VinOpera 2026: Valentina Nafornița celebrates 15 years of her career with a homecoming performance in Moldova
On September 4, the Constantin Mimi Foundation will present the ninth edition of VinOpera International Classical Music Festival, held annually at Castel Mimi in Bulboaca, near Chișinău.
The 2026 edition is dedicated to Valentina Nafornița, one of Moldova’s most internationally acclaimed opera singers, as she celebrates 15 years of her career.
Winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2011 and a former member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble, Nafornița has performed on leading opera stages across Europe. Fifteen years after her international breakthrough, VinOpera brings her back home to Moldova for an anniversary performance.
She will be joined by Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov, who returns to VinOpera after his previous appearance at the festival in 2022.
The two soloists will perform alongside the Camerata Chișinău Orchestra, conducted by Cristian Spătaru, in an open-air programme of classical and operatic repertoire.
VinOpera – bringing Moldova to the world through culture
Launched in 2017, VinOpera is one of the flagship cultural projects of the Constantin Mimi Foundation.
The festival was created around the idea that music can become an ambassador for Moldova and that the country’s cultural and architectural heritage can provide a setting for experiences with international appeal.
Across its previous editions, the festival has welcomed internationally recognised artists alongside Moldovan musicians, as well as audiences from Moldova and abroad.
For the Constantin Mimi Foundation, VinOpera is also a way of presenting Moldova as a cultural and travel destination, connecting international audiences with the country through music, local wine, gastronomy and heritage.
“For the Constantin Mimi Foundation, VinOpera is more than a concert. It is our way of presenting Moldova through culture, through the artists who represent us and through places with a strong identity, such as Castel Mimi. We want the festival to introduce audiences to a Moldova that is vibrant, talented and connected to the international cultural scene.”
Cristina Frolov, President of the Constantin Mimi Foundation
A historic setting for an international festival
VinOpera takes place at Castel Mimi, a historic wine estate founded in 1893 by Constantin Mimi, one of the pioneers of Moldovan winemaking.
Located in Bulboaca, approximately 40 minutes from Chișinău, Castel Mimi is today one of Moldova’s best-known wine tourism destinations.
In 2023, Castel Mimi hosted the second European Political Community Summit, bringing European heads of state and government to the Republic of Moldova.
For international visitors, the festival can become part of a cultural weekend in Moldova, combining the performance with wine tourism, local gastronomy and time in Chișinău.
VinOpera 2026
Date: September 4, 2026
Venue: Castel Mimi, Bulboaca, Republic of Moldova
Festival: VinOpera International Classical Music Festival – 9th edition
Featuring:
- Valentina Nafornița — soprano
- Iurii Samoilov — Ukrainian baritone
- Camerata Chișinău Orchestra
- Cristian Spătaru — conductor
Organizer: Constantin Mimi Foundation
Media enquiries
Interviews with Valentina Nafornița, Iurii Samoilov, Cristian Spătaru can be facilitated ahead of the September 4 performance, subject to their schedule.
Press images, the musical programme and additional information about VinOpera are available upon request.
Press contact:
Georgeta Carasiucenco
PR Manager / VinOpera / Constantin Mimi Foundation
email: georgeta.carasiucenco@castelmimi.md
Event information and tickets
Event information: castelmimi.md
Tickets: iTicket.md
