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Cardiff Singer Of The Year
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I really enjoyed tonight's heat of the Cardiff Singer of the World BBC 4.
If 10 years ago you'd have told me I'd even be watching it I would have sniggered. A sign of me getting older! Did anyone else see it?
If 10 years ago you'd have told me I'd even be watching it I would have sniggered. A sign of me getting older! Did anyone else see it?
Answers
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Yes, I did Maydup !
But why the sniggering ?
What we saw tonight was the best young operatic voices that the world has to offer. There wasn't a dud amongst them, nor should we expect any, at this extremely high level of the game. Win or lose, none of these singers will ever be without gainful employment for the rest of their careers. We were watching the creme de la creme tonight, as we do every two years !
For my money, I would have given tonight's prize to the Korean tenor. But the American girl made a good impression on the audience as well as the Judges. I thought her first song was really quite a gamble, being practically unknown, although on the face of the evidence of tonight, I would pay good money to see her perform "Knoxville: Summer of 1915"
And I am not sure that the Britten was entirely true to form. But her Violetta was perfect, which I suspect won her the night.
I was very fortunate to be present in the audience, on the final night of the 1989 competition. Bryn Terfel was up against Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The Cardiff audience are an extremely knowledgeable crowd and Bryn being a Welshman, should have been the favourite. And he was !
But as soon as the Russian walked on stage, we all knew that we were watching the best performer on the night....he held us all in the palm of his hand ! See this clip :::
http://
Although, in the intervening years, its Bryn that has the shining career, and the Russian has slipped into comparative obscurity. Funny how things turn out !
Opera has the capacity to be the best of all possible worlds. At its best, it is poignant, funny, and tragic and it can move grown men to tears ! My first Opera was "La Boheme" and by coincidence, one of tonight's esteemed judges, Denis O'Neil, sung Rudolpho. For the following week, I talked of nothing else...I was completely blown away by the whole experience !
Try to get to see a live Opera wherever you live, but at least check out some excerpts on You Tube. Start of with anything by Puccini...."Madama Butterfly", "Tosca", "La Boheme", etc.
If you don't have your hanky out at the end of Boheme, you must have a heart of stone ! ( pay attention at 04:03 )
But why the sniggering ?
What we saw tonight was the best young operatic voices that the world has to offer. There wasn't a dud amongst them, nor should we expect any, at this extremely high level of the game. Win or lose, none of these singers will ever be without gainful employment for the rest of their careers. We were watching the creme de la creme tonight, as we do every two years !
For my money, I would have given tonight's prize to the Korean tenor. But the American girl made a good impression on the audience as well as the Judges. I thought her first song was really quite a gamble, being practically unknown, although on the face of the evidence of tonight, I would pay good money to see her perform "Knoxville: Summer of 1915"
And I am not sure that the Britten was entirely true to form. But her Violetta was perfect, which I suspect won her the night.
I was very fortunate to be present in the audience, on the final night of the 1989 competition. Bryn Terfel was up against Dmitri Hvorostovsky. The Cardiff audience are an extremely knowledgeable crowd and Bryn being a Welshman, should have been the favourite. And he was !
But as soon as the Russian walked on stage, we all knew that we were watching the best performer on the night....he held us all in the palm of his hand ! See this clip :::
http://
Although, in the intervening years, its Bryn that has the shining career, and the Russian has slipped into comparative obscurity. Funny how things turn out !
Opera has the capacity to be the best of all possible worlds. At its best, it is poignant, funny, and tragic and it can move grown men to tears ! My first Opera was "La Boheme" and by coincidence, one of tonight's esteemed judges, Denis O'Neil, sung Rudolpho. For the following week, I talked of nothing else...I was completely blown away by the whole experience !
Try to get to see a live Opera wherever you live, but at least check out some excerpts on You Tube. Start of with anything by Puccini...."Madama Butterfly", "Tosca", "La Boheme", etc.
If you don't have your hanky out at the end of Boheme, you must have a heart of stone ! ( pay attention at 04:03 )
Another wonderful evenings entertainment from Cardiff !
I was rooting for the Mongolian chap, as soon as he first walked onto the Stage ! My God, what a voice ! Ruddy hell !
But I would like to see the chap from the DRC come back as the "wild card" in the final. Loads of polishing to do but what stage presence ! he had the Cardiff Crowd eating out of his hand tonight.
As usual, not a dud amongst them. The Jury has an awful job to do...I am glad I am not in their shoes.
The Final this year is going to be a humdinger, if the last 3 nights are anything to go by.I think we could be witnessing a golden vintage this year.
I was rooting for the Mongolian chap, as soon as he first walked onto the Stage ! My God, what a voice ! Ruddy hell !
But I would like to see the chap from the DRC come back as the "wild card" in the final. Loads of polishing to do but what stage presence ! he had the Cardiff Crowd eating out of his hand tonight.
As usual, not a dud amongst them. The Jury has an awful job to do...I am glad I am not in their shoes.
The Final this year is going to be a humdinger, if the last 3 nights are anything to go by.I think we could be witnessing a golden vintage this year.
Loving it again tonight and am off to vote for the Dame Joan Sutherland Award. Done that Mikey?
When I mentioned sniggering it would have been at my future self enjoying opera as much as I do now. I saw the live screening of La Boheme from the ROH last week. Fantastic. And I have had the pleasure of seeing both the English Touring Opera and GLyndebourne on Tour at my local theatre.
I visited Cardiff last year and took a backstage tour of the Millennium Centre and caught an aria in rehearsal but sadly didn't have the opportunity to see opera in Wales. Maybe one day Mikey.
When I mentioned sniggering it would have been at my future self enjoying opera as much as I do now. I saw the live screening of La Boheme from the ROH last week. Fantastic. And I have had the pleasure of seeing both the English Touring Opera and GLyndebourne on Tour at my local theatre.
I visited Cardiff last year and took a backstage tour of the Millennium Centre and caught an aria in rehearsal but sadly didn't have the opportunity to see opera in Wales. Maybe one day Mikey.
Maydup...I wish you well in your future opera-going !
I was where you are now, about 30 years ago and its been a wonderful voyage ever since. Try to see as much as you can. I am not sure where you live but you are never far from a live opera in Britain. It doesn't have to be Covent Garden quality you know. The ENO at the Coliseum in Town is a wonderful and affordable way to get the know the popular repertoire. WNO tour all over England as well.
And there is always You Tube !
Let me know how you get on.....I would be very much interested in your musical progress !
I was where you are now, about 30 years ago and its been a wonderful voyage ever since. Try to see as much as you can. I am not sure where you live but you are never far from a live opera in Britain. It doesn't have to be Covent Garden quality you know. The ENO at the Coliseum in Town is a wonderful and affordable way to get the know the popular repertoire. WNO tour all over England as well.
And there is always You Tube !
Let me know how you get on.....I would be very much interested in your musical progress !
I saw La Boheme on the Big Screen in the Piazza in Covent Garden years ago, and it was a wonderful experience. Before Xmas I saw Parsifal, in my local cinema and I was one of only 10 people ! But if there had been a Hollies tribute act, or even worse, a Queen tribute act, there would have been queues round the block !
I despair sometimes !
Now, off to bed...early start for work on Saturday !
I despair sometimes !
Now, off to bed...early start for work on Saturday !
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