European Opera-directing Prize: 15th edition

Opera Europa and Camerata Nuova are thrilled to announce the 15th edition of the European Opera-directing Prize (EOP). The EOP is a major international competition. It aims to identify, develop and promote talented stage directors and their collaborators, and offer help in establishing their careers.  

This edition of the EOP is delivered in partnership with the Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine, under the leadership of General Director Matthieu Dussouillez. The winning director and team will be engaged to create a new production of Janáček’s Jenůfa.

Who can apply? 

• We invite applications from stage directors and their creative teams, of any nationality.
• Applicants must not be older than 35 as at the application deadline. This applies to all team members applying. 
• We welcome applicants who show considerable talent, have appropriate training and/or artistic experience, and have not yet been engaged to create a new, full-scale production on the main stage of an established opera company. They jury’s decision on this matter is final. We understand that applicants may already have experience as assistant or staff directors. 

The Prize 
The overall winners will be engaged by Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine to stage a production of Janáček’s Jenůfa as part of the 2028/29 season. All finalists will be awarded a cash prize in recognition of their work and achievement in reaching the finals. 

Application process 
Directors and their collaborators are invited to submit an original directorial and design concept for a production of Jenůfa at Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine. There is no fee for applying. Opera Europa provides a stipend to shortlisted applicants to attend the semi-finals and finals. 

To apply, teams should consist of a stage director and designer, as a minimum; other roles (e.g. choreographer, videographer) may be included if applicants so wish but are not required. Each application should consist of a complete production concept (written and illustrated) for Jenůfa, submitted in English. We require a single PDF document (maximum 8 A4 pages), totally anonymous (no names or identifying marks). It should include: a one-page summary of up to 500 words; up to 7 further pages, including illustrations, up to 2500 words in total. 

The concept should make clear the time and the place of the interpretation; it should describe key moments on stage through stage directions, with initial stage and costume designs. A full storyboard is not required at this stage, we simply encourage applicants to set out their concept as clearly and compellingly as possible. Applications must consist of original production concepts, not the relaunch of existing concepts. 

Each concept will be considered by the jury, chaired by Thomas de Mallet Burgess (Finnish National Opera). Up to ten teams will be invited to the semi-finals to present their ideas to the jury in May 2027 in Rotterdam. Up to four finalist teams will be invited to workshop a scene with singers during Opera Europa’s autumn 2027 conference.

Applicants should refer carefully to the dossier prepared by L’Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine, available on the righthand side. 

Find out more about the background, history and key collaborators on the EOP here.