NEWS

Two Performances at Operosa Montenegro Opera Festival 2026

Nevena Goranova appeared at the Operosa Montenegro Opera Festival 2026 in two distinct artistic projects, further expanding her repertoire on the international stage. The festival, held across the historic venues of Herceg Novi and Luštica Bay, is recognized as Montenegro's leading international opera festival. As part of the festival's opera production, she performed the role of Marta in The Balkan Empress by Dionisio De Sarno San Giorgio, presented in a new chamber production created for the festival. Alongside the staged production, Nevena also presented her solo recital, "A Star is Born", featuring a program of operatic arias and art songs spanning Italian, Russian, and Spanish repertoire. The recital showcased works by Mozart, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Obradors, Manuel de Falla, Federico Moreno Torroba, Cilea, and Verdi. These performances formed part of the 2026 festival season, bringing together young international artists alongside distinguished guest performers in one of the Adriatic region's leading summer opera festivals.

Masterclass with Aquiles Machado and Francesco Izzo at Córdoba OperaLab 2026

As part of the 2026 edition of Córdoba Opera Lab, Nevena Goranova participated in a masterclass led by acclaimed tenor Aquiles Machado and renowned musicologist, pianist, and opera coach Francesco Izzo. Working on “Tu che le vanità” from Verdi's Don Carlo, the session explored vocal interpretation, stylistic awareness, and the dramatic dimensions of Verdi's music. The coaching formed part of the artistic preparation for the Opera Gala presented within the festival. Bringing together the perspective of an internationally celebrated performer and one of today's leading Verdi scholars, the masterclass offered a unique opportunity for in-depth work on repertoire and performance practice within an international artistic environment.

New Date to Be Announced

The concert originally scheduled for June 13 has been postponed to the next concert season.In collaboration with the Norfolk & Norwich Novi Sad Association, a concert dedicated to Serbian and English composers will be presented. Nevena Goranova will perform alongside the outstanding pianist Rebekka Magomedova.While this is not their first collaboration, it will be the first time they present this particular repertoire together. The audience can expect a diverse program, ranging from vibrant classical works inspired by Serbian folklore to deeply emotional and darkly colored compositions by Serbian composers, influenced by sevdah. The program will also include works by the English composer Roger Quilter.

Return to the Russian House After Ten Years

After ten years away from its stage, Nevena Goranova Rajković returned to the Russian House in Belgrade, with a repertoire that is not merely performed, but lived: Russian vocal lyricism in all its intimacy, drama, and inevitable melancholy. Joined by Nataša Novicka-Adams (mezzo-soprano) and Vladimir Vanja Šćepanović (piano), the evening unfolded as a journey through the finest shades of the Russian romance and vocal tradition, with works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Rachmaninoff at its heart. The audience received the programme with a warmth and attentiveness that is rarely encountered. An evening in which the music said what words cannot.

Return to the Stage as Donna Elvira

We are delighted to announce that Nevena will once again perform at the Konstantin Kisimov Music and Drama Theatre in Veliko Tarnovo, taking on the role of Donna Elvira. Following her successful appearance in the same production three years ago, Nevena returns to this powerful role in Don Giovanni, under the baton of Maestro Georgi Patrikov, and in a production directed by Petko Bonev. This return brings renewed depth and experience to a role that holds a special place in her repertoire.

Grand Prix

Nevena Goranova Rajković was awarded the Grand Prix at the 5th International Vocal Competition "Stojan Stojanov Gančev", held in Zagreb in May 2025, the highest distinction the competition offers. The jury recognised her exceptional technical command, musicality, and depth of interpretation, as well as her ability to inhabit different styles with conviction and sensitivity. It is the kind of recognition that does not simply reward a performance, but acknowledges an artist. Since its founding in 2021, the competition has grown into one of the most respected international forums for vocal art, drawing singers from across Europe and around the world. It bears the name of the great opera artist and pedagogue Stojan Stojanov Gančev, whose artistic and teaching legacy has shaped generations of singers on stages across Croatia and beyond.

Elizabeth Connell Prize 2024 – Quarter-Finalist

Nevena Goranova has been selected as a quarter-finalist in the 2024 Elizabeth Connell Prize, an international competition dedicated to dramatic sopranos. This year, the competition received 138 applications from 35 countries, with only 22 singers advancing to the quarter-final round. This recognition highlights her growing presence within the dramatic soprano repertoire on the international stage.

Sumi Jo: "You’re out of this world"

Selected among a record number of international applicants, Nevena was invited to join an exclusive masterclass led by the world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo. During this highly competitive program, she distinguished herself through both vocal artistry and expressive depth, earning exceptional praise from Maestro Jo, who described her as “out of this world.” Over the course of several days of intensive artistic collaboration, Nevena refined her interpretation under the guidance of one of the most celebrated sopranos of our time. The masterclass culminated in a prestigious final concert in Vienna, where she performed alongside selected participants and Sumi Jo herself, presenting her artistry to an international audience. This experience marked a significant artistic milestone, further affirming Nevena’s place among emerging voices of notable promise on the international opera scene.