The name of the competition is not merely a formality; it is an invocation of a specific artistic ideal embodied in the life and work of the tenor Lazar Jovanović. His biography lends depth and meaning to the competition's mission, serving as an inspiration and role model for the young singers for whom the event is intended.
Born as Laza Jovanović-Porcija on April 8, 1911, in Zemun, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Lazar Jovanović was a prominent Yugoslav and Serbian opera tenor. His path to art was unique; before dedicating himself to music, he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and worked at the Air Force Command.
He studied singing privately, and his talent was quickly recognized by conductor Stevan Hristić, then the director of the Belgrade National Theatre Opera. After joining the choir in 1941, he became a principal artist of the Belgrade Opera by 1942. During his eight seasons at the National Theatre, he performed numerous notable roles, including Radamès in Verdi's "Aida" and Miloš in Konjović's opera "The Prince of Zeta."
His career gained an international dimension in the early 1950s. He later decided to stay abroad to continue his development, becoming a star in famous opera houses in Rome, Milan, Graz, and Vienna. His repertoire included the most demanding tenor roles such as Otello, Don José, Cavaradossi, and Lensky.
What sets Lazar Jovanović apart is not just his vocal power but also his intellectual breadth. He was described as a "scholar, connoisseur of art and culture, a polyglot," and a significant translator and interpreter of opera librettos. His life journey—from Belgrade to the great European stages—represents precisely the career path that the competition's laureates aspire to.
Lazar Jovanović passed away prematurely on March 26, 1962, in Sulmona, Italy, at the age of 50. The competition, founded in his honor, serves as the primary bearer of his enduring legacy, celebrating not only vocal excellence but also the blend of talent, intellect, discipline, and international ambition that defined his art.