On the 12th of April 2024, the International Classical Music Awards Gala will take place at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia, where soprano Aida Pascu will be presented with the Young Performer of the Year 2024 award. On this occasion, the artist gave an interview to our colleague Sarah Natsis to find out more about the event.

Aida Pascu, at the age of 24, has been named "Young Performer of the Year 2024" by the prestigious International Classical Music Awards jury. This is one of the world's best-known recording industry accolades, with the ICMA awards often referred to as the 'Oscars of classical music'. First of all, how did you receive this news?

I had heard about the award shortly before the news was published, but until I saw the official news, it didn't seem real. I was on the one hand surprised, and on the other, naturally, very happy.

What impact has receiving the title had on your career so far and how do you think it will influence it in the long term?

It has a certain weight in an artist's CV. Therefore, the ICMA award winner has a lot of credibility when auditioning or performing on stage in concerts or shows. It spread very quickly and more people seem to have heard my name, which is definitely helpful.

The award will be presented to you on the 12th of April 2024 at the ICMA Awards Gala at the Palau de la Musica in Valencia, where you will perform with the Valencia Orchestra conducted by Alexander Liebreich. Which work have you chosen for this occasion?

An aria that I started studying in Italy two years ago and that I never had the opportunity to perform on stage - "Ernani, involami" from Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Ernani".