Harry Hyman — Founder of The International Opera Awards: “The Toscas, Not the Oscars”
About episode 19:
Ever wondered what drives The International Opera Awards? British entrepreneur Harry Hyman takes us behind the curtain of the Awards, revealing how a passion project has transformed into a pivotal force in the opera world.
The awards serve a triumvirate of purposes – distributing roughly $100,000 annually in bursaries to emerging talents, celebrating excellence across all facets of opera production, and perhaps most crucially, dismantling the elitist stereotypes that keep potential audiences away. “People from a younger generation might be put off by the notion that opera is only for extremely wealthy people, that it’s very long and can be very dull,” Hyman explains, highlighting the awards’ mission to change these perceptions.
What began as a London-based ceremony has blossomed into a truly global celebration, with previous ceremonies hosted in Madrid, Warsaw, and Munich. The 2025 awards will unfold at Athens’ Stavros Niarchos Foundation Opera House on November 13th, with nominations open until August 31st. Last year saw over 16,000 nominations flooding in across 24 categories, each carefully evaluated by a distinguished jury of opera experts.
The real magic happens in the careers launched and elevated through these recognitions. Previous Young Singer winners like Ermonela Jaho and Aigul Akhmetshina have rocketed to international acclaim, while bursary recipients gain priceless exposure performing before the opera world’s luminaries. As one judge aptly dubbed them, these aren’t the Oscars but the “Toscas of opera” – a fitting tribute to an art form that, as Hyman reminds us, speaks to our most fundamental emotions: “lust, envy, love, seduction, deception.”
Ready to nominate your opera heroes? Visit operaawards.org and become part of this remarkable celebration of an art form that continues to evolve while honoring its rich traditions.
What are The International Opera Awards?
The Awards honour exceptional operatic talent from across the globe, celebrating the diverse and collaborative nature of this cherished art form and the annual event has become an important landmark on the international operatic calendar. Founded by philanthropist Harry Hyman in 2012, the Awards aim to raise the profile of opera as an art form, recognize and reward excellence, and help to generate funds for the Opera Awards Foundation, which provides bursaries for emerging operatic talent worldwide.
Following its relocation to the SNFCC in 2017 under the artistic direction of Giorgos Koumendakis and with support from the SNF, the Greek National Opera has evolved into one of the most inspired and creative opera houses in Europe, showcasing a significant number of new commissions, new productions, and international collaborations, along with a remarkable expansion of its repertoire. Thus, hosting the International Opera Awards ceremony is a natural continuation of its prolific activities.
The Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera, Giorgos Koumendakis, notes: “We are delighted that the Greek National Opera is going to host the International Opera Awards ceremony, for the very first time, in 2025 at the Stavros Niarchos Hall. Every year, this globally prestigious event singles out the most remarkable artistic achievements in the realm of opera and rewards younger and already distinguished opera artists along with opera houses worldwide. The event will be conducted under the artistic supervision of the GNO and featuring the GNO Orchestra. I would like to express my gratitude to the Commission, the Opera Awards Foundation, and the Awards Committee for the honor of selecting the
Greek National Opera for this role, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for its support of this ambitious project.”
Harry Hyman, Founder of the International Opera Awards, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the International Opera Awards to Athens for the first time, and to continue to celebrate the truly international artform of opera. Our thanks to Greek National Opera for hosting the 2025 ceremony, and I look forward to celebrating with them and the rest of the opera world in November.”
Nominations for the 2025 International Opera Awards open on 30 May 2025, and tickets for the event will go on sale in due course.
Who is Harry Hyman?
Harry Hyman founded the International Opera Awards in 2012. A lifelong opera lover, he felt that opera too often hid its light under a bushel. He was inspired to establish the Awards as a way to celebrate an exceptional art form, and to recognise on a global stage, the talented and dedicated individuals and organisations who make it happen. Harry is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Primary Health Properties PLC.
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