The next International Virgilijus Noreika Competition for Singers is planned for 2026, Vilnius

Ernesto Palacio

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Ernesto Palacio is the director of the Rossini Opera Festival and the Accademia Rossiniana. Ever since its founding in 1989, the academy has significantly contributed to the education of the young generation of singers, many of its alumni have had successful careers in the most distinguished opera theatres around the world, such as “La Scala” in Milan, the Rome Opera, “La Fenice” in Venice, The Metropolitan Opera in New York, The Covent Garden in London, “Liceu” in Barcelona, the Bavarian State Opera and many others. During his many years of international performance, Palacio has collaborated with a plethora of famous conductors, Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Chailly among them. The tenor has an astounding 80 operas in his repertoire and at least twenty of them were created by Gioachino Rossini. Palacio has also preformed oratories, masses and other long pieces. The soloist has over 40 records, a quarter of them dedicated to the music of Rossini, so it is no surprise that Palacio is regarded as one of the most eminent international experts on Rossini’s style. Today, Mr. Palacio no longer performs as a singer, but has been credited with the discovery of numerous young soloists, contributing to the development and careers of Juan Diego Flórez, Daniela Barcellona, Michele Mariotti, and others.