Kazakh vocalist Aigerim Altynbek delivered an extraordinary performance at the 11th Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino (CLIP), securing four prestigious awards in a stunning display of artistry that showcased Kazakhstan’s cultural prowess on the global stage, according to Euronews.
The rising soprano claimed the Competition’s First Prize alongside the Female Voice Award, Emotion Prize, and Carlo Majer Award, an unprecedented sweep that drew immediate recognition from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who hailed her achievement as presenting “Kazakhstan’s rich culture to the world and earning recognition from international experts.”
“You have proudly represented our country and its national art on the global stage. I am confident that even greater achievements lie ahead for you,” Tokayev stated.
Altynbek’s triumph emerged from a fiercely contested field where 200 applicants from 50 nations vied for selection, with only 92 singers invited to compete and merely 10 progressing to the finals. Her victory underscores a rapidly ascending career that includes recent duets with opera legends Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras, along with formative training at Milan’s revered Accademia Teatro alla Scala.
Altynbek’s success continues her pattern of excellence following previous victories at international competitions, establishing her among Central Asia’s most compelling cultural ambassadors.
Her Portofino performance particularly impressed a jury comprising directors and impresarios from Europe’s foremost opera institutions, including Vienna State Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Glyndebourne, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
The podium featured notable international talent: South Korea’s Junhyeok Felix Park secured second place, followed by Russian contralto Elisaveta Shuvalova in third, and Italy’s Lucia Tumminelli in fourth.
Established in 2015, CLIP has evolved into a critical launchpad for emerging opera talent, facilitating connections between singers and leading European houses while maintaining rigorous artistic standards.
