Description

Showcasing a panorama of Greek art music and featuring the full range of its artistic forces, the Greek National Opera hosted the International Opera Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at 19.00, at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the SNFCC.
With nominees from 25 countries across five continents, this year’s International Opera Awards celebrated the international spirit of the art of opera, inviting audiences to applaud the award-winning creators, performers, creative teams, productions, and opera houses, in recognition of the exceptional artistic work they produce. The event was made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), supporting the enhancement of the GNO’s artistic outreach.

Remarkable works by Spyridon Samaras, Pavlos Carrer, Theofrastos Sakellaridis, Nikos Skalkottas, Mikis Theodorakis, and Giorgos Koumendakis formed an anthology of Greek art music presented by the Greek National Opera during this major international celebration of opera, which took place on 13 November at the Stavros Niarchos Hall. For thirteen years, the International Opera Awards have honoured exceptional operatic talent from around the world, celebrating the diverse and collaborative nature of this supreme art form.

The soloists were the distinguished and emerging GNO singers Vassiliki Karayanni, Maria Kosovitsa, Dimitri Platanias, and Yannis Christopoulos. They were joined by a polyphonic ensemble, as well as the Orchestra, Chorus, Ballet, and Children’s Chorus of the Greek National Opera. The orchestra was conducted by Konstantinos Terzakis.

The recipients of the 21 awards (artists, cultural organisations, foundations, productions, recordings, among others) were selected by a prestigious international jury comprising critics, opera house administrators, and opera artists, chaired by John Allison, editor of Opera Magazine with Opera News, the Founding Media Partner of the Awards.

The International Opera Awards were founded in 2012 by philanthropist Harry Hyman, with the aim of strengthening and elevating the profile of opera while recognising and rewarding excellence. At the same time, the institution contributes to fundraising efforts for the Opera Awards Foundation, which provides scholarships to talented emerging opera creators and performers worldwide.

In 2025, for the first time, the International Opera Awards Ceremony was hosted by the Greek National Opera in Athens, placing Greece at the centre of attention on the global operatic stage.

Creative team – Cast

Presented by BBC Radio 3 host Petroc Trelawny

Conductor: Konstantinos Terzakis
Artistic curation, stage direction: Konstantinos Rigos
Associate director: Katerina Petsatodi
Project manager: Christina Arseni
Lighting: Christos Tziogkas
Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos
Children’s chorus mistress: Konstantina Pitsiakou

Mikis Theodorakis
What I Want
Children’s Chorus of the Greek National Opera

Theophrastos Sakellaridis
Perouze
Fairy of the Coast
Soloist: Maria Kosovitsa

Spyridon Samaras
Flora mirabilis
Qyando la sera, in primavera... / When, of a spring evening
Solists: Vassiliki Karayanni, Yannis Christopoulos

Giacomo Puccini
Tosca
Tre sbirri, una carrozza… / Three men, a carriage…
Soloist: Nicholas Brownlee
feat. Thanasis Evangelou

Giorgos Koumendakis
The Murderess 
Let me know, my dearest… / My child, you should have stayed…
Soloists: Alcmene Basakaros, Maria Melachrinou, Irini Derempei, Ioanna Forti

Giacomo Puccini
Madama Butterfly
Piangi? Perché? Un bel dì vedremo… / “You're crying? Whatever for? One fine day we shall see…
Soloist: Marina Rebeka

Paolo Carper
Frossini
Aprile rideva ornato di fiori… / April was laughing  adorned with flowers…
Soloist: Dimitris Platanias

Konstantinos Rigos / Nikos Skalkottas
36 Greek Dances
Epirotikos, Series I, No. 3
Ballet of the Greek National Opera

Winners of the International Opera Awards 2025