The Third Round and the winners awarding ceremony of the X Galina Vishnevskaya International Opera Artists Competition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the legendary singer, took place in the Grand Hall of the Сonservatory on June 4, 2026.
The Chairlady of the jury, the Artistic director of the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre, and a Honoured arts professional of the Russian Federation, Olga Rostropovich, congratulated all the contestants on their participation in the Competition, thanked the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Rosconcert, the Department of Culture of the city of Moscow, as well as the Competition’s jury, the Opera Centre’s team, and the audience.
The jury has continued the tradition of awarding its own prizes to the contestants. Olga Rostropovich awarded special prizes to Anna Eliseeva and Vladimir Pushkaryov – a year of study at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre free of charge.
Fabio Armiliato invited Sofia Sakaniya to perform in the gala concert dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Daniela Dessì’s demise, in order to present the Daniela Dessì memorial award.
The General Director of the Hungarian State Opera, Szilveszter Ókovács, awarded his prize to Sofia Sakaniya, Kirill Popov, Chingis Bairov, and Konstantin Fedotov – participation in the performance of Tchaikovsky’s «Eugene Onegin».
Sofia Rukin, the artistic manager of the TACT agency, invited all the finalists to an audition and offered Sofia Sakaniya a collaboration.
Special prizes of the Competition:
Prize for artistry – Chingis Bairov, baritone
Prize for the best performance of a Russian aria – Kirill Popov, tenor
Audience choice award – Maria Seleverstova, soprano
Diploma for the best accompanist – Georgy Migunov.
Laureates of the X International Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Artists Competition are:
Third prize – Maria Seleverstova, soprano and Anatoly Badaev, bass
Second prize – Sofia Sakaniya, soprano and Ivan Borodulin, countertenor
First prize – Chingis Bairov, baritone
The XI Galina Vishnevskaya International Opera Artists Competition will take place in 2028.