On 12^th August, the 2012 edition of the Hariclea Darclée International Canto Competition, which took place in Braila between 1^st and 12^th August, was concluded. The award ceremony included thirty young people from all corners of the world. Each of them received an honour, because there are several categories. Four were the prizes awarded to the youngest performer, five honours were awarded by the Darclée Foundation, five special jury awards, five excellence ones, three third place awards, three second place and three first place. The grand prize was awarded to the tenor from Kazakhstan, Chotabaev Medet and the soprano from Romania, Adela Zaharia, who stated: 'I have a sense of fulfilment, of satisfaction; from among so many competitors to get this far, I think this is the most important thing.'

At the end of the ceremony, one of the members of the jury, director Flavio Trevisan, offered soprano Mariana Nicolesco, the tiara which Hariclea Darclée, the spiritual patron of the events in Braila, wore at the premiere of the opera 'Tosca'. The tiara seemed to have crowned the efforts of all the young people, future great artists of international opera. I have to point out the commitment with which the members of the Darclée Festival Orchestra and conductor Marco Balderi were always behind the young musicians.