Iva Hraste Sočo, member of the jury at the prestigious Renata Tebaldi International Singing CompetitionOpera — 22. September 2026.
Dr Iva Hraste Sočo, General Manager and Artistic Director of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, served as a member of the jury for the 11th edition of the Renata Tebaldi International Singing Competition – Opera Section, held in San Marino from 15 to 18 September 2026.
Alongside Iva Hraste Sočo, the international jury included distinguished representatives of the European and international opera scene: Sebastian F. Schwarz, President of the Jury and Casting Manager at Teatro alla Scala in Milan; Laurent Brunner, Director of the Opéra Royal / Château de Versailles Spectacles; Jonathan Friend, long-standing Artistic Administrator and Adviser at the Metropolitan Opera; and Javier Menéndez Álvarez, General and Artistic Director of the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, with the special participation of music critics and representatives of the Ettore Bastianini Association. In addition to the cash prizes awarded to the winners, the competition laureate, baritone Akilbek Piyazov, will also have the opportunity to perform at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
Named after one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century, the competition brought together more than 200 young singers from around the world, as well as distinguished international opera professionals.
