BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition (known as Cardiff Singer of the World from 1983–2001 and BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff in 2003) is a competition for classical singers held every two years.
| BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition | |
|---|---|
The current logo used since 2017 | |
| Awarded for | Singing |
| Sponsored by | BBC and Cardiff Council (main event) Wigmore Hall (Song Prize),[1] Cardiff University School of Music (Audience Prize)[2] |
| Location | St David's Hall, Cardiff[3] |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Presented by | BBC |
| Formerly called |
|
| Reward(s) | The Cardiff Trophy and £20,000 (main prize)[3] Song Prize Trophy and £10,000 (song prize)[3] Crystal trophy and £2,500 (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Audience Prize)[3] |
| First awarded | 1983 |
| Winner | Adolfo Corrado, 2023 |
| Website | BBC Cardiff Singer of the World website |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | BBC Four, BBC Two Wales, S4C, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Cymru. |
The previous logo used from 2007 to 2015. | |
The competition was started by BBC Wales in 1983 to celebrate the opening of St David's Hall in Cardiff, Wales,[3] home of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The creation of the competition was overseen by Geraint Stanley Jones, who was the controller at BBC Wales at the time.[4]
Auditions are held throughout the world in the autumn before the competition, with singers being selected to take part in Cardiff the following June. Each singer represents their own country. In Wales there is a competition to select the national representative; the winner of the Welsh Singers Showcase represents Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.[5]
The competition is judged by a panel of distinguished singers, musicians and music professionals. In 2003 an audience prize was also introduced for the primary competition; in 2011 it was renamed the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize to mark the passing of the singer who was the competition's first patron.
History edit
In 1983, the first year of the competition, eighteen singers participated. The winner was Finnish soprano Karita Mattila.
A Lieder Prize was introduced in 1989, as art song and opera are both important forms of singing, but very different. The 1989 competition was particularly noteworthy with Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel winning the Lieder prize and Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky taking the overall title. Both singers went on to enjoy extremely successful careers with international acclaim.
The "Song Prize" (formerly the "Lieder Prize") was renamed in 2001 in order to clarify that it applies to art song and folksong rather than German Lieder only. The "Song Prize" became a separate event in 2003, named as the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize. However, after 2009, its name was changed to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize. It is not compulsory, and the only entry requirement is that the singer is taking part in the primary competition. It is not possible to enter for the "Song Prize" only.[6] In 2001, Romanian tenor Marius Brenciu became the first singer to win both prizes.[7]
Finnish baritone Tommi Hakala won in 2003, with the Song Prize going to Irish soprano Ailish Tynan. The first "Audience Prize", voted for by the audience both in the hall and for the broadcasts, was awarded to Chilean soprano Angela Marambio.[8]
The 2005 prize was won by American soprano Nicole Cabell, with English tenor Andrew Kennedy winning the "Song Prize" and the "Audience Prize" being won by Korean soprano Ha-Joung Lee.[9]
Chinese singer Shen Yang (subsequently known as Shenyang) won the 2007 competition, The "Song Prize" was won by English soprano Elizabeth Watts, while Jacques Imbrailo, South African baritone, won the "Audience Prize".[10]
In 2009, the winner was Russian soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko. The winner of the "Song Prize" was bass Jan Martinik from the Czech Republic and Italian tenor Giordano Luca took the "Audience Prize".[11]
Followed a revised format and schedule, the 2011 competition had 20 singers taking part in four preliminary concerts. The 2011 winner was Moldovan soprano Valentina Naforniță, who also won the newly renamed "Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize". The "Song Prize" was won by Ukrainian baritone Andrei Bondarenko.[12]
The 30th anniversary competition took place between 16 and 23 June 2013.[13] It was won by US mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, who also won the "Song Prize". The "Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize" was won by English tenor Ben Johnson.[14][7]
Many non-winning finalists have gone on to very distinguished operatic careers. Examples include Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski in 1987, Swedish dramatic soprano Nina Stemme in 1993 and Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca in 2001 .
Organisation edit
The competition is organised by BBC Cymru Wales and was televised nationwide by BBC Two until 2013 and on BBC Four since 2003 (BBC Knowledge in 2001). Additionally, the competition is televised by BBC Two Wales, in Welsh on S4C and broadcast over radio channels BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales and the Welsh language BBC Radio Cymru. All coverage can also be found on BBC iPlayer. It is supported by Welsh National Opera and the Cardiff Council.[15]
From 2003, the competition's first patron was Dame Joan Sutherland, until her death in 2010.[16] Since 2011, the patron has been Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.[17]
Presenters edit
The following have hosted stages of the competition:
- BBC Two (1983–2011), BBC Knowledge (2001) and BBC Four (2003–present)
- Brian Kay (1983–1987)
- Frank Lincoln (1983)
- Chris Stuart (1989)
- Humphrey Burton (1991)
- Natalie Wheen (1993–1997)
- Iain Burnside (1993–1997)
- Michael White (1995)
- Huw Edwards (1997–2009)
- Petroc Trelawny (1999–present)
- Gwenan Edwards (1999–2003)
- Barbara Bonney (2001, 2003)
- Aled Jones (2003, 2005)
- Sian Williams (2007)
- Danielle de Niese (2013)
- Angel Blue (2015, 2017)
- Josie D'Arby (2019–present)
- BBC Radio 3 live coverage
- Catherine Bott (2007, 2009)
- Fiona Talkington (2009)
- Iain Burnside (2011–2015, 2019, 2023)
- Donald Macleod (2011, 2013)
- Susan Bullock (2015)
- Kate Molleson (2017–2019)
- Rebecca Evans (2019–present)
- Andrew McGregor (2021)
- BBC Two Wales highlights
- Aled Jones (2007, 2009)
- Josie D'Arby (2009–present)
- Tim Rhys-Evans (2011–2021)
- Connie Fisher (2011, 2013)
- Petroc Trelawny (2023)
- BBC Radio Wales
- Nicola Heywood-Thomas (2009–2015, 2021)
- Beverley Humphreys (2011, 2013, 2019, 2023)
- Wynne Evans (2015–present)
- Rebecca Evans (2017)
- BBC Radio Cymru
- Siân Pari Huws (2009–2015)
- Alwyn Humphreys (2009–2013, 2019)
- Beti George (2009–2013, 2019)
- Alun Guy (2013)
- Nia Roberts (2017)
- Heledd Cynwal (2019)
- S4C highlights
- Siân Pari Huws (2013)
- Heledd Cynwal (2015, 2017)
Jury edit
Many prominent singers have served in the jury, including Carlo Bergonzi, Sir Geraint Evans, Marilyn Horne, Gundula Janowitz, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sherrill Milnes, Christoph Prégardien, Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Anne Evans, René Kollo, Galina Vishnevskaya and Dame Gwyneth Jones, Irina Arkhipova and Shen Xiang. There is a separate jury for the "Song Prize", with some members serving on both juries. The 2019 jury included Dame Felicity Lott and Robert Holl.
On the day between the two competition finals, some of the jury members give master classes to some of the non-finalists, which are open to the public.
Competition winners edit
Overall winners edit
Here are the overall winners of Cardiff Singer of the World since the contest's inception in 1983.
| Year | Country | Contestant | Voice type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Finland | Karita Mattila | Soprano |
| 1985 | United States | David Malis | Baritone |
| 1987 | Italy | Valeria Esposito | Soprano |
| 1989 | Soviet Union | Dmitri Hvorostovsky | Baritone |
| 1991 | Australia | Lisa Gasteen | Soprano |
| 1993 | Denmark | Inger Dam-Jensen | |
| 1995 | Sweden | Katarina Karnéus | Mezzo-soprano |
| 1997 | China | Guang Yang | |
| 1999 | Germany | Anja Harteros | Soprano |
| 2001 | Romania | Marius Brenciu | Tenor |
| 2003 | Finland | Tommi Hakala | Baritone |
| 2005 | United States | Nicole Cabell | Soprano |
| 2007 | China | Shenyang | Bass-baritone |
| 2009 | Russia | Ekaterina Scherbachenko | Soprano |
| 2011 | Moldova | Valentina Naforniță | |
| 2013 | United States | Jamie Barton | Mezzo-soprano |
| 2015 | Belarus | Nadine Koutcher | Soprano |
| 2017 | Scotland | Catriona Morison | Mezzo-soprano |
| 2019 | Ukraine | Andrei Kymach | Baritone |
| 2021 | South Korea | Gihoon Kim | |
| 2023 | Italy | Adolfo Corrado | Bass |
"Song Prize" winners edit
This prize was introduced in 1989; it was formerly known as the "Lieder Prize". Here are all the contestants who achieved the Song Prize since then.
| Year | Country | Contestant | Voice type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Wales | Bryn Terfel | Bass-baritone |
| 1991 | Neal Davies | ||
| 1993 | New Zealand | Paul Whelan | Baritone |
| 1995 | Finland | Kirsi Tiihonen | Soprano |
| 1997 | England | Christopher Maltman | Baritone |
| 1999 | South Korea | Dae-San No | |
| 2001 | Romania | Marius Brenciu | Tenor |
| 2003 | Ireland | Ailish Tynan | Soprano |
| 2005 | England | Andrew Kennedy | Tenor |
| 2007 | Elizabeth Watts | Soprano | |
| 2009 | Czech Republic | Jan Martiník | Bass |
| 2011 | Ukraine | Andrei Bondarenko | Baritone |
| 2013 | United States | Jamie Barton | Mezzo-soprano |
| 2015 | South Korea | Jongmin Park | Bass |
| 2017 | Mongolia | Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar | Baritone |
| Scotland | Catriona Morison | Mezzo-soprano | |
| 2019 | China | Mingjie Lei | Tenor |
| 2021 | South Africa | Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha | Soprano |
| 2023 | South Korea | Sungho Kim | Tenor |
Audience Prize winners edit
The "Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize" was introduced in 2003. In 2023 it was renamed the "Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Audience Prize".
| Year | Country | Contestant | Voice type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Chile | Angela Marambio | Soprano |
| 2005 | South Korea | Ha-Joung Lee | |
| 2007 | South Africa | Jacques Imbrailo | Baritone |
| 2009 | Italy | Giordano Lucà | Tenor |
| 2011 | Moldova | Valentina Naforniță | Soprano |
| 2013 | England | Ben Johnson | Tenor |
| 2015 | Mongolia | Amartuvshin Enkhbat | Baritone |
| 2017 | England | Louise Alder | Soprano |
| 2019 | Katie Bray | Mezzo-soprano | |
| 2021 | Claire Barnett-Jones | ||
| 2023 | Colombia | Julieth Lozano Rolong | Soprano |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "New partnership for Wigmore Hall and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World". Rhinegold Publishing. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "School of Music sponsors audience prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World". Cardiff University. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "About Cardiff Singer". BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Huw (26 August 2015). "Geraint Stanley Jones, former head of BBC Wales and S4C, dies". BBC Wales. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ . www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009.
- ^ a b "BBC Cardiff Singer of the World". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "2003 - The Final, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - 2003 competitors". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "2005 - The Final, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - 2005 competitors". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ . BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009.
- ^ . BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010.
- ^ "2011, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - 2011 competitors - BBC Four". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "2013, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - Competitors - BBC Radio 3". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "2013, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - England: Ben Johnson - BBC Radio 3". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - About Cardiff Singer". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ . www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010.
- ^ Singer, Cardiff. "BBC - Wales Music: Dame Kiri te Kanawa announced as new Cardiff Singer patron". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
External links edit
- BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition at BBC Online