On 25 September 2026, Nicosia becomes the stage for one of the most charged evenings in the island's classical music calendar. The finalists of the International Masterclass & Competition for Opera Singers take the spotlight in a concert that closes a week-long programme running from 20 to 25 September — an intensive gathering organised by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in partnership with the ARTE Music Academy.
What makes this evening distinct is the dual tension it carries: the beauty of operatic performance and the high stakes of competition existing side by side. Conductor Yiorgos Kountouris leads the orchestra, bringing both authority and sensitivity to a programme shaped by the voices that have survived the competition's earlier rounds. The audience, in effect, witnesses the final act of a journey that began days earlier in rehearsal rooms and masterclass sessions.
For the singers, the rewards extend well beyond the applause. Winners receive prestigious prizes and scholarships, along with concrete opportunities for future collaboration with leading cultural organisations in Cyprus and internationally — the kind of professional exposure that can genuinely redirect a young career.
Tickets are priced between €10 and €18, placing a world-class operatic evening within easy reach. Whether you follow the competition closely or simply love the art form, this is an evening worth planning around.
— Source: visitcyprus.com