Round 3 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

year's competition. Already we have heard singers from America, Europe,

Africa and Asia. All of whom have come here to compete in what is one

of the world's biggest singing competitions. The American

mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton was victorious in round one and in the

second round that was difficult to call, Maria Celeng was the winner

from Hungary. This evening, five more young singers stake their

discovering the opera stars of the future. That evening in 1995

completely transformed my life and career and I haven't looked back

since. It was a turning point in my career and it was very great moment

in my life. This year, over 400 young singers entered, with 52 heard

at auditions around the world. are always looking for the

best-possible candidates and those voices that give you the tingle and

you think this is a different voice, a special voice. Just 20 were

selected to come to Cardiff. They have to be very, very focussed and

very driven to want to get to another level. So far this week, the

competition has bver as tough as ever and tonight five more will

perform to the jury and the ever-enthusiastic St David's Hall

audience. This is the 0th anniversary of this. In 19995 they

were the USS SR, but now we have independent states. Much support for

Gary Griffiths. To help you judge this evening's performances I have

two jeRT witnesses. Gerald is here and he'll sing this summer and in

the autumn will perform at the Royal open ra and -- opera and Mary King

is here, vocal coach and singer. Were you a competition bunny?

avoided them like the playing. They terrified me. I didn't like the

competition. I wanted to sing. This is a good way to go. Mary, you were

full of glee when you emerged from the rehearsal. We could be in for

quite a night? I think it's going to be exciting. Lots from you over the

next 90 minutes. Our team is completed by Josie, who has been

getting to know all the sing -- singers. What a wonderful first two

rounds we've had and we are looking forward to some more singing this

evening. The singers, as you can imagine, are slightly tense. They

know that tonight it's all that stands between them and a possible

place in Sunday's final. This is the hoeding area where we have the last

few moments before they step out on to the stage in front of a very

welcoming Cardiff Singer audience and a very imposing jury. Director

of opera and chairman of the jury, Nicholas Payne. Celebrated English

mezzo-soprano Dame Felicity Palmer. We have to say is this person

actually ready to go? Renouned baritone Hakan. I like the singers

to take risks and go beyond what they think that they can do. Casting

manager Maren. The competition's patron Dame Kiri. You suddenly say,

oh, they've just nailed it. Manager PER. And tenor Neil Schicoff.

have to bring us into their world. Remember, the jury will choose a

winner tonight, but no guarantee they'll make it through to Sunday's

final, for which the best five singers from across the week will be

chosen and the jury aren't the only ones to choose winners. Once again,

you can vote in our audience prize. More about that tomorrow night.

Right, now, we'll meet tonight's singers. Susana Gaspar, from

Portugal. A sop rarn know. And Gary Griffiths, a baritone from Wales.

Olena Tokar from the Ukraine, a soprano. Tenor, Yuri Gorodestski

from Belarus. And a -- and to start everything off, Egle Sidlauskaite a

mezzo-soprano from Lithuania. She studied in her native Lithuania and

in Milan. Maria Callis is her musical hero along with another. You

are going to be singing in front of among many others, Dame Kir -- Kiri,

which you have done before? I had the opportunity to meet her a few

years ago in a masterclass and it was amazing experience with her. It

will be for me quite difficult to sing before her, because she knows

how it can be. When I'm on stage I feel like I'm in another world. I

feel like I'm living a real life and I that's why it's very important for

me to be on the stage. Here is Egle Sidlauskaite. The song is about a

princess waiting for her secret lover. She knows all about the

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evening here in Cardiff, performing with the BBC National Orchestra of

Wales, and we'll get an immediate response from Gerry. She's obviously

very committed and enjoying the role very, very much. Sampson and Delila

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is next. She wants to know the Fernando, but is in love with the

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king king and imagines a life of APPLAUSE Egle Sidlauskaite from

Lithuania. Singing, she says, is like a drug, discovering Maria

Callsa changed her life, the way she combined acting and singing. Now,

she looks very happy indeaed. She is one of three -- indeed. She is one

of three born in 1983. What a great start and assured voice? Well, the

strength both at the top and bottom is phenomenal and it's lovely to see

a female voice with this kind of depth of power. The luxious sound

she makes in the -- luxure you haves sound she makes in the top. You have

to be able to deliver on that if you are going to do it? Absolutely. It

takes nerves of steel to start with that and it's so high and explosive.

If I had a criticism, because she is singing well within herself,

sometimes she doesn't really quite cross the footlight with some of the

energy that some of the material requires. Over now to Josie. Huge

smile. Are you happy? I'm very excited and I still very nervous but

the public is fantastic and I try to do the best I can and my emotions I

think I'm now vacant of any others. I don't know what to say. I know.

Wonderful support from the orchestra? Fantastic.It was a

pleasure hosting you. Back to you. Great to see someone back stage so

happy. You can read more about Egle Sidlauskaite and this year's other

competitors on the websites. If you missed rounds one and two, they're

available on the iPlayer and let us know what you think of memories

times past here at St David's Hall. Tweet us if you would like. ." Let

the opera commence." And a choir is listening to this, "Essential

listening for amateur soloists." I reckon too. It's second time lucky

for Susana Gaspar from Portugal. Originally from Lisbon, she now

lives in London and made the reserves of Cardiff Singer in 2011.

She's put her time since then to good use. I improved in the two

years and gained more experience, so now I'm more ready to take the best

from the competition. You are here representing Portugal. What is the

opera scene like back home? Well, it's not great at the moment. Arts

are really suffering in Portugal. We only have one opera theatre in

Lisbon and it's in danger of closing. Do you think a win here

could go some way to shed some light on that? Portugal as a country needs

something light and fresh and good to happen. Here is Susana Gaspar.

Let us see if she does Portugal proud. She is singing an aria Romeo

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She is so dignified, elegant, fantastic breath control. Beautiful,

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APPLAUSE The opera that won Debussy the Plume

deRome. She finishes there. Dreams of lying free as a bird in that

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APPLAUSE Susana Gaspar from Portugal ending

her set, sing singing from Pagliacci from Leoncavallo. Based in London.

She said one of the competitions two years -- is reserves two years ago

and now has made it to the St David's Hall stage. What classy

singing, though? It's a very silvery voice, but it rides the orchestra

pretty well. Charming and she is such an accomplished musician, so

you feel safe with her. She creates a real atmosphere. I love her.

Ishing start. -- Ravishing to start. Lovely. Over now to Josie back

stage. Months of work and it all comes down to the 20 minutes. Did

you enjoy every second? Every, very much. I'm overwhelmed the audience

is amazing. What a wonderful ambassador for Portuguese singing.

Thank you. I know it was important to you to hopefully do something

positive for the sing singer -- singers back home. I did my best and

I'm really happy to be here. We'll see the rest. Well done. Thank you.

30 years of Cardiff Singer this year. The first held to celebrate

the newly opened St David's Hall as part of the anniversary celebrations

and we are remembering some of the past winners, including a popular

American soprano who took the title in 20005. -- 2005. I really can

credit Cardiff for launching my career for sure. We were told on the

first day I believe how many people would be singing for it and the size

of the audience and I didn't really sleep at all through the whole

two-week period and I was sort of running on adrenaline. I couldn't

imagine being there, so the whole thing was a little surreal. There's

something special about the audience in Wales. They are raised on song

and they really appreciate it and they know voices and you feel that.

They respect it and they're not looking for flashy performances, but

refinement. That was encouraging for me, because it became a performance

rather than a competition. This is all about exposure, so those who are

in the competition, regardless of where he get, have exposure and this

is the entire reason for being in a competition period. Nicole Cabel,

one of the greats, who has been singing this week. She has been sing

singing in Don Giovanni. Always great support for the Welsh

contender here. This year, baritone competition, he grew up in a beech

resort. I don't have to welcome you to Wales. How are you feeling about

the competition? Relaxed at this stage. Really looking forward to it.

You've got people in the audience and a lot of support I imagine.

Yeah. The support's been overwhelming actually. We have got

my local male-voice choir and they've kindly organised a

coach-load of choir members and other people from the local town to

come up to support the evening. you think that will add to the

pressure you feel? There will be butterflies and the pressure is

there, but I kind of want to use that to my advantage, them being

there. It would be an absolutely amazing thing to win this

competition of course. It would be a wonderful feeling to step out there

for Wales. There are the male-voice choir, here to offer support for

Gary Griffiths. What a cheer, as he walks out on to the St David's Hall

stage. He begins, as Don Giovanni limb Persian Gulf up for an evening

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of partying. Gary Griffiths sings with the BBC National Orchestra of

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APPLAUSE Sung by Gary Griffiths there. And to

finish for Shakespeare set in French this time. They are hoping that wine

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APPLAUSE Gary Griffiths representing Wales. The choir must be happy with

that. The clears -- cheers will help with that. Gerald? He did a great

job. I found him - you relaxed a lot and he let the showmanship through,

which was great. Big, tall, confident man. Very useful to a

company? Absolutely fantastic. I think that Don Giovanni that's just

too hard for anybody. Nerves take people in many, many different ways

and sometimes you know it's a fast song, so you go faster because you

are nervous and so you come apart a little. You have been talking about

the support of the voice. How well is his voice supported? The top is

wonderful. Absolutely wonderful, but the voices will grow. He has to grow

into his career. He'll never be out of work looking like that and with

that connection across the footlight. It's fantastic. Back

stage and over to Josie. Gary, you seemed very at ease up there. Were

you? Yes, well, I'm a good actor then. Yes, on the whole I think it

was very enjoyable. Did your voice do what you wanted it to do? Yeah, I

think so. You are on your own out there, so you have got to - there is

nothing to help, but I'm pretty happy. Not quite on your own, the

boys were on their feet. They were all there. They were pleased with

what you did. Well done. Gary will be judged by a jury that includes

one of the most recognisable faces in opera, Dame Kiri, who is also

patron of the competition. This is her second appearance. We met to

talk about her first Cardiff Singer in 20011. -- 2011. There's something

quite special about the atmosphere of the competition? It's a wonderful

hall to start with. It's cosy and the audience is close and it's

really nice and the sound is very, very good. The atmosphere is already

creating itself for the audience, be it very much on top of the singer,

trying to help them along hopefully. What was it like back stage in the

jury room? Very good. There was never a conflict. Nothing. Everyone

is happy to be there. We were very careful not to make any opinions and

I think that's very, very good, that I judged it like I heard it and what

I saw. That was, from my point of view, exactly what it should be.

Valenina was award the prize in 2011 and she was lucky to make it.

strange, because they say often the one that wins is not always the

favourite coming through. It was exactly what happened. She was

performing quite well and I liked it, until I think something happened

and she just let it go. She shone beautifully and you thought there it

year? I'm looking forward to some really amazing singers. I would love

to see the seriously wonderful, number one, who we haven't heard of.

A stunner. A new voice?Yes. suppose that's one thing that the

contestants should do, to see Cardiff as a big opportunity?

big title. To have that name attached to yours is a big title.

It's great. I wouldn't mind it. future entrant? Dame Kiri being made

very welcome here in Cardiff. Singer four of five in this third round.

Olena Tokar from Ukraine. studied in Ukraine and has won major

Russian competitions, but don't be deceived by her angelic looks. The

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songs. Can you give us an example of complicated time sorting her UK

visa. It was a problem, but she is here and she stars at Cleopatra from

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APPLAUSE Olena Tokar from Ukraine sing

singing Mozart. Mary King? Totally sensational. Absolutely marvellous.

Wonderful technique. Absolutely lovely it. Gerry? It's class all

round. She sings within herself and knows her technique inside out,

which allows her to perform perfectly. To finish, she performs

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singers here, also taking part in the Song Prize. The last programme

of highlights from the round of that tomorrow lunch time at 1.00pm on BBC

Radio 3. The final you'll be able to see here on BBC Four on Saturday

night at 7. 30pm. The heats were at the Royal Welsh College of music and

Drama. Yuri Gorodestski excited the audience there. He is our final

currently based in Washington DC, but the jet-set lifestyle of an

opera star isn't all fun and games. It's great that you are so good at

juggling, because being an opera singer is something of a juggling

act Yeah, kind of. If you are travelling to-places and new roles.

How does that impact on your family life? Of course, it's difficult. I

try to tour with my wife. You have got a lot of support then? Yeah,

from family and from my friends and be doing any juggling tonight, but

let's she how he gets on with the opening pace from Donizetti. --

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APPLAUSE Yuri Gorodestski, from Belarus.

Singing from Donizetti's Amorre. Gerry. Elegantly presented. Very

clear tenor voice, which is very well-centred. Very nice to hear a

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very good blend right through the APPLAUSE

Yuri Gorodestski there. He finishes tonight's round. He is going to sing

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APPLAUSE Yuri Gorodestski singing

Tchaikovsky. He's with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He

spends time in Modena. A special place for tenors. He turned down a

role to be here in Cardiff, so proud he is to be here to represent his

home nation, Belarus. He has made his dibu in the Magic Flute and he

will sing in Washington, so he already has a well-established

career. Gerry, a wonderful tenor? Lovely mix of Italian Slav, the dark

passion of the ball ticks combined with that brilliance, the brightness

on the voice. It's an Italian style. Interesting that the first one was

very suited to Italian and obviously the final one was very suited to his

Russian. You think it may be a little too much? What I don't

understand is if you are singing Mozart professionally why are you

not singing Mozart in a competition like this and why are you singing

Lensky, which I don't think he's going to do. It's not right now, for

my taste. Gerry? As a young singer you have an ambition to move towards

certain ep troiR and it's in circumstances if it doesn't work

exactly then you know to -- repertoire and it's in circumstances

if it doesn't work exactly then you know to move on. Are you happy with

what you did? Yeah, absolutely happy. Just a little one note a

little bit shy. I would like to change it, but it's OK. It means a

lot to you to be here, doesn't it? Yes. It's true. Terrific. Absolutely

terrific to be here. And to sing in the company - in good company like

the young people singing tonight. It's a pleasure listening to you.

All the very best. Thank you.Thank you. We are joined by one of

tonight's jurors. Maren is from the Berlin Opera House. Are you sitting

there imagining every singer as a potential member of your company, a

cast member? Yes, of course, I'm thinking about what could I do with

them and what would be interesting for them to do in the future.

do you want from young singers coming to you in audition? Well,

first the whole package, that they have a great, solid technique, that

they have a personality and that they are able to offer everything an

audience likes. I wonder when when you are in the little room back

stage talking about the singers, with singers on the panel and with

some administrators and creative people such as yourself, is there a

difference in view between what everyone is looking for? Of course,

it is. I think singers are thinking more of the technical terms maybe

and so we, from the casting, or the management, are thinking also more

of the package, so does it all fix together with the voice and body and

what are the direct directors thinking too? Gerry as offered to

audition right now. Yeah, I would love to. Maybe we'll get you

talking. We'll let you join the rest of the jury. Do let you know what

you think of the competition so far use using Twitter. Remember, the

audience vote. Full details of that on tomorrow's programme. Mary King

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is back with Gerald. We'll talk through tonight's singers, -- I

didn't feel he was in his comfort zone, but a very good voice.

Followed by Olena Tokar. She has my heart. What can I say? She is

absolutely wonderful. Lastly, a word about Yuri Gorodestski. I think it's

lovely to hear a tenor voice which is very clear-ringing. Perhaps the

Romeo and Juliet was a little too big, but overall I think he's a

singer who is currently developing. But, there can only be one winner?

Who will you pick, Mary? Olena Tokar. Gerry? I would agree Ukraine,

but I think there is a close something in Portugal. We'll see

what the judges think. Their ready to make their way on to the stage to

put the contenders out of their misery, at the end of this third

To announce this evening's winner, the chairman of the jury, Nicholas

Payne. APPLAUSE

It was a close-run thing. But it is our task as a jury to name a winner

for this evening. And that winner is... Olena Tokar.

APPLAUSE Just, as Gerry and Mary predicted

Olena Tokar, Ukrainian soprano winning this evening's round.

her. She is absolutely wonderful. Stylish. The real deal. It's lovely

to see that well celebrated. We are at the end of round three. We might

have more than one singer tonight. really think we might. I would love

it in Susana Gaspar went through. She's really great too. Tomorrow,

our final five singers are taking us across the vocal range. An English

tenor, Ben Johnson up against an Italian Soprano, a Polish baritone