The XV Elena Obraztsova International Competition of Young Opera Singers has ended in St. Petersburg. This year, a record number of applications were submitted for participation in the prestigious music competition - almost 500 people from 19 countries.
After the selection auditions (based on video recordings), the expert council of the competition decided to admit 90 people from 13 countries to participate in the first round. Among them is a young vocalist from Turkmenistan, a 5th-year student of the Maya Kulieva National Conservatory, Dunyagozel Begalieva.
She passed two rounds with dignity among the artists of opera houses and real professionals of the music scene. And although the girl did not reach the final, the extremely high competition and difficult program brought Dunyagozel invaluable experience and great motivation to develop her talent.
Begalieva is participating in this competition for the second time, and the members of the international jury, which included opera stars and conservatory teachers, praised Dunyagozel for the fact that she has noticeably improved her skills over the year and showed a very good level for a student, receiving points even higher than many “ready-made” vocalists already working in opera houses.
The program of the Turkmen girl included famous complex arias in Italian, Russian, as well as romances in German, Russian, and French. Music experts noted her beautiful voice and timbre, sound culture, and pure notes.
Indeed, Dunyagozel tried very hard and was able to pass the tough selection of two rounds. She was supported at the competition by the leading pianist, accompanist with a capital letter and a high professional Maria Chernova, she accompanied Dunyagozel at all of her performances in front of a large audience at the State Academic Capella of St. Petersburg, where the reviewers included outstanding musicians, directors of opera art agencies and theaters of the world.
Dunyagozel also attended master classes of leading opera singers from different countries, lectures on vocal art, and received recommendations from experienced colleagues and wise mentors.
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