SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

BBC Cardiff Singer Of the World 2009: New Bursary Announced As The contestants Are Welcomed (MS)

The Contestants Arrive in Cardiff - Picture © Brian Tarr

Menna Richards, Director BBC Cymru Wales, announced a new bursary on Thursdy June 4th to support young artists embarking on their singing careers. The announcement was made as she welcomed the 25 artists from around the world who have travelled to the Welsh capital to compete in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009, which is organised by BBC Wales.

Ms Richards told the singers who represent nations as far afield as Chile and Russia, Australia and Latvia, “Being selected to come to sing for us in Wales is itself a major achievement. You have been chosen from more than 600 singers from around the world who took part in auditions in 44 locations in more than 30 countries. Congratulations on being chosen to represent your country at the world’s greatest singing competition – BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009.”

Over the 10 days of the competition two panels of international jurors will choose who will be named BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and receive a £15,000 prize, which is provided by the City and County of Cardiff, and also decide the winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize which has a £5,000 prize.

Ms Richards also announced that from this year all singers taking part will also be eligible to benefit from a new bursary to help towards the development of their musical careers.  She told the assembled singers, “A very generous lady and follower of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Annie Sankey, has left the competition a bequest and I am thrilled this evening to be able to announce a new bursary in her name to support singers who take part in the competition. The bursaries will help support the studies of competitors, including helping with travel and the purchase of musical scores”.

She added, “We are all really looking forward to hearing you sing for us live in the two splendid Cardiff venues – St David’s Hall and the New Theatre. With extensive coverage across the BBC - from our own services in Wales to BBC Radio 3 and BBC Four - this magical competition will be shared by music lovers across the UK and beyond.  “Wales is a centre of music excellence for the BBC with a feast of wonderful music events and broadcast coverage - including this unique competition, the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and extensive concert performances, broadcasts and recordings by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at their new home - BBC Hoddinott Hall at Wales Millennium Centre. The eyes and ears of the singing world will be on Cardiff over the course of the competition, listening to the creative and musical excellence that exists in this room. And so I’d like to wish every one of you the very best of luck and again extend the warmest of welcomes to Cardiff.”

This year’s singers will follow in the footsteps of some of opera’s biggest names who have gone on to illustrious careers, such as Bryn Terfel, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Karita Mattila and Lisa Gasteen.

The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Paul Daniel and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Lawrence Foster accompany competitors in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World preliminary round concerts. BBC National Orchestra of Wales will provide the accompaniment for the final on June 14, conducted by Paul Daniel and Lawrence Foster.

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize official accompanists will be Phillip Thomas, Simon Lepper and Llŷr Williams.

Joining the panel of judges for the first time this year are acclaimed bass Kurt Moll, Irish mezzo Ann Murray, one of opera’s legendary divas, Dame Gwyneth Jones, leading tenor Giacomo Aragall and illustrious conductor Richard Bonynge.

Further details of the competition, competitors, jurors, accompanists, orchestras: see -  www.bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger

Mike Smith

The compettion begins today June 6th and ends with the Main Prize Final on Sunday 14th. Full details of BBC broadcasts on television and rRadio are available Here. Ed

Back to Top                                                    Cumulative Index Page