WINNERS OF INTERNATIONAL OPERA AWARDS 2025 ANNOUNCED
Agnes Baltsa accepts Lifetime Achievement Award in the Greek National Opera’s Stavros Niarchos Hall in Athens, at the International Opera Awards 2025 – 13 November 2025 credit: GNO/Andreas Simopoulos
- 12th edition of the International Opera Awards livestreamed to global audience from Greek National Opera in Athens
- Winners chosen from over 14,000 nominations for artists and companies from 25 countries
- Event featured live performances from starry winning artists Marina Rebeka and Nicholas Brownlee with dazzling performances by the soloists of the GNO Dimitri Platanias, Vassiliki Karayanni, Yannis Christopoulos, Maria Kosovitsa accompanied by the Orchestra, Chorus, Ballet, and Children’s Chorus of the GNO
- Legendary Greek mezzo-soprano Agnes Baltsa received Lifetime Achievement Award
- The ceremony, presented by regular host Petroc Trelawny, was streamed for free on OperaVision
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***Watch OperaVison’s live stream HERE ***
ATHENS – 13 November 2025
The 12th International Opera Awards – the opera world’s most prestigious accolade – lit up the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera (GNO) in Athens tonight in a landmark celebration of the global opera community. Live-streamed worldwide, the event underscored the artform’s enduring power to inspire audiences and transform communities across borders.
Hosted for the first time by the GNO and presented by BBC Radio 3’s Petroc Trelawny, the event celebrated outstanding operatic achievement across five continents with finalists from 25 countries.
Highlighting the vibrancy and global reach of opera, the glittering event – made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to enhance the GNO’s artistic outreach – was a powerful celebration of Greek classical music, with remarkable works by Greek composers Spyridon Samaras, Paolo Carrer, Theofrastos Sakellaridis, Nikos Skalkottas, Mikis Theodorakis and Giorgos Koumendakis. Under the musical direction of Konstantinos Terzakis, the soloists of the GNO Dimitri Platanias, Vassiliki Karayanni, Yannis Christopoulos, Maria Kosovitsa accompanied by the Orchestra, Chorus, Ballet, and Children’s Chorus of the GNO delivered stirring performances. The artistic supervision and direction of the ceremony was undertaken by the Ballet Director of the Greek National Opera, Konstantinos Rigos, in collaboration with the Director of stage of the Greek National Opera, Katerina Petsatodi. Excerpts from Puccini’s operas were also performed by star soloists Marina Rebeka and Nicholas Brownlee, winners of the Readers’ and Male Singer Awards respectively.
Harry Hyman, founder of the International Opera Awards, said: “It is wonderful to celebrate the winners of the 2025 International Opera Awards with Greek National Opera in Athens for the first time, at the magnificent Stavros Niarchos Hall. Tonight, we celebrate the exceptional achievements of artists and companies from across the globe whose work exemplifies the creativity, excellence and collaborative spirit that define opera. Our warmest congratulations go to all of this year’s winners and nominees. Your contributions inspire audiences worldwide and ensure the continued vitality of this extraordinary art form.”
Giorgos Koumendakis, artistic director of the Greek National Opera, said: “It is a great joy for all of us here at the Greek National Opera to welcome, for the first time in Greece, such a prestigious, world-class event. Every year, the International Opera Awards celebrate the most significant artistic achievements worldwide, performances that stand out, and pioneering opera houses. We are very fortunate to serve an art form that is vibrant, evolving, thought-provoking, and sparks discussion —an art that reigns supreme as the ultimate, refined essence of the human spirit. I hope that this evening will flood both traditional and social media with positive news that encourages risk-taking, innovation, knowledge, talent, and devotion. The world of opera produces remarkable works, and tonight we will celebrate this creativity and take it on a journey beyond Athens to the edge of the world.”
Greece’s Minister of Culture, Dr Lina Mendoni, presented one of the evening’s most prestigious honours, the 2025 Opera Company Award, to MusikTheater an der Wien. Following a two-year closure and extensive renovation to one of Europe’s most historic houses, the company made a triumphant return in the 2024/25 season, presenting a bold and wide-ranging programme that spanned over four centuries of music theatre, from fully staged productions to concert operas and educational initiatives.
Dr Mendoni remarked: “We are delighted and proud to host the International Opera Awards Ceremony at the Greek National Opera, a testament to the institution’s growing global stature. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, and under the inspired artistic direction of internationally acclaimed composer Giorgos Koumendakis, the Greek National Opera now rightfully ranks among the world’s leading opera houses. Welcoming the International Opera Awards for the first time affirms its outward-looking strategy, highlights its contribution to modern Greek culture and firmly places it among the nations that serve the art of opera with expertise, creative imagination, and dedication. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the artists and creators we honour tonight, and my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff of the Greek National Opera for their impeccable organization of this evening’s event.”
In one of the evening’s most emotional moments, legendary mezzo-soprano Agnes Baltsa received the Lifetime Achievement Award from GNO Artistic Director Giorgos Koumendakis to a cheering, standing ovation. With a career spanning over five decades, Baltsa’s powerful voice, dramatic intensity, and magnetic stage presence earned her global acclaim, especially for her iconic portrayal of Carmen, performed over 60 times at the Vienna State Opera. A regular at the Salzburg Festival, she also graced the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden, and the Paris Opera, in repertoire ranging from Mozart and Rossini to Verdi, Bellini, and Strauss.
Ms Baltsa said: “I thank the International Opera Awards for this honour. I am grateful for everything that life has given me.”
The creativity and vibrancy of the US opera scene – continually evolving in a challenging landscape – shone through in a standout year for American companies and artists.
The Dallas Opera’s innovative Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors, founded to redress the gender imbalance on opera podiums and celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, received the Equal Opportunities and Impact Award. Drawing applicants from 40 countries, it remains the world’s only programme dedicated to advancing the careers of women conductors in opera training, mentorship, and professional development, with alumnae now leading productions and orchestras worldwide. The Philanthropy Award honoured the vital generosity and vision of C. Graham Berwind III, a prominent American patron known for championing equity and artist development through extensive and sustained support of OPERA America and The Metropolitan Opera, and other major cultural institutions including Carnegie Hall and the Dramatists Guild Foundation.
American bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee, recipient of the 2025 Richard Tucker Award, was named Male Singer for performances includingMacbeth and Amfortas for Opera Frankfurt, and Wotan in Das Rheingold for the Paris Opera. He dazzled the Athens audience with a performance of Scarpia’s “Te Deum” from Tosca. The newly-introduced Musical Theatre award also went to an American company – the Glimmerglass Festival for its “glorious” recent production of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Ethan Heard.
There was also notable success for Czechia with Festival of the Year awarded to Janáček Festival Brno, and New Production going to Robert Carsen’s fantastical production ofJanacek’s The Excursions of Mr Brouček, staged at that Festival in a co-production by the National Theatre Brno, Staatsoper Berlin, and Teatro Real. The New Production Award was presented by Mr. Giorgos Agouridis, Member and Senior Legal Advisor of the Board of Directors of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
Rediscovered Work, celebrating lost and forgotten gems which have been staged this year, celebrated Baldassare Galuppi’s 1762 work L’uomo femina, a surprisingly modern exploration of traditional gender roles which was revived by Opéra de Dijon in a co-production with Le Poème Harmonique, Théâtre de Caen and Château de Versailles Spectacles.
Château de Versailles Spectacles was also involved in another major win of the evening, as the label behind the Complete Opera Recording which was awarded for Lully’s tragedy Atys, conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón. Solo Recording (presented by Costis Pillavachi) went to Ann Hallenberg, claiming her third International Opera Award, for her recording of Gluck arias with The Mozartists on Signum. Conductor Ian Page and Debbie Coates of The Mozartists collected the Award.
The International Opera Award for World Premiere celebrates the vitality of contemporary opera, and this season proved so rich in new work that the jury expanded its shortlist to ten, a testament to opera as a living, breathing art form. The winner was Festen from The Royal Opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage and Lee Hall, based on the influential Danish film that launched the avant-garde Dogme 95 movement, exemplifying the creative ambition driving opera forward today. British Ambassador to Greece, Matthew Lodge presented the Award to Cormac Simms, Administrative Director of The Royal Opera.
The evening brought honours for a number of standout individuals. The Readers’ Award – Opera Magazine with Opera News, the only Award of the night decided by the public, was presented to Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka. La Monnaie De Munt’s music director Alain Antinoglu was named Conductor of the Year, while Female Singer went to Asmik Grigorian, whose remarkable season included embodying all three heroines in Il trittico at the Paris Opera and a rapturously received Salome with the London Symphony Orchestra. Claus Guth, who particularly impressed the jury for his bold staging of Salome at the Metropolitan Opera, took home Director, and Designer was awarded to Paolo Fantin, praised for his inventive sets in new productions including the world premiere of Il nome della rosa at La Scala in Milan.
The Rising Star award was presented to two outstanding young singers: Hugh Cutting, a BBC New Generation artist and the first countertenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier Award, and French mezzo-soprano Adèle Charvet for a breakthrough season including role debuts as Ariodante, Carmen and Charlotte in Werther. Supporting rising talent continues to be a priority for the International Opera Awards; the event raises funds for the Opera Awards Foundation, which nurtures aspiring operatic talent around the world to help achieve their career potential.
In addition to artistic and creative talent, the Awards aim to celebrate the crucial role of opera’s leaders. This year’s Good Governance Award for Leadership in Opera was awarded to Anthony Freud recognising his outstanding three-decade contribution to the global opera industry. A champion of artistic excellence and operational innovation, Freud has led major companies across the UK and US, including Welsh National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. As the only person to have chaired both Opera Europa and Opera America, his strategic and visionary leadership has shaped the international opera landscape.
The International Opera Awards also recognise organisations striving to implement innovative, forward-thinking environmental policies. From an impressive shortlist, Teatro Real, Madrid was awarded the Sustainability Award for its installation of a walkable photovoltaic roof which generates clean energy, becoming the first historic building in the world to integrate such solar panel energy production. The Award was presented by Mrs. Sofia Dimtsa, Chief Corporate Affairs & Communications Officer, PPC Group.
The shortlist of finalists, based on over 14,000 nominations submitted by opera lovers around the world, was compiled by an international jury of performers, opera critics and administrators from 20 countries and chaired by John Allison, Editor-in-Chief, Opera with Opera News and classical music critic of The Daily Telegraph. The winners of all categories, except the Readers’ Award, were decided by the jury.
John Allison, chair of the Jury, said: “Being in Athens for the International Opera Awards is a reminder of culture that is both local and global. Greek mythology was one of the founding principles of opera – now over 400 years later, one of the most truly international of art forms -and tonight we have been hearing contemporary Greek works. This has been a fitting backdrop to our celebration of operatic excellence from around the world in 2024-5, and I’m delighted with so many outstanding winners.”
Winners received a lasting and meaningful trophy created thanks to Greek National Opera, which commissioned new statuettes that draw on the richness of Greece’s cultural heritage. The design is based on a striking Early Bronze Age artefact found in the Cyclades depicting an elegant, violin-shaped figurine. Produced in collaboration with the Museum of Cycladic Art, where original figurines are displayed, each replica will be crafted in marble and mounted with a customised plaque for the International Opera Awards.
