Domingo's rising disciples.

THERE IS SOMETHING SO personal in everything that Placido Domingo does. The international competition for singers--Placido Domingo's Operalia--is his way of giving thanks for his own God-given talent, which has made him one of the most sought-after voices in the world of opera. The singer has made the cultivation of young voices a personal cause. "I have come to appreciate the difficulties young opera singers have in forming careers," Domingo says. "My goal is to pave the way for young artists by helping them overcome obstacles through exposure to the finest professionals."

Placido Domingo's Operalia is unique: The event is not anchored in one city. Since its inception in 1993, in Paris, it has been staged in cities from Mexico City, to Madrid, to Tokyo. For one week last October, Washington, D.C., was the world capital for vocal art when Operalia came to the U.S. capital.

Out of almost nine hundred applicants worldwide, forty contestants from twenty countries were selected to come to Washington and perform before an international jury made up of singers and general directors/consultants of opera theaters in France, Spain, Germany, Britain, and the U.S. Of the forty, sixteen made it to the finals.

Mezzo-soprano Guang Yang of China took the $50,000 grand prize for her singing of Eboli's aria "O Don Fatale," from Verdi's Don Carlo. Wearing a flaming-red evening outfit, the color of her dress seemed to match her deceit of the queen she was supposed to serve. Italy's Alessandra Rezza chose "Nel di della vittoria" from Act I of Verdi's Macbeth. Rezza tied for second place with South Korean baritone Hyoung-Kyoo Kang, who sang Rodrigo's aria "Son io mio Carlo," from Act IV of Don Carlo.

Maya Dashuk of St. Petersburg, Russia, chose the aria "Ebben? Ne andro lontana" from Catalani's opera La Wally. Elizaveta Martirosyan, a twenty-four-year-old from the Republic of Georgia, with her impassioned singing of "Il dolce suono ardon gli incensi" from Lucia di Lammermoor, won the hearts of the packed audience. Operalia has a special prize--Prize of the Public--where the audience casts its own vote. The young Georgian took home that $10,000 prize.

Two singers, Jossie Perez and Lasha Nikabadze, who participated in the operatic section, also sang in the zarzuela segment. They, along with Antonio Gandia of Spain, Valeriano Lanchas of Colombia, and Eugenia Garza of Mexico, all won $10,000 each.

Alberto Vilar, a generous contributor to Operalia as well as to opera throughout the world, was the event's honorary chairman. In his message he emphasized Operalia's importance: "It is essential that we properly prepare today's young artists in order to preserve opera's legacy."

The growing career of past Operalia awardees--Spanish soprano Ainhoa Arteta or Argentine tenor Jose Cura, to name two--are indications of the musical caliber and ongoing achievements of these and other winners. Their voices are today heard in major opera houses around the world.