International Opera Gala
August 15, 2025, 7:00 PM
Narva Kreenholm Manufactory Opera Stage
The International Opera Gala brings brilliant voices from Estonia, Lithuania, and Malta to the unique industrial architectural setting of Narva Kreenholm. World-famous arias that have moved audiences around the globe for decades will be performed. The stage will showcase young talent alongside seasoned international experience, with powerful orchestral sound delivered by the Narva City Symphony Orchestra.
Performers:
- Annabel Soode (soprano, Estonia)
- Julija Karaliūnaitė (soprano, Lithuania)
- Nicola Said (soprano, Malta)
- Cliff Zammit Stevens (tenor, Malta)
- Narva City Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Anatoli Štšura
***
Julija Karaliūnaitė (soprano, Lithuania)
Julija Karaliūnaitė has performed numerous roles at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Since 2021, she has appeared as a soloist on international stages including the Jerusalem Theatre (Israel), the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of North Macedonia, the National Theatre of Serbia, the Narva Opera Festival (Estonia), and the Bergedorf Festival (Germany).
Her notable roles include La Bohème by G. Puccini, Rusalka by A. Dvořák, Eugene Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky, Adriana Lecouvreur by F. Cilea, and Turandot by G. Puccini.
***
Annabel Soode (b. 2004) is a vocal artist based in Tallinn. She is currently studying classical singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under the guidance of Monika Hauswalter.
She recently made her operatic debut as Donna Elvira in Vanemuine Theatre’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and performed Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the EAMT Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arvo Volmer. At the Belvedere International Singing Competition, she reached the semi-finals and received a special award. This year, she is also participating in the television competition “Klassikatähed”.
In autumn, Annabel collaborated with the contemporary music ensemble Alekton, premiering several new works. She also took part in a performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass, conducted by Ode Pürg. At the EAMT Opera Studio, she has recently performed excerpts from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro (Countess) and The Magic Flute (First Lady). In late January, she participated in the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition in Dublin and will compete at the Klaudia Taev Competition in Pärnu this September.
In November 2024, she took part in the AFEKT contemporary music festival, premiering Einike Leppik’s audiovisual work Essential Fears and Fabrizio Nastari’s mono-opera A Student’s Tale, together with the ensemble L’Arsenale and accordionist Momir Novakovic. In August 2024, she made her full operatic debut as Heba in the world premiere of Malle Maltis’ new opera Raasulapsuke. Earlier that year, in May, she also appeared in the choreographic opera-installation optais amme, staged in the ruins of Ungru Castle (director Sofia Filippou, composer Ben Osborn). For the 2023/2024 season, Annabel was selected for the LIFT mentorship program by Eesti Kontsert.
In 2024, she performed at the anniversary concert of the Narva City Orchestra. In August 2023, she sang Benjamin Britten’s Les Illuminations with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under Kaspar Mänd, and later appeared at the Estonian National Opera’s Old Tallinn Gala conducted by Arvo Volmer.
Since 2021, Soode has performed Lied recitals with pianists such as Piia Paemurru, Kärt Ruubel, Rose Thomas, Jakob Teppo, Sofia Khvichia, among others. Her recital programs seek dialogue between music and poetry across different eras. A significant influence on her development as an artist has been her long-standing collaboration with young composer Georg Jakob Salumäe.
Annabel has been awarded the laureate title and a special prize at the youth vocal competition Võluhääl. In 2021 and 2023, she won the Tallinn Talent Award. In spring 2022, she took first place at the 4th National Vocalist Competition and later that autumn received third place at the Vello Jürna Vocalist Competition.
She studied violin and viola at the Tallinn Old Town Educational College and played in the school’s string orchestra under Rasmus Puur. She has performed as a soloist in Estonia, Sweden, the Basque Country, Poland, the USA, and Brazil. Annabel studied at Hanna-Liina Võsa’s musical theatre school and appeared in productions by Varius Theatre and the Estonian National Opera’s children’s programs, as well as the Kinoteater production Ethics (2022, author Paavo Piik). As a child, she often performed with her father’s string quartet. She has sung and played folk, musical theatre, jazz, and classical music.
In the past and current seasons, Soode has received support from the Elrida and Erich Rämmeld Memorial Fund, dedicated to young opera singers studying at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
***
Cliff Zammit Stevens – Tenor (Malta)
Tenor Cliff Zammit Stevens is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and has been described as “a revelation” (Daily Express) and as “showing exceptional promise” (Opera Magazine).
His operatic repertoire includes Otello (Otello, Rossini), Don José (La Tragédie de Carmen), Lensky (Eugene Onegin), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Tebaldo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Ismaele (Nabucco), Nemorino (L’Elisir d’amore), Beppe (Rita, Donizetti), Cassio (Otello) and Beppe (Pagliacci).
He has performed in Britten’s War Requiem at RCM and Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba at King’s Place, and has sung the tenor solos in Mozart’s Requiem at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Rossini’s Stabat Mater at Harrogate Cathedral, Mro Joseph Vella’s Symphony No. 3: The Apocalypse Verses at St John’s Co-Cathedral, and in the world premiere of Mro Vella’s The Hyland Mass.
Cliff is also a regular performer with the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble during the Valletta Baroque Festival. Recently, he secured third place in Muzika Muzika with his song Fil-Qrib, which received high critical acclaim.’
***
Nicola Said – Soprano (Malta)
Maltese Soprano Nicola Said has an active international career on the opera and concert
stage. She performs frequently in her native country and throughout Europe, UK, USA, and
the Middle East for top official delegate events. Nicola’s operatic roles include Tatyana
Yevgeny Onegin (HGO), Liù Turandot and Violetta La traviata (Instant Opera), Musetta and
Mimi La bohème (Gaulitana Festival, Instant Opera), and the title role in Lucia di
Lammermoor (Festival Lyrique-en-Mer and Regents Opera, formerly Fulham Opera). Nicola
made her English National Opera debut as Soprano Angel in It’s a Wonderful Life. Nicola
often performs with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, having recently performed the solo
soprano in the Mozart Requiem, and working with opera stars including Tenors Joseph
Calleja and Vittorio Grigolo. A keen recitalist, Nicola has given concerts with established
pianists including Malcolm Martineau and James Baillieu.
Nicola has appeared at the Cadogan Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Barbican Hall, St. John’s
Smith Square, Garrick Club, Kensington Palace, St. James’ Palace, Spencer House, and at the Royal Opera House. Nicola has recorded at Abbey Road Studios and has performed for HRH The Princess Royal and HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. Nicola attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she completed the Opera Course and Masters in Vocal Performance. Nicola was the Malta Airport Foundation Ambassador, a role she held for a decade. A BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation Scholar, Peace and Prosperity Trust Associate Artist, Drake Calleja Trust Scholar, and Samling Scholar, Nicola has received support from the Malta Arts Scholarship, Janatha Stubbs Foundation, Talent Unlimited, Walter Hyde Memorial Trust, London Syndicate, Alfred H. Caplan Opera Scholarship, Frieda Caplan, and Ian Tomlin Scholarship. Nicola won First Prize and Audience Prize for the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial and attended the Salzburg Mozarteum, where she won Second Prize in the Strauss Competition.
Nicola is Founder and Artistic Director of Malta Opera, a new opera organisation based in
Malta. Malta Opera focuses on engaging and promoting local talent while cultivating
international collaborations.
More performer information to be announced…
Ticket Information:
- Regular ticket: €25
- Discounted ticket: €15
(valid for students, teachers, pensioners, and visitors with disabilities upon presenting appropriate documentation at the venue)
- Supporter ticket: €50
(includes seating in the front rows)
Free admission:
– for companions of visitors with special needs
– for children with special needs (up to 18 years old)
– for children up to and including 6 years old
Tickets are available via piletilevi.ee or at the venue one hour before the performance.
This year, the weather hasn’t been kind, so we’ve decided to move all events indoors at Kreenholm.
In this case, the stage and audience seating will be protected from the rain.
The organizer reserves the right to change the festival program and make other adjustments related to the event’s organization.
