esperanza Salvans Piera.

The competition also recognized a strong cohort beyond the podium. Fourth prize went to Korean baritone Felix Park, who took home 8,000 euros; fifth prize went to Karla Pineda, the Costa Rican mezzo-soprano, for 7,000 euros; and sixth prize went to Leonor Martínez, a catalan soprano, who earned 6,000 euros. Martínez also claimed the newly established Oratorio-Lied prize, worth 10,000 euros, funded by Andbank Private Bankers and the Fundació Francesc Viñas, with support from the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation and the Schubertíada. The prize includes a recital at the associated festivals.

Additionally, Karla Pineda was honored with the Joyce DiDonato Extraordinary Prize, a $17,600 award presented by Houston Grand Opera, selected by Colin Michael brush, director of the Butler Studio at Houston Grand opera. The public vote also recognized Karla Pineda as the best female voice and Felix Park as the best male voice, underscoring the audience’s enthusiastic response to these performers.

In total, 28 extraordinary prizes were distributed to boost the professional progress and training of young artists.Many of these awards translate into contracts, scholarships, training residencies, and performance opportunities at renowned venues and festivals across Europe, including Teatro Real, Ope Sabadell, and the Liceu’s allied programs.

Winners at A Glance

Context And Impact

The final was staged on Friday at the Liceu, with the gala to distribute prizes scheduled for Sunday at the same venue. Organizers emphasise that the awards not only honor vocal excellence but also open doors to engagements with major European theatres and festivals. The competition’s record draw—more than 700 participants from dozens of countries—highlights the growing international mix of opera talent today.

Evergreen Insights For The Opera World

Competitions like tenor Viñas remain pivotal for young artists seeking visibility and career momentum. While prize money matters, the real value often lies in guaranteed engagements, recital opportunities, and access to networks across Europe’s leading houses. The emergence of winners from Asia, the Americas, and Europe underscores a shifting landscape where talent travels quickly and diverse repertoires gain traction. The inclusion of special prizes such as oratorio-lied and audience awards demonstrates a broader approach to artist development, balancing technical mastery with public appeal.

For readers tracking culture and arts careers, these events offer a lens into how modern opera careers are launched and sustained. Viewers can follow future debuts and performances by this year’s winners at major European venues, including those linked to the Liceu and its partner institutions.

Why It matters Now

As funding for the arts evolves, competitions that pair monetary awards with performance contracts become crucial springboards for emerging soloists. They help sustain the pipeline of opera talent at a moment when audiences seek fresh voices and diverse storytelling on stage.

Background context: The Viñas competition historically blends prize money with artist development opportunities, and this year’s edition further cements its role as a global platform for aspiring opera singers.

How do you think these prizes shape a young artist’s career trajectory in today’s classical music scene?

Reader Engagement

Which winner’s upcoming appearances are you most excited to hear live? Do you believe public voting should influence prize outcomes in major competitions?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and keep following for more updates on the Tenor Viñas journey and future prize recipients.

Further reading: Gran Teatre del Liceu and Fundació Francesc Viñas.