The Vocal Jury

Ildar Abdrazakov—(Russia) studied at the Institute for Arts under Professor Murtazina and has won a number of prizes including first prize at the television competition Moscow Grand Prix, first prize in the Glinka International Competition in 1997, first prize at the Rimsky-Korsakov International Competition in 1998, first prize at the 1999 television competition Moscow Grand Prix named after Irina Arkhipova, first prize at the International Obrazova competition in 1999, and in October 2000 he won the Maria Callas International Television Competition in Parma. Abdrazakov made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan and in 2003/04 established himself worldwide with performances of the title role of Mose et Pharaon with Maestro Muti at La Scala. He has since made his debut in all major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and Washington Opera as Mustapha in L’Italiana in Algeri, Don Giovanni, Leporello and Mephistopheles, Escamillo at the Vienna Staatsoper and Assur in Semiramide in Madrid and Barcelona, Figaro and with the Los Angeles Opera. He returned as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermor to La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera including the HD broadcast and recently as Mefistopheles in Faust including the live broadcast.

Vladimir Atlantov―(Russia) studied at the Leningrad Conservatory, graduating in 1963, and made his debut at the Kirov Theater the same year. From 1963 to 1965, he also studied at La Scala's apprentice singer program, and returning to the Soviet Union, won the 1966 Tchaikovsky Competition, and joined the Bolshoi the year after. While most of his career was in the Soviet Union, he did make several appearances abroad, including at London’s Covent Garden and New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Olga Borodina—(Russia) is known for her roles in Russian operas at her home company, the Mariinsky Theatre.  She made her European debut in London at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, sharing the stage with Placido Domingo in Samson and Delilah which launched her international career. Borodina made her Metropolitan Opera début in Boris Godunov in 1997 and returned to the Metropolitan Opera for the opening night of the 1998/99 season in Samson and Delilah again with Placido Domingo and conducted by James Levine.  Her concert appearances with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under James  Levine at Carnegie Hall have included the Verdi Requiem, Sheherezade and  La mort de Cleopatre. Other concert engagements have included Songs and Dances of Death, Romeo and Juliette, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, and Alexander Nevsky, appearing with the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors.

Ileana Cotrubas―(Romania) debuted with the Bucharest Opera in 1964, and soon thereafter appeared in productions throughout Europe.  Cotrubas was contracted as member of Vienna Opera starting in 1970. In 1973 she debuted at the Chicago  Lyric Opera and went on to sing at La Scala in Milan, and New York's Metropolitan Opera.  Retired from public singing in 1990, she continues to teach, giving master classes and coaching promising young singers.

Raina Kabaivanska―(Bulgaria) is one of the leading sopranos of her generation, particularly associated with Verdi and Puccini, although she sang a wide variety of roles ranging from early bel canto to 20th Century repertoire.  Her career included numerous appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala and throughout Italy.  She gives master classes in Spain, Italy and France and is also a jury member for prestigious competitions all over the world.

Elena Obraztsova―(Russia) gold medalist of the 1970 International Tchaikovsky Competition, she has played many roles throughout her career, including performances under the baton of such leading conductors as Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan. In December 1977, she opened the 200th opera season in La Scala singing Don Carlo's Eboli and in 1978 she played the title role of Carmen opposite Placido Domingo in Franco Zeffirelli's television production of the opera. She also appeared as Santuzza in Zeffirelli's film version of Cavalleria Rusticana in 1982. Obraztsova is artistic director of opera at the Mikhaylovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and trains young soloists in her own cultural center in St. Petersburg.

Renata Scotto―(Italy) is considered one of the preeminent singers of her generation, specializing in the bel canto repertoire with excursions into the verismo and Verdi repertoires.  Scotto has received numerous awards including an honorary doctorate from the Juilliard School and two Emmys for the telecast of La Gioconda at the Metropolitan Opera and her direction of La Traviata at the New York City Opera.  Since retiring from the stage as a singer in 2002, she has turned successfully into directing opera as well to teaching in Italy and America.