International Opera Awards to be held in May

Monday, March 8, 2021

The 2020 winners will be revealed at a virtual ceremony on Monday 10 May 2021.

Lise Davidsen, in the running for this year’s Female Singer award

After the planned 2020 live event was cancelled due to the pandemic, the virtual International Opera Awards will take place online in May, announcing the winners of the 2020 awards and paying tribute to the resilience of the industry in the past year.

The event, hosted by BBC Radio 3's Petroc Trewlany, will be streamed to ticketholders from 6.30pm, and available on demand for a month thereafter.

The evening will raise funds for the Opera Awards Foundation Artist Hardship Fund, established last year to provide emergency grants for young artists affected by the pandemic.

Harry Hyman, founder of the Awards, said: 'After the unprecedented challenges of 2020, the opera world deserves a celebration more than ever. We are excited to be bringing the Awards back in virtual form and to welcome our most international audience yet. Although nothing can replace the thrill of live theatre, this will without doubt be a very special night as we pay tribute to the best and brightest of our industry.'