NEWS

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.

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.

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.

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.