The nominations for the 2015 International Opera Awards have been announced.
Mezzo-soprano of the moment Joyce DiDonato stands out for being the only singer nominated in two categories – both in the Operatic Recital category for her Stella di Napoli recording and in the Female Singer category.
Other singers in this year’s shortlists are sopranos Anna Netrebko and Nina Stemme, tenors Lawrence Brownlee and Jonas Kaufmann and countertenor Iestyn Davies. Angel Blue and Nicky Spence are among the nominees in the Young Singers category and the newcomers up for awards are stage director Lotte de Beer and conductor Tim Murray.
David Alden, Richard Jones and Graham Vick are among those shortlisted for the Director award and Edward Gardner, Gianandrea Noseda and Carlo Rizzi are all included the Conducting award along with Semyon Bychkov, Lothar Koenigs and Christian Thielemann.
English National Opera has done well in this year's shortlists, nominated in four categories – Opera Company, Chorus, New Production and World Premiere. The Metropolitan Opera (Chorus and New Production) and Welsh National Opera (Chorus, World Premiere) are also among the companies nominated for more than one award.
This year’s nominations have been selected by a jury chaired by music critic and editor of Opera magazine, John Allison. The panel includes managing director of Salzburg Easter Festival Peter Alward, artistic director of Norwegian National Opera and Ballet Per Boye Hansen and director of National Opera Studio Kathryn Harries.
Artists, opera companies and recordings have been shortlisted in a total of 19 categories. Click here to view the complete list of nominations.
The International Opera Awards were founded by businessman Harry Hyman, with some proceeds helping to fund bursaries for young opera singers. The winners of this year’s awards will be announced on Sunday 26 April during a ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London. Visit operaawards.org to find out more.
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