0:00:02 > 0:00:09We know all about singing competitions. Nothing to it. Piece
0:00:09 > 0:00:14of cake. Connie! No way, they are stressful, nerve-racking. And this
0:00:14 > 0:00:20one's as tough as they get. young opera singers from all over
0:00:20 > 0:00:25the world. One week in Cardiff to sing their hearts out. All they've
0:00:25 > 0:00:29got to do is show us what they can do and do it extremely well. Just a
0:00:29 > 0:00:34few minutes to impress a panel of top judges. If I go there and sing
0:00:34 > 0:00:40to the best of my capacity, that's all I want. For the winner it can
0:00:40 > 0:00:44change their life. If you win, the professional world takes notice.
0:00:44 > 0:00:54intense, so exciting, but it is one hell of an experience. This is
0:00:54 > 0:01:23
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Welcome to St David's Hall and round one of which BBC Cardiff
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Singer of the World 2011. We are here on level 3, just through there
0:01:31 > 0:01:36in the main hall the last of the night's contenders live on stage.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40It's been a great night with singers from New Zealand, Armenia,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Russia, Bulgaria and Romania. In 25 minutes we shall have the winner.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48We are here all week, and every night we'll have special guests.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54Tonight we were delighted to welcome two people with a lot of
0:01:54 > 0:01:59musical snodge between them. Gareth Valentine is a multi-talented
0:01:59 > 0:02:04musical director of ballets, and has been involved in Miss Saigon
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and his latest, End Of The Rainbow. Also with us is Elin Manahan Thomas,
0:02:08 > 0:02:15a leading soprano and no stranger to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
0:02:15 > 0:02:24Welcome to both of you. Gareth. You are best known for ballets and your
0:02:24 > 0:02:34shows, but is opera close to your heart? It is. I studied singing
0:02:34 > 0:02:34
0:02:34 > 0:02:38with Sir Peter Pierc. Elin, who better to tell us what to expect
0:02:38 > 0:02:42tonight? It is hard to tell what the judges are looking for.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48Obviously technique, the polish on the voices, the power of the voices
0:02:48 > 0:02:58maybe, and the repertoire. They will be looking for that extra
0:02:58 > 0:02:59
0:02:59 > 0:03:03special wow factor. How important is the repertoire? Essential.
0:03:03 > 0:03:11They'll have been advised by their teachers. Many of you will have
0:03:11 > 0:03:16heard the sad news that the long time patron Dame Joan Sutherland
0:03:16 > 0:03:21died last year. Taking her place is another opera legend, Dame Kiri Te
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Kanawa. Here was Dame Kiri earlier tonight taking her place with the
0:03:25 > 0:03:29rest of the jury. All top names, including Welsh tenor Dennis
0:03:29 > 0:03:39O'Neill. The first singer tonight is, like Dame Kiri, from New
0:03:39 > 0:03:46
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Zealand. No pressure then. Scary. My name's Anna Leese. I'm from New
0:03:51 > 0:04:01Zealand. I'm excited to be in Wales singing at the BBC Cardiff Singer
0:04:01 > 0:04:01
0:04:01 > 0:06:09Apology for the loss of subtitles for 128 seconds
0:06:09 > 0:06:14It started then, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2011 is officially
0:06:14 > 0:06:19under way. That was Anna Leese in that difficult opening slot of the
0:06:19 > 0:06:25competition. Elin, it is difficult to open the show. How did she do
0:06:25 > 0:06:30She is an experienced singer, so she was a good person to put up
0:06:30 > 0:06:36there. Last night she sang in Holland Park, so it's a bit of a
0:06:36 > 0:06:41stretch to come here. It shows you what a professional she is. Maybe
0:06:41 > 0:06:46an edge of nerves but the beauty and clarity of her voice is still
0:06:46 > 0:06:52there. And she looks gorgeous. They've all scrubbed up pretty well
0:06:52 > 0:06:57since the rehearsal The rehearsal they mark, so they don't really
0:06:57 > 0:07:01sing out. You only get the full voice tonight. The thing that I
0:07:01 > 0:07:06missed most was the lustre at the top of the voice, the money note as
0:07:06 > 0:07:13we say in theatre. I missed that ring. Didn't you miss that tonight?
0:07:13 > 0:07:18Yes, but what is lovely about Anna Leese's voice is that high res nans.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24She closed a nice repertoire to go with that. Don't you think it is
0:07:24 > 0:07:30difficult to sing something so well known. You said this was your
0:07:30 > 0:07:36grandfather's favourite aria. said, "You must sing the song to
0:07:36 > 0:07:40the Moon." I never got around to it. That's such a beautiful song. I
0:07:40 > 0:07:46could never attempt it. Particularly when I'm nervous, I
0:07:46 > 0:07:53know my phrasing, I might be short of breath, so she handled that well.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Absolutely. You should YouTube Rene Fleming singing that aria. It is
0:07:57 > 0:08:00marvellous. Thank you Gareth. Two more singers to look at. Coming up
0:08:00 > 0:08:10we have a Russian mezzo, but first the only bass in the competition.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16
0:08:16 > 0:08:26My name is Vazgen Ghazaryan. I'm representing Armenia. Being in this
0:08:26 > 0:08:26
0:08:26 > 0:10:34Apology for the loss of subtitles for 128 seconds
0:10:34 > 0:10:44My name is Olesya Petrova. I am from Russia, from St Peter's burg.
0:10:44 > 0:10:44
0:10:44 > 0:12:08Apology for the loss of subtitles for 128 seconds
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Wow! What an incredible voice that mezzo soprano has. It could well
0:12:13 > 0:12:20stay in Russia this year, if prize. The reigning champion is from
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Russia. Gareth, how do you think she matched up? This voice is
0:12:24 > 0:12:29exceptional. For me so far this is the front runner. She looks amazing.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34The thing about her, no question about this, when she started to
0:12:34 > 0:12:41sing, even when the orchestra started to play, she comes to live.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46She loves what she does and it is so infectious. She has a great,
0:12:46 > 0:12:51open face, great for the stage. does. Before that we had a
0:12:51 > 0:12:56performance from Vazgen Ghazaryan. What did you make of him? It was an
0:12:56 > 0:13:01interesting contrast, because the bass had a rich voice. He has that
0:13:01 > 0:13:09depth you want from a bass. I think he's a very lovely singer. He did
0:13:09 > 0:13:14sing quite a gloomy programme. There were four emotionally sad and
0:13:14 > 0:13:18intense pieces. I would have liked him to smile at the end, but his
0:13:18 > 0:13:21low notes had a real body to them. And rare to find a natural bass
0:13:21 > 0:13:31these days. It really, is and especially in a competition like
0:13:31 > 0:13:35
0:13:35 > 0:13:41this. At this young age you tend to My friend told me there are no good
0:13:41 > 0:13:47basss because of global warming! You have got a new role here now?
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Yes, my hardest role to date with very little training. Yes, Little
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Jo cities 10 months old and crawling and climbing. What is
0:13:56 > 0:14:02keeping you busy? I'm at the Albert Hall at the moment conducting a
0:14:02 > 0:14:07ballet which I wrote called strictly Gershwin, based on his
0:14:07 > 0:14:10musical and its a joy to do. Amazing. We've heard from three
0:14:10 > 0:14:20singers so far and the quality is really high. Next anothor soprano,
0:14:20 > 0:14:26
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Hello, everybody. My name is Maria Radoeva and Diane from Bulgaria. I
0:14:30 > 0:14:40am really happy to be in Cardiff and are very thankful for this
0:14:40 > 0:14:40
0:14:40 > 0:17:16Apology for the loss of subtitles for 128 seconds
0:17:16 > 0:17:24I love a good tune, don't you? One of opera's most famous arias from
0:17:24 > 0:17:28La Boheme sung by Maria Radeova from Bulgaria. She is trying to get
0:17:28 > 0:17:35a man to fall in love with her all over again. Did we fall in love
0:17:35 > 0:17:39with Maria tonight? This is Anna aria we have heard many time in
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Cardiff and we will hear it again. It's a wonderful romantic piece and
0:17:43 > 0:17:47she sang it with a lovely lightness to her voice and clarity which
0:17:47 > 0:17:52carries. Not necessarily the weighty would want, but the rest of
0:17:52 > 0:17:57her programme was very different. She sang the really high, fast
0:17:57 > 0:18:01stuff way you have got to be agile and light and that is what she
0:18:01 > 0:18:05specialises in. The baroque and modern stuff and it was interesting
0:18:05 > 0:18:11see the contrast in the programme. How did you find that because
0:18:11 > 0:18:17you're known for being able rock singer? It was a sacred repertoire.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23Did you appreciate it? I did. It's always good to see someone sing
0:18:23 > 0:18:28this kind of repertoire in this context. It is mainly an operatic
0:18:28 > 0:18:33competitions so the fact she sang Mozart was interesting. I think, do
0:18:33 > 0:18:38what to do best, and that is what she did. The Gareth, could she have
0:18:38 > 0:18:44picked harder pieces? Well, you say harder pieces, but it's pretty
0:18:44 > 0:18:54demanding because they are very florid. They need amazing breath
0:18:54 > 0:18:57
0:18:57 > 0:19:02control. She stepped up to the mark of her. Also, they do a repetition
0:19:02 > 0:19:06of the chorus, and you embellish it, and I thought she did it very
0:19:06 > 0:19:11judiciously. She didn't over- elaborate. It was very good.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15certainly delivered with confidence? Oh, yes. Thank you,
0:19:15 > 0:19:25Gareth. The last singer is another East European a baritone from
0:19:25 > 0:19:30
0:19:31 > 0:19:34My name is Serban Vasile and I am coming to represent Romania. And I
0:19:34 > 0:19:44am anxious to participate in the biggest sin of the World
0:19:44 > 0:19:44
0:19:44 > 0:22:02Apology for the loss of subtitles for 128 seconds
0:22:02 > 0:22:09competition here in Wales. Welcome Mozart, a wonderful finale to Round
0:22:09 > 0:22:14One of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2011. Do you remember, I
0:22:14 > 0:22:21remember having a go about aria when I was a student? You don't
0:22:21 > 0:22:24fancy doing it again tonight? can't think of anything worse!
0:22:25 > 0:22:31are still trying to persuade you to get up there. I'm pass that age but
0:22:31 > 0:22:34never mind, eh? It is very taxing, isn't it? You have to be would sing
0:22:34 > 0:22:39Mozart, it's a benchmark of good singing and her I thought he sang
0:22:39 > 0:22:45it supremely well, and I thought he was almost too weighty for it. He
0:22:45 > 0:22:51came alive afterwards for me. He was young and fresh. A joy to hear.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56I'm told that we do have a winner. It's all getting very exciting. You
0:22:56 > 0:23:02can see people coming out. Extremely exciting. Gareth, is it
0:23:02 > 0:23:07different being in the hall and watching it in the television?
0:23:07 > 0:23:13the hall, it is palpable, the tension and excitement. But
0:23:13 > 0:23:17everybody is so excited, the envelope of sound is thrilling.
0:23:17 > 0:23:22whole city seems to come to life. Are the eyes of the world are on us
0:23:22 > 0:23:26here. I think it's fantastic for Wales. It puts us on the map and
0:23:26 > 0:23:29uphold the standards that Wales's famous for. We have got the
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Millennium Centre now and we attract international names. It's
0:23:32 > 0:23:42so important to have this competition to back us up and to
0:23:42 > 0:23:43
0:23:43 > 0:23:48launch it for us. Next, we are coming to find out the choices. The
0:23:48 > 0:23:55unofficial choices. Who are you hoping to win tonight? It's always
0:23:55 > 0:24:02hard, isn't it? My money would be on the mezzo-soprano. That's what I
0:24:02 > 0:24:11heard tonight. I agree 100%. I think she was in love with the
0:24:11 > 0:24:18music and we came in love or so. was blown away. Amazing. Let's hear
0:24:18 > 0:24:28from the chair of the jury John Fisher, to find out who did win
0:24:28 > 0:25:05
0:25:05 > 0:25:10tonight's frst round. The winner I am delighted to welcome Olesya
0:25:10 > 0:25:19Petrova, from Russia, the winner of BBC Cardiff Singer Of The World,
0:25:19 > 0:25:26fantastic. Welcome. Thank you. Congratulations. What a relief.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31just really happy. I can't think now. Were you nervous during your
0:25:31 > 0:25:37performance? You didn't look it. when I am on stage, I am not
0:25:37 > 0:25:42nervous, maybe before, but not on stage. On stage, I am the Queen.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47You looked like the Queen. You were the will of our unofficial panel
0:25:47 > 0:25:52tonight. We thought that you were going to win. Well done. We were in
0:25:52 > 0:25:57agreement. Thank you. It was a fantastic performance. Superb,
0:25:57 > 0:26:03thank you very much. It's such a beautiful, natural voice. You are
0:26:03 > 0:26:09very lucky. We are admiring everybody's stresses this evening.
0:26:09 > 0:26:17For you, you even won the dress competition. It's beautiful.
0:26:17 > 0:26:27like it? Is it new for tonight? Are you anxious about Thursday?
0:26:27 > 0:26:29
0:26:29 > 0:26:34Finding out whether you will be in the final? Oh! Yes! Pretty scary.
0:26:34 > 0:26:41Do you think she will be in the final? I would put money on it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46would get preparing. Perhaps we could even have two winners tonight.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Who would perhaps be your second choice? I think I would go for Anna
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Leese from New Zealand. I would like to see what other programme
0:26:54 > 0:27:00she could bring to the final but who knows? It is a job for the
0:27:00 > 0:27:05judges, not me. We have got such an exciting week to look forward to.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10You have got four days to prepare now. Yes, a bit relaxing and then
0:27:10 > 0:27:15more work. We are looking forward to hearing your in the final.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21Congratulations once again. Fantastic performance. Well done.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23round of applause, everyone! APPLAUSE That's it for tonight.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Many thanks to our special guests, Elin Manahan Thomas and Gareth
0:27:27 > 0:27:31Valentine. There's more information about the competition at
0:27:31 > 0:27:36bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger. And if you want to see a longer version of
0:27:36 > 0:27:39tonight's concert, tune into to BBC Four at 7:30pm tomorrow night.