Skip to content
Étoiles Lyriques de Paris
The 2026 finalists are announced

2nd International Vocal Competition

Étoiles Lyriquesde Paris

24–25 October 2026 · Paris, France

Celebrating the next generation of opera artists.

Apply Now

2026 Final

Congratulations to our finalists

Our finalists represent thirteen countries. Together, they bring a rich diversity of voices, musical traditions and artistic expression, united by a shared passion for singing.

Thirteen countries represented

  • Belgium
  • China
  • France
  • Greece
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Turkey

Opera Arias

18 finalists

  • Oscar Svensson
  • Huong Kunlong
  • Yang Qi
  • He Junkai
  • Xinyao Hou
  • Ma Xinran
  • Xudong Wang
  • Nadezhda Gamayunova
  • Olga Roroka
  • Nicolas Klenkle
  • Giada Venturini
  • Yuting Zhang
  • Lucie Kalaidjoglou
  • Efstathia « Effie » Papadopoulou
  • Jennifer Sighicelli
  • Jeanne Kichilov
  • Yuyan Cai
  • Zhou Shan

Chamber Vocal Music

7 finalists and ensembles

  • Oscar Svensson
  • Song Qingtian
  • Wendi Xu
  • Ana Maria López Seuba
  • Yan Qing
  • Li Shiquan
  • Virginia Bonelli & Omar Al DeekDuo

Operatic Roles

L’Elisir d’Amore

7 finalists

Yuehan Zhao
Adina
Xuan Zhang
Adina
Erica Boero
Giannetta
Xinyao Hou
Belcore
Haoting Xing
Dulcamara
Songran Tian
Nemorino
Duan Dongchen
Nemorino

We will be delighted to welcome you to Paris for the second edition of the Étoiles Lyriques de Paris International Singing Competition, on 24–25 October 2026.

Thank you for sharing your talent and dedication with us. We look forward to hearing you on stage and celebrating this musical encounter together.

See you in Paris

About

Revealing the voices of tomorrow

Laureates and orchestra gathered on stage at the close of the 1st edition
Laureates and orchestra gathered on stage at the close of the 1st edition

Étoiles Lyriques de Paris is an international competition dedicated to discovering and supporting operatic voices, from young talents to established artists.

The competition brings together internationally renowned artists, pedagogues and conductors to support the artistic development of talented vocalists.

Categories

Three competition categories

Opera singer silhouetted under a golden spotlight

Opera Arias

Performance of opera arias from the international repertoire.

Age categories

15–18 · 19–32 · 33 and over

Grand piano and sheet music in golden light

Chamber Vocal Music

Art songs, Lieder, chansons and chamber romances, solo or as a duo.

Age categories

8–18 · 19–32 · 33 and over

Gold-embroidered stage costumes in theatrical light

Operatic Roles

The roles of Adina, Nemorino, Giannetta, Dulcamara and Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti.

Age categories

From 18, with no upper age limit

MozartVerdiPucciniDonizettiBelliniRossiniBizetGounodMassenetOffenbachDebussyFauréDuparcSchubertSchumannR. StraussTchaikovskyRachmaninoffHandelBerlioz

Annex 1

Set repertoire

For the final, each candidate in the Opera Arias category must choose one aria from the list for their voice type. Candidates in the Operatic Roles category prepare the pieces from L’Elisir d’Amore listed below.

Compulsory arias

Soprano

  1. « Porgi, amor »W. A. Mozart · Le nozze di Figaro
  2. « Ach, ich fühl’s »W. A. Mozart · Die Zauberflöte
  3. « Der Hölle Rache »W. A. Mozart · Die Zauberflöte
  4. « Addio del passato »G. Verdi · La Traviata
  5. « O mio babbino caro »G. Puccini · Gianni Schicchi

Mezzo-Soprano

  1. « When I am laid in earth »H. Purcell · Dido and Aeneas
  2. « Lascia ch’io pianga »G. F. Haendel · Rinaldo
  3. « L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) »G. Bizet · Carmen
  4. « O mio Fernando »G. Donizetti · La Favorite
  5. « Ombra mai fu »G. F. Haendel · Serse

Tenor

  1. « Un’aura amorosa »W. A. Mozart · Così fan tutte
  2. « Il mio tesoro intanto »W. A. Mozart · Don Giovanni
  3. « Una furtiva lagrima »G. Donizetti · L’elisir d’amore
  4. « La donna è mobile »G. Verdi · Rigoletto
  5. « En fermant les yeux »J. Massenet · Manon

Baritone / Bass

  1. « Deh, vieni alla finestra »W. A. Mozart · Don Giovanni
  2. « Se vuol ballare, signor Contino »W. A. Mozart · Le nozze di Figaro
  3. « O Isis und Osiris »W. A. Mozart · Die Zauberflöte
  4. « Bella siccome un angelo »G. Donizetti · Don Pasquale
  5. « Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre »G. Bizet · Carmen

Four arias in total, in the original language and key: two recorded on video for the selection round, two sung live in the final, including the compulsory aria.

L’Elisir d’Amore — compulsory pieces

Act I

  • Bel conforto al mietitoreScena con coro di Giannetta
  • Quanto è bella, quanto è cara!Cavatina di Nemorino
  • Benedette queste carteAria di Adina
  • Come Paride vezzosoCavatina di Belcore
  • Chiedi all’aura lusinghieraDuetto di Adina e Nemorino
  • Udite, udite, o rustici!Cavatina di Dulcamara

Act II

  • Venti scudi! E ben sonatoDuetto di Belcore e Nemorino
  • Sarà possibile? PossibilissimoScena con coro di Giannetta
  • Quanto amore! Ed io, spietataDuetto di Adina e Dulcamara
  • Una furtiva lagrimaRomanza di Nemorino
  • Prendi, per me sei libero… Il mio rigor dimenticaAria e cabaletta di Adina

Online round: one aria from L’Elisir d’Amore for your role and one aria from another Donizetti opera. Final: the most representative pieces of the work, including the compulsory aria.

Chamber vocal music: four pieces from the repertoire, in the original language and key.

Competition Dates

October 2026

Registration

6 September – 6 October 2026

Results

by 12 October 2026

24

October 2026

Final in Paris

25

October 2026

Laureates’ final concert

Competition opens in

––

days

––

hours

––

minutes

––

seconds

Jury

A jury of international artists

Artistic direction

Maria Christiany

  • Artistic Director
  • Concert Violinist and Conductor
  • Founder of the International Competition Nouvelles Étoiles
  • Founder of the UniArt Orchestra

Jury members

Elena Bakanova

  • President of the Jury
  • Soprano
  • Professor of Voice at the A. Vivaldi Conservatory, Alessandria

Svetlana Lifar

  • Mezzo-Soprano
  • Professor of Voice at the Rachmaninov Conservatoire, Paris

François Le Roux

  • Baritone
  • International Opera Artist

Raffaele Mascolo

  • Conductor
  • Professor at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, Milan

Natalia Korschunova

  • Official Accompanist
  • Founder of the Winterreise Festival

2

Edition

3

Categories

2

Days of competition

1

Gala concert

Venue

Paris, France

A capital of opera, Paris welcomes candidates from around the world for two days of music.

A historic hall

The rounds will take place in an exceptional Parisian venue, in the heart of the city.

Masterclasses

Masterclasses led by international opera singers and pedagogues are offered to candidates ahead of the competition.

Piano accompaniment

An accompanist can be provided on specific request, for an additional fee.

The exact venue will be announced soon.

In pictures

The 1st edition

Auditions, masterclasses and gala concert: moments from the competition’s first edition.

Awards

Prizes and opportunities

Awards are assigned according to the jury’s assessment of merit.

Grand Prix — Free academy

Free participation in the Nouvelles Étoiles summer or winter academy, including accommodation, meals and tuition. Travel expenses are excluded.

Gala concert

Participation in the gala concert with the UniArt Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Raffaele Mascolo.

Concert in Italy

First-prize laureates with the highest scores in the Opera Arias and Vocal Chamber Music categories will be invited to perform at the Salone del Museo Etnografico della Gambarina in Alessandria, Italy.

Concerts in Paris with UniArt

First-prize laureates with the highest scores in the Opera Arias category will be invited to take part in concerts in Paris with the UniArt Chamber Orchestra.

L’Elisir d’amore

First-prize laureates with the highest scores in the Opera Roles — L’Elisir d’amore category will have the opportunity to debut in the concert production with the UniArt Ensemble in Paris, organised by Association Artima, after participating in the corresponding opera workshop.

International projects

Special diplomas and invitations to future artistic projects and concerts in Paris or abroad.

Diplomas: Grand Prix; Laureate — First, Second or Third Prize; Finalist; Participant. Candidates’ teachers receive official letters of recognition.

Registration

Submit your application

Applications are open from 6 September to 6 October 2026. Apply through the official application form, available from the button below.

Preparing your application

  1. Complete the official application form.
  2. Attach an artistic CV; a motivation letter and a recommendation letter are welcome.
  3. State the repertoire planned for the final: four pieces, including the compulsory aria.
  4. Provide two video links of contrasting pieces, fifteen minutes in total at most.
  5. Indicate whether an accompanist is required.

Entry fees

Online selection and final
135 €
Rehearsal with pianist
50 €
Masterclass before the competition
100 €

30% reduction for laureates of the Nouvelles Étoiles and Winterreise competitions. 50% off a second category when entering more than one. Partial or full scholarships available on documented request.

A minimum of 40 points awarded by the jury in the video selection is required to reach the final.

Application form

All registrations are final and non-refundable.

Partners

Our partners

Orchestre UniArt
Mairie du 9e arrondissement de Paris
Salle de concert La Sirène
Centre culturel MCA, rue Bleue
Nouvelles Étoiles
KIMEEA — Korea International Music Education Exchange Association
KIMEEA — Korea International Music Education Exchange Association

Executive Director: LIN Chenyang

Amici del Museo Etnografico Gambarina
Amici del Museo Etnografico Gambarina
Museo Etnografico di Alessandria — C’era una volta
Museo Etnografico di Alessandria — C’era una volta

Contact

Get in touch