:00:11. > :00:14.are here in the lighting box at St David's Hall. The audience is taking
:00:14. > :00:18.a their seats. It is all go here, because the performance is about to
:00:18. > :00:24.begin. Last night Bebecar difficult Singer
:00:24. > :00:31.of the World got off to a thrilling search. Now, it is round two in the
:00:31. > :00:35.search for the next opera star. 20 young opera singers from across
:00:35. > :00:38.the globe. Hoping to impress the judges with the performance of their
:00:38. > :00:44.lives. I'm looking forward to some really
:00:44. > :00:53.amazing singers. I would like to hear a stunner. Victory can propel
:00:53. > :01:03.the winner to international fame. The Bebecar difficult Singer of the
:01:03. > :01:34.
:01:34. > :01:37.World launched my career. Last night, a delighted Jamie Barton
:01:37. > :01:40.from the United States of America won the first round of the
:01:40. > :01:46.competition. Now five new singers are battling to impress the judges.
:01:46. > :01:50.Welcome back to St David's Hall and round two of BBC Cardiff Singer of
:01:50. > :01:54.the World 2013. We are here in the foyer and the
:01:54. > :01:57.concert is coming to an end and we will have the highlights during the
:01:57. > :02:00.next half an hour. We hope to bring you the winner before the end of the
:02:00. > :02:05.programme. Performing tonight are exciting
:02:05. > :02:09.young singers from Hungary, Russia, Egypt and Italy and South Africa.
:02:09. > :02:19.have invited our special guests to guide us through the competition and
:02:19. > :02:23.we are delighted to welcome, Catrin Wyn-Davies who sung for some of the
:02:23. > :02:29.world's finest opera houses. And joining us is Wynne Evans. He
:02:29. > :02:35.will be returning to Covent Garden and Welsh audiences can catch him
:02:35. > :02:38.here in Welsh operas next season. You have devoted your time to
:02:38. > :02:43.coaching young singers. What are you making of tonight's standard?
:02:43. > :02:47.it is a good standard. We were very spoiled last night. There was an
:02:47. > :02:51.obvious winner last night. It was easy. What we have heard this
:02:51. > :02:55.evening is not quite such a clear cut case.
:02:55. > :02:59.When you were here last night, incredible, buzz? Absolutely
:02:59. > :03:02.fantastic and you know, she walked away with the prize really and you
:03:02. > :03:05.know, really good programming last night and that was what got it for
:03:05. > :03:12.her. Tonight, we will have to wait and see.
:03:12. > :03:16.We will see, indeed. There will be lots more from Wynne and Catrin
:03:16. > :03:26.later: The first singer on stage tonight
:03:26. > :03:36.was the sew ran owe from Hungary. Hi everybody. I'm Maria Celeng. I'm
:03:36. > :03:36.
:03:36. > :05:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds
:05:31. > :05:36.representing Hungary and I'm very, Maria Celeng representing Hungary.
:05:36. > :05:42.Did she do it for you this evening? I really love the voice. I think
:05:42. > :05:48.there is something, really, really honest about the way she sings. The
:05:48. > :05:53.colours, she is extremely musical. She is is, I mean she is beautiful.
:05:53. > :06:00.He she wears her heart on her sleeve and that really touches me. It was
:06:00. > :06:06.not her best aria. She sang a fantastic Handel and note perfect
:06:06. > :06:12.and I think, you know, just at the end nerves, tiredness, stamina, I
:06:12. > :06:17.think her body just let her down during the last aria. I think she is
:06:17. > :06:22.25, she really is still very young, but I think she has got a bright
:06:22. > :06:27.future. So 25. Would you imagine that she
:06:27. > :06:31.could sing the Handel? Yes, I mean, if I can be slightly controversial,
:06:31. > :06:35.I didn't like the performance as much as Catrin did. The hands were
:06:35. > :06:39.there all the time. It was almost like there was two conductors on the
:06:39. > :06:46.stage at times! They were ever where and I felt the voice was too open
:06:46. > :06:53.right at the top and it just made me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
:06:53. > :06:57.I agree with Wynne and in terms of somebody who gets right into your
:06:57. > :07:01.heart. She made me nervous.
:07:01. > :07:07.A really massive mouth. Russia has a strong record here. The
:07:07. > :07:17.winner four years ago was Ekaterina Scherbachenko. This year, Russian
:07:17. > :07:18.
:07:18. > :07:28.singer, it is a bar tone. -- baritone.
:07:28. > :07:28.
:07:28. > :09:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds
:09:45. > :09:50.I'm Alexey Bogdanchikov. Here in Alexey Bogdanchikov the first of two
:09:50. > :09:53.baritones singing tonight when it is hard to hear a Russian baritone
:09:53. > :09:55.without thinking of another. How did he come up to the mark for you
:09:55. > :09:58.tonight? Actually are, it is a great voice and a great technique. The
:09:58. > :10:05.problem is what you the don't get at home watching on the television or
:10:05. > :10:11.listening on the radio, is the voice is quite small in the hall, he
:10:11. > :10:16.started off and one day he will be a Verdi baritone, but not yet. And
:10:16. > :10:20.then he sang that, and you need to be a show man to get away with that
:10:20. > :10:24.and he didn't quite pull it out of the hat.
:10:24. > :10:26.He opened with a death aria and closed with an opening aria. What
:10:26. > :10:29.was that about? LAUGHTER
:10:29. > :10:34.Well, you know, that's the way he wants to do it.
:10:35. > :10:39.It is a really, arele classy voice and he has a fantastic technique. A
:10:39. > :10:44.lovely ring to his voice and he is extremely clever, polished, singer,
:10:44. > :10:50.but he doesn't have, I think, he has got a little bit to learn about
:10:50. > :10:55.being a performer. He is 27, so... He is a keen football player and he
:10:55. > :10:56.says he keeps physically fit. How important is that to being an opera
:10:56. > :11:00.singer? LAUGHTER
:11:00. > :11:05.Extremely important from the point of view of breathing and his
:11:05. > :11:08.technique, you know, he never pushes his voice. He pulls his voice in and
:11:08. > :11:13.he spins it on the breath and you have to have really, really good and
:11:13. > :11:16.he did one massively long phrase, it was fantastic. This afternoon in the
:11:16. > :11:19.rehearse rehearsal, I thought he will never do it on the night and he
:11:19. > :11:23.did. He showed us a lot of clever things.
:11:23. > :11:28.Fantastic, well, next a singer from Egypt, a country that's been
:11:28. > :11:38.represented here for the first time. She is a mezzo-soprano and let's see
:11:38. > :11:40.
:11:40. > :11:50.Hello. I'm Gala El Hadidi and I'm representing Egypt and I'm thrilled
:11:50. > :11:50.
:11:50. > :14:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds
:14:09. > :14:15.to be here. I can't believe my dream Gala El Hadidi from Egypt. Is she a
:14:15. > :14:20.contender? She is a showgirl. You pay your money and you get 100%. I'm
:14:20. > :14:25.not, she didn't touch me. She doesn't move me. She gave us all the
:14:26. > :14:31.big show-stoppers and you know, for me, I want a little bit more
:14:31. > :14:34.finesse. All we got was a lot of one dynamic and I would like her to have
:14:34. > :14:38.played a little bit more with her voice and really sort of coloured a
:14:38. > :14:41.little bit more and been a little bit more intelligent with her
:14:41. > :14:50.singing. Interesting stuff. Well, this is a
:14:50. > :14:54.very big year for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. This is the 30th an is
:14:54. > :14:59.versery. Previous winners come on top billing at the world's major
:14:59. > :15:03.opera houses. No wonder what happens here is
:15:03. > :15:09.followed keenly by opera fans. It is a treat they cannot do without and I
:15:09. > :15:14.caught up with some of them between recitals.
:15:14. > :15:19.The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
:15:19. > :15:25.John and Margaret Jones are devoted fans from the Isle of Wight. I hear
:15:25. > :15:30.you have been coming to Cardiff Singer over the past 30 years. How
:15:30. > :15:32.did you get involved? We were here in Cardiff on business. We saw the
:15:32. > :15:35.singing competition in St David's Hall. We walked in off the street
:15:35. > :15:39.and we heard the wonderful singers and we were hooked.
:15:39. > :15:44.What he keeps you coming back? standard of the singing and the
:15:44. > :15:48.warmth of the Welsh audience is fantastic. So it is fair to say you
:15:48. > :15:53.must be Cardiff singer's biggest fans, right? We have been to every p
:15:53. > :15:56.one since we started and as we go, we book the hotel for the same time
:15:56. > :15:59.two years hence. I think that really says it all.
:16:00. > :16:05.And there is an international fanbase too.
:16:05. > :16:09.Barbara, it is not your first time at Cardiff Singer, is it? Not at
:16:09. > :16:16.all, since 1993, this is my ninth time.
:16:16. > :16:19.Aur not from around these parts? Originally from Texas, but New York
:16:19. > :16:26.is my home. You fly every year? Once here, I was
:16:26. > :16:30.hooked, what can I say? So you have made many friends in Cardiff Singer?
:16:30. > :16:38.People in the audience and I have had eight Welshmen at my tiny
:16:38. > :16:44.apartment for thanksgiving dinner. A lucky lady! The competition is
:16:44. > :16:47.inspiring a new generation of fans like Jess.
:16:47. > :16:50.You can feel the buzz and all the high quality artists are coming to
:16:50. > :16:54.compete. Who is your money on this year?
:16:54. > :17:00.have got to go with Gary, the Welshman. I have got to support him.
:17:00. > :17:04.Who else! Xablegt Exactly. High five.
:17:04. > :17:11.Well, that's what I call a loyal following. We heard highlights from
:17:11. > :17:19.three singers in round two. If you want to see a longer version of
:17:19. > :17:23.tonight's concert, tune in on BBC Four tomorrow.
:17:23. > :17:33.Next, tonight's fourth singer, another mezzo-soprano and this time,
:17:33. > :17:39.
:17:39. > :17:49.My name is Loriana Castellano and I'm from Italy. I'm really happy to
:17:49. > :17:49.
:17:49. > :20:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds
:20:03. > :20:09.be here in Cardiff and singing in Loriana Castellano from Italy. Did
:20:09. > :20:16.she impress you? The runny bits to you and me, they were excellent. The
:20:16. > :20:20.only thing I felt, she was a bit out of control and now again her
:20:20. > :20:26.pitching was dodgy, but she is a real stage animal.
:20:26. > :20:30.An Italian girl, singing three pieces in Italian, compare that to
:20:30. > :20:35.our young lady from Egypt. Is that going to count against her that she
:20:35. > :20:42.only showed off one language? don't think so. She sang the things
:20:42. > :20:46.she sings well and I think it goes back to what Wind Wynne said about
:20:46. > :20:52.programming. Sometimes it is good to show French or German, but if that's
:20:53. > :20:59.what she really feels she is, a Handel singer and a Mozart singer,
:20:59. > :21:03.it is going to be Italy repertoire. Loriana Castellano is a football
:21:03. > :21:07.player. She plays on the attack, do you think she was on the attack
:21:07. > :21:10.tonight? She was a tiger tonight. She really showed her stage animal
:21:10. > :21:13.presence. Brilliant. On to the last singer on
:21:14. > :21:22.stage tonight at 25 years of age, he is one of the youngest in this
:21:22. > :21:28.competition. He is a baritone and he is from South Africa.
:21:28. > :21:38.Hello. My name is Luthando Qave. I'm representing South Africa. It is an
:21:38. > :21:38.
:21:38. > :23:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 115 seconds
:23:19. > :23:23.honour and privilege to be part of Luthando Qave there from South
:23:23. > :23:28.Africa. He is o only 25 years old. Did he do it for you this evening,
:23:28. > :23:34.or is he too young? He didn't do it for me. Some people are 25 already.
:23:34. > :23:40.He is not. He looked lost on the stage. His programme choice wasn't
:23:40. > :23:46.brilliant. You have got to be sure you are going to nail that one.
:23:46. > :23:51.Unfortunately, for me, it was nearly all out of tune and I hear a slight
:23:51. > :23:56.bleat on the voice and for me that shows that the breathing isn't quite
:23:56. > :24:03.right. Also, he began in the second set of
:24:03. > :24:09.the evening and then had to sing the Mozart. That was in the wrong order
:24:09. > :24:14.really. I mean, I disagree with Wynne. I think he has got a lovely
:24:14. > :24:20.voice. I think he is just too young. He is not there yet. I think it is a
:24:20. > :24:26.beautiful voice and when he sang, you can really hear the lyric line
:24:26. > :24:30.and it will become more secure. I just think he has been overwhelmed
:24:31. > :24:35.by this situation. I think he is a really honest singer and he will
:24:35. > :24:42.have touched a lot of people this evening.
:24:42. > :24:49.You just want to give him a clutch. This competition inspired him for
:24:49. > :24:51.everything. He saw a DVD of Britain and it got him singing -- Bryn in
:24:51. > :24:57.South Africa and that got him singing.
:24:57. > :25:00.Now, we have heard from all five singers and it is time to pick our
:25:00. > :25:04.winner. The winner on the night isn't guaranteed a place in the
:25:04. > :25:08.final. The jury will choose the five best performers across the week so
:25:08. > :25:14.on a strong night there might be more than one. Catrin, a name for
:25:14. > :25:20.you? It has got to be Maria Celeng. Yeah. And Wynne?It was not so clear
:25:20. > :25:26.cut tonight. Last night, we knew straightaway. But, I will go with
:25:26. > :25:31.the Hungarian soprano as well. Well, that's wh who our experts --
:25:31. > :25:35.well, that's who our experts think should win. We have a winner. Let's
:25:35. > :25:41.hear from the chair of the jury, Nicholas Payne.
:25:41. > :25:51.The winner we have chosen from tonight's second concert is Maria
:25:51. > :25:56.
:25:56. > :26:03.APPLAUSE The winner is looking emotional and
:26:03. > :26:13.excited winning round two of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013.
:26:13. > :26:13.
:26:13. > :26:16.And holding the trophy aloft. Well, that was a few minutes ago and
:26:16. > :26:26.we are delighted now to welcome Maria Celeng from Hungary, the
:26:26. > :26:33.
:26:33. > :26:38.winner of the second round of BBC Did you have a great time out there
:26:38. > :26:42.tonight? Yes. Yes. Yes. Thanks so much for the audience because I
:26:42. > :26:46.always say and it is like this, it is a communication between us. I am
:26:46. > :26:49.telling something and I feel that they are telling something and it
:26:49. > :26:55.worked. So thank you so much. Well, we felt that you communicated
:26:55. > :26:59.with all of us. We all felt moved by your performance and I know the
:26:59. > :27:03.audience were also. Huge congratulations. A big week for you
:27:03. > :27:06.now and good news today because you have heard you are through to the
:27:06. > :27:09.Song Final as well. So I'm happy. I will not sleep!
:27:09. > :27:14.Well, you need to sleep. You must sleep.
:27:14. > :27:21.Everybody, that's it for tonight. Congratulations to our winner, Maria
:27:21. > :27:30.Celeng and many thanks to our special guests, Catrin Wyn-Davies
:27:30. > :27:34.and Wind -- Wynne Evans. If you want to see a longer version of tonight's
:27:34. > :27:39.concert, tune in to BBC Four at 7. 30pm tomorrow night.