20th Anniversary Gala Concert of Georg Solti Accademia

Over the past two decades, the Georg Solti Accademia has grown into one of the most important and invaluable training grounds for emerging opera singers and répétiteurs worldwide. Established in 2004 by Lady Valerie Solti, Candice Wood, and Jonathan Papp, the Georg Solti Accademia fulfills Sir Georg Solti’s longtime desire to create a training program for exceptional young musicians in Italy. The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF), always committed in the promotion of arts and culture, began funding Georg Solti Accademia’s activities in 2005. The partnership was developed in 2008 in the so-called ‘Solti-Peretti Répetitéurs course’, which is still ongoing today, and which is the only course worldwide offering a tailor-made program for répétiteurs.

On October 20, 2024 a gala concert was held at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Georg Solti Accademia. Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, tenor Freddie De Tommaso, soprano Hera Hyesang Park, and baritone Paul Grant, all of whom are also alumni of the Georg Solti Accademia’s Bel Canto Course for Singers, performed in this gala concert, co-produced with the Hungarian State Opera, featuring their orchestra and conductor János Kovács. This extraordinary opera house, which recently celebrated its 140th anniversary, has a special connection with Sir Georg Solti, who began his professional musical career there as a répetitéur. He made his conducting debut at the house leading a performance of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” on March 11, 1938. As a part of the 20th Anniversary celebration, the Accademia presented the masterclass led by its artistic director Jonathan Papp, with some of the guest artists joining as guest teachers at the Liszt Academy of Music.

Watch the gala concert at this link.