Uzbek opera singer signs contract with Italy's most famous theater

The renowned Italian opera and ballet theater "La Scala" has signed a contract with Uzbek opera singer Aklbek Piyazov for the 2025–2027 seasons. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan.

"La Scala" selects talented singers every two years, offering them the opportunity to perform on the world stage under a two-year employment contract. Piyazov shared that he had been preparing for this competition for six years and expressed his great excitement about this achievement.

Out of 800 applicants, finalists included representatives from Uzbekistan, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Chile, and China. Ultimately, only 12 opera singers were selected—one of them being Aklbek Piyazov.

His brother, People's Artist of Uzbekistan Zhenisbek Piyazov, compared this achievement to the success of Uzbek sports stars.

“This is our representative of art who has now entered the world stage, just like Eldor Shomurodov or Abdukadir Khusanov did in sports. Only this time, it has happened in the field of culture. Now, the demand for Uzbek opera singers will also grow,” said Zhenisbek Piyazov.

For reference, "La Scala" is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, located in Milan, Italy. Throughout its history, legendary artists such as Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Luciano Pavarotti, and Arturo Toscanini have graced its stage. Founded in 1778, "La Scala" remains a symbol of global opera excellence.