Every opera career begins with a moment: the moment a young singer steps onto a stage, takes a breath, and realizes that the world might finally be listening. For many singers from around the world, that moment has taken place on the stage of the Liszt Academy in Budapest at the Éva Marton International Singing Competition. The place where the world’s leading opera professionals are in the international jury with the magnificent Hungarian soprano Éva Marton herself. But the Marton Competition offers far more than prizes. Since its launch in 2014, the event has rapidly become one of the most inspiring meeting points for the next generation of opera singers, who perform before the most renowned casting directors, professors and opera directors, with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, and often receive invitations to opera houses, concerts, and young artist programmes around the world.
Over the years, the competition has launched and strengthened the careers of many remarkable artists. Among its winners are Szilvia Vörös, who became a member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble in 2018 and has appeared at major venues such as the Salzburg Festival and opera houses in Milan, Paris and Brussels. Also Alexander Roslavets, member of the Hamburg State Opera and a sought-after performer – in the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Glyndebourne and the Salzburg Festival. Mexican-American tenor Galeano Salas has built an impressive international career, appearing at major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera and the Houston Grand Opera, and recently made his Teatro alla Scala debut as Il Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto. Serbian soprano Sonja Šarić has since appeared in major roles such as Aida, Leonora and Senta, performing at leading European opera houses including Opera Graz, the National Theatre in Belgrade and Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Russian tenor Andrei Danilov is a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Korean tenor Jihoon Park he has already performed with major orchestras and opera companies in Korea and Europe, with engagements including a German debut as Don José in Carmen.
