Heritage & Vision

About the Competition

Dedicated to honoring the legacy of world-renowned Italian tenor M° Nicola Martinucci and nurturing the next generation of international lyric artists.

M° Nicola Martinucci

President of the Competition

Voice Type: Dramatic Tenor

Key Roles: Calaf (Turandot), Radamès (Aida), Andrea Chénier, Manrico (Il Trovatore), Otello

Major Venues: Teatro alla Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Arena di Verona, Vienna State Opera

The Legacy of M° Nicola Martinucci

Maestro Nicola Martinucci stands as one of the most prominent dramatic tenors of his generation, celebrated across the globe for the squillo, power, and noble Italian phrasing of his voice.

Throughout an extraordinary career spanning several decades, Nicola Martinucci performed over 300 times at the prestigious Arena di Verona, becoming synonymous with legendary operatic roles such as Calaf in Puccini's Turandot, Radamès in Aida, Cavaradossi in Tosca, and the title role in Andrea Chénier.

His guest appearances at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, the Vienna State Opera, and major opera houses across Europe, the Americas, and Asia established him as a reference benchmark for Italian spinto and dramatic tenor vocalism.

As President of the 2° Concorso Lirico Internazionale "Nicola Martinucci", Maestro Martinucci personally oversees the competition to ensure artistic integrity, artistic mentorship, and high vocal standards for all participating singers.

Purpose & Goals

Competition Mission

Global Talent Discovery

Providing a platform for young and rising opera singers of all voice types and nationalities to showcase their talents before a prestigious international panel.

Career Bridge

Connecting participants directly with artistic directors, casting coordinators of major opera houses, conductors, and international artist managers.

Accessibility

Utilizing a streamlined Online Preselection round so contestants worldwide can enter easily before performing live in the historic setting of Rome.

Organizational Structure

Artistic & Organizational Direction

Artistic Direction

M° Davide Dellisanti

Conductor, pianist, and artistic director of numerous international music festivals and vocal competitions. M° Dellisanti leads the artistic program, repertoire guidelines, and panel coordination for the Nicola Martinucci Competition.

Executive Direction

Leyla Martinucci

Renowned singer and producer, Executive Director Leyla Martinucci oversees candidate logistics, venue coordination in Rome, and international communications for the competition.