Opera contest open to under-30 singers

Operalia 2004, Placido Domingo’s annual international vocal competition for singers up to age 30, will return to Los Angeles Aug. 23-28 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

It will be the first time since 2000 that the competition, which will award $175,000 in prizes, will be held here.

Previous Operalia winners include soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, baritone Erwin Schrott and soprano Inva Mula, among others who have gone on to sing for Los Angeles Opera.

All singers born after Aug. 28, 1974, are eligible to compete. Applicants must submit a videotape, audiotape or CD with two arias in the original language no later than April 30. They may add a zarzuela aria if they wish. There is no entrance fee.

Applications and inquiries may be sent to Operalia, 230, Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore, F-75008 Paris, France. More information is available by contacting 33-1-53-75-00-82 or OPERALIA.PARIS@wanadoo.fr.