Cláudia Ribas wins the 57th IVC Opera & Oratorio 2024

After a thrilling and atmospheric final, Portuguese mezzo-soprano Cláudia Ribas was the convincing winner of the 57th edition of the International Vocal Competition. From the hands of Mayor Mikkers of 's-Hertogenbosch she received the Grand Prix of the city of 's-Hertogenbosch: a silver medal and a cash prize of €15,000. The 31-year-old Ribas also proved to be the audience favourite, claiming the ANED Audience Prize. In addition, she won the Wagner Prize and the Junior Jury Prize. Cláudia Ribas, who completed her Bachelor's at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and is currently a member of the opera studio of Oper Frankfurt, was the undisputed star of the final.

During the successful competition week, the 67 participants from 27 countries did not make it easy for the international jury, says Andrew Watts, general and artistic director of the International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch: "The jury had an especially hard time, because all the vocalists showed the very best of themselves. They captivated the audience and gave truly exciting performances. It was an extraordinarily thrilling evening of vocal art of the highest order. The involvement and support of our audience in the full Casino hall here in Den Bosch, and of those watching online, show that the IVC is alive and well and that we have celebrated its 70th anniversary in style."

This year's jury consisted of Dame Gwyneth Jones, Roberta Alexander, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Rosemary Joshua, Michael Chance, Karen Stone, Monique Wagemakers and Damià Carbonell Nicolau.

The 57th edition also awarded eight further prizes: the Toonkunst Prijs to Annabel Kennedy, the Staetshuys Fonds Prijs to Madison Horman, the Jong Talent Prijs to Jasurbek Khaydarov, the Marianne Blok Prijs to Elisabeth Eunsoo Lee, the Van Amelsvoort Prijs to Madison Horman, the Prijs Vrienden IVC to Elisa Maayeshi, the Persprijs to Elisa Maayeshi, and the Engagementsprijs Händel Vereniging to Oleh Lebedyev and Elisa Maayeshi.