Handa Opera on the Harbour, the Melbourne Ring and Stuart Skelton all make this year’s nominations.

Opera Australia and Australian singers, conductors and directors have all been recognised in the nominations for this year’s International Opera Awards. Handa Opera on the Harbour, the Melbourne Ring, Barrie Kosky, Simone Young and Stuart Skelton all make this year’s nominations.

In stark contrast to last year’s inaugural Opera Awards which were a highly Eurocentric, or some argued an Anglo-American affair, this year’s renamed ‘International’ Opera Awards have cast their eyes upon the southern hemisphere and spotted some talent worth noting.

Opera Australia comes out best with Handa Opera on the Harbour being nominated for the Accessibility Award and the Melbourne Ring getting a nod in the Anniversary Production category. The latter new, and probably one off category promises a tough fight with Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh beach a likely front runner.

Aussie heldentenor Stuart Skelton receives a nomination for Best Male Singer in a list that handily does not include last year’s winner Jonas Kaufmann or the likes of Terfel, Flórez, Calleja or Beczała. His completion will be Stéphane Degout, Bryan Hymel, Peter Mattei, Luca Pisaroni, Michael Volle and Ludovic Tézier. A betting man...