79th International Singing Competition of the Experimental Opera of Spoleto, winners announced

It ended on Saturday February 22, 2025 with the proclamation of seven winners there 79th edition of the International Singing Competition (formerly the “European Community” Competition for young opera singers) of Spoleto Experimental Lyric Theatre.

The jury – made up of Gianni Tangucci (president), Andrea De Amici (lyric agent), Henry Girardi (artistic director of the Experimental), Giancarlo Landini (music critic) and Carmela Remigio (soprano) – dedicated four consecutive days to listening to the candidates and, after a careful evaluation, proclaimed the winners, with the following ranking: first, Joaquin Echave Cangemi, tenor from Ecully (France), 27 years old, second Sarah DiSanto, soprano from Rome, 21 years old; third Gaia Cardinal, soprano from Bari, 22 years old; fourth Ariadna Vilardaga Gomez, soprano from Girona (Spain), 22 years old; fifth Beatrice Catherine, soprano from Grosseto, 24 years old; sixth ex aequo Lorena Cesaretti, soprano from Rome, 24 years old and Stepan Polishchuk, baritone from Lviv (Ukraine), 29 years old.

The following candidates (listed in alphabetical order) were also found suitable: Anastasia Maria Fyssa (soprano from Chios, Greece, 27 years old), Cecilia Taliano Grasso (soprano from Rome, 28 years old), Francesca Mercuriali (mezzosoprano from Milan, 32 years old), Julius Putrino (tenor from Padua, 24 years old), Xenia Overko (soprano from Vodiiane, Ukraine, 27 years old), Nicoletta Briguglio (soprano from Salò, 32 years old), Sara Servili (mezzosoprano from Trevi, 28 years old), Sathya Gangale (bass from Sanremo, 30 years old).

The finalists were accompanied on the piano by the masters Chiara Pulsoni, Lorenzo Tomasini is Anthony Vicentini.

Due to the high level found by the jury – explains the Lirico Sperimentale – all the finalists from this test are either winners (with a scholarship) or eligible (without a scholarship).

Comment Gianni Tangucci, president of the jury: «Over the next two years in Spoleto we will have the opportunity to observe how these young people will evolve in their learning. The commission, in this case, has evaluated not only the technical skills but also the potential needed to face an academy of this type, conceived as a real introduction to the profession. In Spoleto, in fact, a unique environment is offered that, unlike other realities, allows participants to work in a theater. The final goal is the experience on stage, the culminating moment that allows the kids to face the profession. During the course, the students will not only develop their artistic skills, but will also learn to collaborate and work as a team, building bonds that will accompany them in the subsequent phases of their professional career».

The winning singers will receive a salary for the two-year period 2025-2026 Scholarship overall of 10,000 euros, in addition to special prize addressed to the first three classified, who win respectively 5.000, 3.000 is 2.000 euro.