Opera Vlaanderen crowned Best Opera Company of the Year 2019
Fourth time lucky: Opera Vlaanderen has won the main prize of Best Opera Company of the Year 2019 at the prestigious International Opera Awards.
The gala took place on 29 April at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London. The company listened in rapture to the result from the international jury of journalists and professionals from the genre. By all accounts, the other nominees were major names: Opéra National de Paris, Theater an der Wien, Houston Grand Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the Göteborg Opera.
Artistic director Aviel Cahn puts the success down to ten years of hard work by everyone. His view is that both the performers and the staff behind the scenes, in the studios and the offices, have all won this accolade together. It also comes down to the exciting and modern, relevant way in which Opera Vlaanderen puts on its productions. He hopes that their performance will also inspire others who believe in the genre in the future. The award brings an abrupt end to Cahn's career at Opera Vlaanderen. After this season, he will become General Director of the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Following other nominations and the Award for Best Wagner Anniversary Production with Parsifal by Richard Wagner in 2014, stage designer Rebecca Ringst also took home the award for Best Designer this year. All the more reason be proud.