August 3, 2025 – Verbier (Switzerland) – The Verbier Festival Academy has proudly announced the recipient of its prestigious Prix Yves Paternot for 2025, awarded to the most accomplished and promising musician of the annual Academy for young professional musicians. This year, the honour goes to Russian baritone Anton Beliaev.
The announcement of the prize followed Beliaev’s compelling performance in the title role of Eugene Onegin, the featured opera of the Academy’s Atelier Lyrique this summer, performed with the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra under the baton of Stanislav Kochanovsky.
Yves Paternot, an emblematic figure of the Verbier Festival, was the founder of The Friends of the Verbier Festival and a member of the Foundation’s Board. In tribute to his commitment, the Prix Yves Paternot was established by his friends after his passing. The award includes CHF 10,000, an invitation to perform at a future Verbier Festival, and eligibility for up to CHF 15,000 in support of artistic and professional development.
Anton Beliaev graduated with honours from the Tchaikovsky College in Yekaterinburg in 2020, where he studied with Valery Gurevich. That same year, he began his bachelor’s studies with Michail Lanskoi at Berlin’s Hanns Eisler School of Music, where he is now completing a master’s degree. Since the 2023/24 season, he has been a member of the Opera Studio at the Semperoper Dresden.
“Anton impressed our faculty and audiences with his rich artistry and magnetic stage presence,” said Academy Director Stephen McHolm. “His voice and interpretive depth set him apart as an exceptional young singer, and we are delighted to welcome him to the family of Prix Yves Paternot Laureates.”
“Being part of the Verbier Festival Academy has been an unbelievable opportunity to connect with so many inspiring people,” said Beliaev. “I’ve had the privilege of meeting artists I had only dreamed of — including Bryn Terfel, Thomas Hampson, and Teodor Currentzis — and collaborating with incredible mentors and peers. The funds from this prize will help me invest in coachings, cover expenses for auditions, and replace a much-needed concert suit that was recently stolen!”
With this honour, Beliaev joins the distinguished group of past Laureates, which includes:
Trio Concept (formerly Trio Chagall) – Laureate 2024
Ava Dodd, soprano – Laureate 2023
Bryan Cheng, cello – Laureate 2022
Sungho Kim, tenor – Laureate 2021
Meigui Zhang, soprano – Laureate 2019
Timothy Chooi, violin – Laureate 2018
Adèle Charvet, mezzo-soprano – Laureate 2017
Milan Siljanov, bass-baritone – Laureate 2016
Other Academy Prizes
A number of other prizes were also awarded by the Academy during its final weekend:
