:00:07. > :00:12.It's a test of natural ability, nerve and meticulous preparation.
:00:13. > :00:15.A career-defining appearance in front of the cameras, a packed
:00:16. > :00:58.The search for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 is underway.
:00:59. > :01:00.For over 30 years, this city has played host to the world's
:01:01. > :01:10.A city where the chosen ones have been catapulted to stardom.
:01:11. > :01:19.And now the hunt is on for a new star.
:01:20. > :01:28.Last night, we had bliss, we had betrayal, we had despair.
:01:29. > :01:32.But it was Anthony Clark Evans from the USA who stole everyone's hearts.
:01:33. > :01:36.As he took his place in the Cardiff Singer final here at Saint Davids
:01:37. > :01:37.Hall. And what a performance
:01:38. > :01:40.that was from Anthony Clark Evans, the man who had given up
:01:41. > :01:44.on his career completely, became a car salesman,
:01:45. > :01:47.and now finds himself the first "Smashed it.
:01:48. > :01:57.Great rep, what a voice! We welcome back to our
:01:58. > :02:02.Cardiff Singer coverage, Mary King. She's with me all this week ?
:02:03. > :02:05.a singer and voice coach with 40 That tweet a pretty accurate
:02:06. > :02:12.assessment of him, Mary? Absolutely. I don't think the jury
:02:13. > :02:14.would have taken very long to make that decision.
:02:15. > :02:16.And let's welcome too a Cardiff born singer
:02:17. > :02:17.with an international career - Rosemary Joshua.
:02:18. > :02:25.You were in the audience last night - what are you hoping for tonight?
:02:26. > :02:31.I'm looking to find a real communicator. And what will that
:02:32. > :02:35.mean the? Somebody that engages with the text and really wants to bring
:02:36. > :02:41.drama into the voice and performance. Well, I hope we will
:02:42. > :02:42.get that. We shall see. We will be given lots from you as the evening
:02:43. > :02:47.progresses. Highlights from all their
:02:48. > :02:50.performances to come - and tonight's round winner
:02:51. > :02:52.will definitely appear in Sunday's grand final
:02:53. > :02:54.alongside the other winners, with one additional wildcard
:02:55. > :02:59.chosen by the jury. We have Rosemary and Mary, and to
:03:00. > :03:03.complete our triumvirate of great singers part of our team, we have
:03:04. > :03:04.Angel Blue backstage for us throughout the night.
:03:05. > :03:06.Angel, everyone's looking to win, of course, but I sense
:03:07. > :03:09.there was a real bond between the singers last night.
:03:10. > :03:18.Yes. There are absolutely was a strong bond last night. The singers
:03:19. > :03:22.were very gentle and support with each other, and as a singer myself
:03:23. > :03:30.that is very much appreciated. Normally in a competition this big
:03:31. > :03:38.in stature, it breeds a bit of spirit backstage but that was not
:03:39. > :03:45.the case. I hope that tonight we see that again. And tonight, one
:03:46. > :03:51.competitor with a bit of extra pressure, representing Wales.
:03:52. > :03:53.Sioned Gwen Davies, a soprano from Colwyn Bay carries
:03:54. > :03:56.Miriam Albano is a Venetian-born mezzo.
:03:57. > :03:58.Still only one Italian winner of this competition,
:03:59. > :04:00.Baritone Ivan Thirion competes tonight for Belgium.
:04:01. > :04:02.South Korea continues its strong competition presence,
:04:03. > :04:11.with tenor Konstantin Lee flying the flag this year.
:04:12. > :04:13.And first it's baritone Ariunbaata Ganbaatar,
:04:14. > :04:31.the second of two finalists this year from Mongolia.
:04:32. > :04:38.Ariunbaata Ganbaatar has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, at the
:04:39. > :04:41.ball Savoy Theatre for Vladimir Putin and Buckingham Palace. But
:04:42. > :05:43.this is a career he had not always dreamt of following.
:05:44. > :05:46.The first time Ariunbaatar heard opera was Tom and Jerry
:05:47. > :05:51.Here he comes now, joining the orchestra
:05:52. > :05:53.of Welsh National Opera and their musical
:05:54. > :05:57.Ariunbaatar has taken the decision to sing music
:05:58. > :13:58.First, the role of the dying Rodrigo in Don Carlo.
:13:59. > :14:01.Un Ballo In Maschera next - Ankarstrom has learnt that his wife
:14:02. > :14:04.has fallen in love with the king, his friend - he's not too happy
:14:05. > :14:07.about it, as you can imagine, denouncing his wife and vowing
:14:08. > :18:10.The first singer in the second round of this BBC Cardiff Singer of the
:18:11. > :18:12.World. Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar from Mongolia.
:18:13. > :18:14.The betrayed and bitter Ankarstrom from Verdi's Un Ballo
:18:15. > :18:26.He was working as a taxi driver as labourer when he came up with a fair
:18:27. > :18:34.and the chance meeting led into singing with the police ensemble,
:18:35. > :18:39.his first professional break. There is a singer every year that makes
:18:40. > :18:48.Mary King cry and I did not expected to happen so quickly! Just
:18:49. > :18:53.fantastic, Verdi, massive in sound, different colours, fantastic
:18:54. > :18:59.communicator. What is not to love? Wonderful confidence? He is
:19:00. > :19:03.extraordinary, only 29 and Ruckert-Lieder that is very young,
:19:04. > :19:08.fully in control of the colours in his voice but I have to say, with
:19:09. > :19:11.all the brilliance of tonight was my performance, something happens in
:19:12. > :19:17.the extreme of his voice at the top that concerns me. He is very young
:19:18. > :19:21.and is strain with his vocal chords rubbing, perhaps the strain of the
:19:22. > :19:25.competition and the fatigue of taking part. Certainly something he
:19:26. > :19:36.needs to work on? He must think about it. What about doing Ivan
:19:37. > :19:40.Thirion? Do you want a broader range? At this stage it is not
:19:41. > :19:44.important, it is what you do with the material you choose. If you show
:19:45. > :19:50.variety in the material, that is better than a varied repertoire.
:19:51. > :19:55.Thank you very much. He is through to the final of the Song Prize so we
:19:56. > :19:59.will see him on BBC Four in that on Saturday evening. We can find out
:20:00. > :20:03.his thoughts on his performance backstage with Angel. What a great
:20:04. > :20:05.performance. How did you use the words to create such a wonderful
:20:06. > :20:31.story for all of us? TRANSLATION: Thank you very much, it
:20:32. > :20:35.is how I was taught by my teachers and I do research by translating
:20:36. > :20:39.Italian language. Bravo, wonderful job, back to you.
:20:40. > :20:42.Well our second competitor is already waiting in the wings,
:20:43. > :20:46.but first a quick reminder of our Cardiff Singer jury.
:20:47. > :20:49.The American Grace Bumbry made her name as the first black
:20:50. > :20:57.singer ever to sing at Wagner's Bayreuth.
:20:58. > :21:01.The voice has to expression, that makes a difference and if you do not
:21:02. > :21:04.have that, you are uninteresting. Baritone Wolfgang Holzmair straddles
:21:05. > :21:06.both opera and concert stages, and is now much in demand
:21:07. > :21:09.as a teacher for young singers. Korean soprano Sumi Jo has performed
:21:10. > :21:13.and recorded across the world, including appearing
:21:14. > :21:24.at the Sochi Winter Olympics. To stick out in a competition like
:21:25. > :21:28.this, you should have good communication skills. Don't forget
:21:29. > :21:30.to smile onstage. I think it makes a huge difference.
:21:31. > :21:32.Estonian Anu Tali brings the perspective of a conductor
:21:33. > :21:35.to the jury - she's currently Music Director of the Sarasota
:21:36. > :21:41.And our chairman is David Pountney, world-class opera director
:21:42. > :21:43.and Artistic Director at Welsh National Opera
:21:44. > :21:56.I'm hoping to be surprised. Somebody who maybe comes out and looks like
:21:57. > :21:59.they will deliver one thing and suddenly they deliver something
:22:00. > :22:02.completely different. Those are the moments you really wait for.
:22:03. > :22:03.The formidable team sitting in judgement
:22:04. > :22:09.Back to business now, and our second competitor tonight
:22:10. > :22:11.brings the lapping waters of her native Venice
:22:12. > :22:36.Even though Miriam is a highly accomplished violinist, singing has
:22:37. > :22:43.always been her first love. After attending the Venice Conservatory,
:22:44. > :22:45.she lives in Austria and she sings with the state Opera and becoming a
:22:46. > :22:49.professional performer was clearly her destiny. I always wanted to
:22:50. > :22:54.sing. To use my voice as an instrument and express what I wanted
:22:55. > :23:02.to say through my voice. My parents or musicians. My grandfather was a
:23:03. > :23:08.musician as well. And by grandmother was a singer. I would like to say
:23:09. > :23:15.that in my blood there is something really close to music. Other members
:23:16. > :23:23.of the company in Vienna include past competitors who have had great
:23:24. > :23:32.success in Cardiff. Two of them have offered Miriam some very simple
:23:33. > :23:39.advice. Enjoy! We studied and practised so much for so long to
:23:40. > :23:43.make this music. To be alive again. It is worth it to try to enjoy it
:23:44. > :23:46.because the time goes so quickly during our performances.
:23:47. > :23:49.Miriam opens her programme in French with some pure lyricism
:23:50. > :23:52.from Offenbach's Opera 'The Tales of Hoffmann'.
:23:53. > :23:55.Nicklausse trying out a violin - which produces soothing sounds
:23:56. > :28:13.to console tears and capture a lover's heart.
:28:14. > :28:21.Miriam Albano singing from Offenbach's tales of Hoffmann.
:28:22. > :28:23.The first English language performance of the competition next
:28:24. > :28:30.- Elgar's great Sea Pictures - premiered by Clara Butt,
:28:31. > :28:42.We go to the depths - the land 'Where Corals Lie'.
:28:43. > :29:41.# By mount and mead, by lawn and rill.
:29:42. > :29:52.# When night is deep, and moon is high.
:29:53. > :30:00.# That music seeks and finds me still.
:30:01. > :30:48.# Yes, press my eyelids close, 'tis well.
:30:49. > :30:56.# To rolling worlds of wave and shell.
:30:57. > :32:48.# The land, the land, where corals lie #.
:32:49. > :32:51.And Miriam Albano sings in her native Italian to finish,
:32:52. > :35:36.Miriam Alfano, the 26-year-old mezzosoprano, showing off her skill
:35:37. > :35:49.and vocal acrobatics. At the conclusion of Rossini's Lady of the
:35:50. > :35:53.Lake. What a lovely, exuberant, natural mezzosoprano Shias. She has
:35:54. > :35:57.a real flexibility and musicianship. An intelligent young singer. I would
:35:58. > :36:03.question whether she is a true mezzo. I find that she has a
:36:04. > :36:08.fantastic top range to voice and I would encourage her to expand on it.
:36:09. > :36:15.She has a beautiful colour but she could possibly be a soprano. Very
:36:16. > :36:18.interesting to hear her singing Elgar's see pictures, because we
:36:19. > :36:22.associate that with a different type of singer. She never went into a
:36:23. > :36:31.chest voice with that, which is interesting. But a very poised, and
:36:32. > :36:34.beautiful text. Mary, at Vienna state opera she is a very
:36:35. > :36:39.experienced artist even though she is one of the youngest. Yes, and I
:36:40. > :36:42.think she would have been very suited to that repertoire. She
:36:43. > :36:48.should have shown off at least one of the roles she did in Vienna.
:36:49. > :36:53.Let's go backstage to Angel. Miriam, how did you manage to keep your
:36:54. > :37:00.singing so clean and clear? I actually had to think about every
:37:01. > :37:05.note. Every note has to be here. And of course, through the text, I can
:37:06. > :37:18.express many, many different colours. And we have to concentrate.
:37:19. > :37:27.I have to keep the concentration, and say what the poultry has to say
:37:28. > :37:33.through my aria. Brava, well done. -- what the poetry has to say.
:37:34. > :37:34.Three singers still to come this evening -
:37:35. > :37:37.and you can expect an exuberant response when this year's
:37:38. > :37:39.Welsh entrant takes to the St David's Hall stage.
:37:40. > :37:41.But first a singer from Belgium, Ivan Thirion, the second
:37:42. > :38:02.Ivan credits his Bulgarian heritage for his love of music. It was this,
:38:03. > :38:08.as well as a passion for the theatre that led him to the world of opera.
:38:09. > :38:14.You like music, you like drama, why do you not sing? I never thought to
:38:15. > :38:16.sing before. And I don't know even how it began, but I was 14 or 15,
:38:17. > :38:29.something. I had known Cardiff Singer since I
:38:30. > :38:35.began to sing professionally at 18 years old. In Belgian, we know it is
:38:36. > :38:42.one of the biggest, if not the most important or hard to reach
:38:43. > :38:46.competition. The expectation will first of course be to enjoy myself
:38:47. > :38:49.and I'm sure I will. I am sure the stress will not be too big. More
:38:50. > :38:55.than half of the programme is roles that have already sung, so in a way
:38:56. > :38:59.it is more comfortable and you are more sure about what you're saying,
:39:00. > :39:06.and you more ideas. Again there are things that I did not sing, that I
:39:07. > :39:11.just love, and I want to try here. I hope to let the public and the jury
:39:12. > :39:12.feel my love for music and what I can express, and I hope I move them
:39:13. > :39:17.with my performance. Ivan Thirion began his
:39:18. > :39:20.professional career singing Mozart at the opera in Liege -
:39:21. > :39:23.and he's chosen Mozart The scheming Count in The Marriage
:39:24. > :39:31.of Figaro, furious that he's not going to get his way
:39:32. > :44:19.with his wife's maid. Ivan Thirion singing from Mozart's
:44:20. > :44:23.marriage of Figaro. Most singers choose to perform opera in this
:44:24. > :44:27.competition but there is no ban on oratorio.
:44:28. > :44:30.Much softer shades now as Ivan takes the role of Mephistopheles
:44:31. > :49:34.Salt converting to Christianity and changing his name to Paul. The
:49:35. > :49:42.Belgian baritone. Cheered on in Cardiff by his parents. Rosemary and
:49:43. > :49:47.Mary are with us here on BBC Four, Mary, he seems very involved with
:49:48. > :49:53.the text. Wonderful language skills? Yes, and a very introverted
:49:54. > :50:00.performer, he is just a little bit too inside and sensitive and I find
:50:01. > :50:06.the breath is not right so we have a disaster on longer notes so there
:50:07. > :50:13.was not enough full rejection and dynamism. He is more figural than
:50:14. > :50:16.kind. I think he is very promising and very likeable and well-prepared,
:50:17. > :50:21.his programme, but there is not enough connection at the moment in
:50:22. > :50:25.his body. You can see him bouncing up and down survey needs to get his
:50:26. > :50:32.roots into the ground and feel more solid and have more confidence.
:50:33. > :50:37.Backstage and Angel. You were so charismatic and you really connected
:50:38. > :50:45.to the role of the Count, have you sung this before? In Belgium, yes.
:50:46. > :50:54.It is a fantastic role, each phrase there is a new idea in the head of
:50:55. > :50:58.the Count so you are starting to get into things that character and I
:50:59. > :51:04.love that. We did a wonderful job. Congratulations.
:51:05. > :51:07.By the way, if you're within range of Cardiff this week,
:51:08. > :51:09.don't forget that there's a whole Cardiff Singer Fringe
:51:10. > :51:12.Recitals, masterclasses, films and a children's ABC of Opera.
:51:13. > :51:15.Over at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama we've
:51:16. > :51:19.All but one of this year's competitors doubling up their opera
:51:20. > :51:21.performances with entries in that competition.
:51:22. > :51:23.Hear the heats at lunchtimes on Radio 3.
:51:24. > :51:26.The final is here on BBC Four on Saturday night.
:51:27. > :51:32.Wales is next as mezzo soprano Sioned Gwen Davies
:51:33. > :51:36.Remember, though Bryn Terfel won the Song Prize, a Welsh
:51:37. > :51:38.singer has never taken the Cardiff Singer title.
:51:39. > :52:03.A graduate of the Guildhall School of music and drama, Sioned is based
:52:04. > :52:06.in Glasgow where she sings with Scottish Opera. Cardiff Singer of
:52:07. > :52:11.the World is a competition she has grown up watching. It is amazing, I
:52:12. > :52:15.cannot believe I'm here. It is something I never thought I would be
:52:16. > :52:20.a part of, you always think it would be nice and when it happens, it is a
:52:21. > :52:25.little bit weird! But I am having a lot of fun and that is the most
:52:26. > :52:30.important thing. With the added pressure of representing the host
:52:31. > :52:35.nation, Sioned asked for advice from the Welsh singers who have competed.
:52:36. > :52:44.They just said, try to go out there and enjoy it as a construct and just
:52:45. > :52:48.be aware of the mass of law that will come in from the construct
:52:49. > :52:52.stage. My parents are coming from Colwyn Bay and my brother is coming,
:52:53. > :52:56.I need to focus and make sure it does not get to me but to just enjoy
:52:57. > :53:01.it and appreciate the support that will be there. I want to put Wales
:53:02. > :53:03.on the map, I am hoping to make everybody proud.
:53:04. > :53:06.Well, Sioned Davies tours the full range of the operatic
:53:07. > :53:08.repertoire here tonight, beginning in the Baroque
:53:09. > :53:10.and the trouser role of Handel's King Serse.
:53:11. > :53:13.The King is furious to have lost out in a love triangle,
:53:14. > :53:15.calling on the Furies of Hades to deliver earthquakes
:53:16. > :57:45."If you can sing Handel, you can sing anything" she says.
:57:46. > :57:48.Another tale from the classical world now, but this time in a 20th
:57:49. > :00:39.Britten's Rape of Lucretia takes us to a dark world of sexual violence.
:00:40. > :00:41.To finish, our second visit of the night to
:00:42. > :00:45.The young, impetuous Grand Duchess of Gerolstein seems rather to have
:00:46. > :02:57.The grand Duchess of Gerolstein contemplating joining the regiment
:02:58. > :03:07.as a canteen keeper so that she could be close to her Alawites
:03:08. > :03:14.soldiers. Sioned Gwen Davies from Wales, performing with the Welsh
:03:15. > :03:18.national orchestra. The Welsh contender at this year's Cardiff
:03:19. > :03:22.Singer of the World. Let's get a response. What you think of the
:03:23. > :03:30.range of repertoire? It was very broad, from the tragedy and pain of
:03:31. > :03:33.Britten to the pro rata. It was an adventurous choice of programming.
:03:34. > :03:37.Very different to pull all of those things off. She is very assured, and
:03:38. > :03:45.very confident but I think it was very difficult. I suppose when you
:03:46. > :03:50.come to the grand Duchess of Gerolstein, that would ordinarily go
:03:51. > :03:54.to an older singer, this slightly mad lady dreaming of the soldiers.
:03:55. > :03:58.It is a real crowd pleaser but I think it is a very adventurous
:03:59. > :04:03.choice. She did a wonderful job but I think she really sold it. She
:04:04. > :04:07.didn't quite come off, vocally. She is working at Scottish Opera and
:04:08. > :04:10.just made her Spanish debut. Any brief thoughts on what roles she
:04:11. > :04:14.should be focusing on? I think she will come into one in about ten or
:04:15. > :04:20.15 years. She is doing exactly the right thing, laying the smaller
:04:21. > :04:23.roles. She will come into her own in ten years. Straight backstage to
:04:24. > :04:30.Angel Blue. What an exciting performance, thank you so much for
:04:31. > :04:34.singing. What does that aria mean to you? It means everything. It is a
:04:35. > :04:38.very dark opera but I think it is important to bring something like
:04:39. > :04:43.that in to the whole, because I know the acoustics well. And the silence
:04:44. > :04:46.afterwards was just amazing. You seems to be really enjoying
:04:47. > :04:50.yourself. Was it as exhilarating as it seemed? You tried to smile
:04:51. > :04:55.through it and in your head you are going, oh no, it is this next bit,
:04:56. > :04:58.but I wanted to go out there and enjoy myself and I think I did. And
:04:59. > :05:02.we enjoyed you, brava. And I guess you might just be
:05:03. > :05:06.starting to make your own picks of favourites from the singers
:05:07. > :05:08.we've heard so far. Don't forget that there
:05:09. > :05:10.is an Audience Prize here at BBC Cardiff Singer,
:05:11. > :05:13.picked, of course, by you. ?2,500 and the Dame Joan Sutherland
:05:14. > :05:16.Trophy up for grabs. Last time it was the unforgettable
:05:17. > :05:18.Mongolian Amartuvshin Enkhbat who took the trophy,
:05:19. > :05:20.a real hit with the audience Voting for this year's audience
:05:21. > :05:25.prize opens on Friday - Now, we've only been missing one
:05:26. > :05:35.thing tonight - a tenor! From South Korea, let's
:05:36. > :05:51.meet Konstantin Lee. Considine Lee Selby at the Seoul
:05:52. > :06:00.College of music before moving to Hamburg where he is now in his final
:06:01. > :06:03.year of his studies. His love of singing started watching television
:06:04. > :06:10.in his childhood. I remember when I was ten the three tenors came to
:06:11. > :06:15.hurry up and did a concert. -- came to Korea. I saw the concert on the
:06:16. > :06:30.television and I was so impressed. Oh my God, I want to sing like them.
:06:31. > :06:37.Konstantin was inspired to compete at Cardiff Singer by the success of
:06:38. > :06:44.his compatriot who won the audience prize in 2005. I saw her
:06:45. > :06:54.performance, and agreement, oh my I want to there, too. Cardiff Singer
:06:55. > :07:04.is the biggest competition in the world. And I really want to share my
:07:05. > :07:10.passion to all of the world. Well, to begin, Konstantin plays
:07:11. > :07:21.the quintessential young lover. Music
:07:22. > :07:24.from Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore. Federico is in love with a girl
:07:25. > :07:27.he knows he can never marry. If only he could sleep peacefully,
:07:28. > :07:30.true love looks like it Now hold onto your hats
:07:31. > :12:13.because Konstantin Lee is going for the big one -
:12:14. > :12:17.the nine top Cs of Tonio's aria from Will he go out in a blaze of glory
:12:18. > :12:24.or an acrobatic flop? What a way to bring this second
:12:25. > :16:32.round of Cardiff Singer performing with the Welsh national
:16:33. > :17:00.orchestra with Tomas Hanus. Rosemary Joshua and Mary King
:17:01. > :17:05.holding their breath during that, that was a high wire act?
:17:06. > :17:14.Absolutely, slightly dangerous living, very open at the top! Well,
:17:15. > :17:19.he got the 87 zacro. He is a communicator, he loves every minute.
:17:20. > :17:26.And that is why the audience in to him. -- adore him. There was real
:17:27. > :17:31.pleasure from him and this barrier is not always go absolutely
:17:32. > :17:37.smoothly? As we have seen. At the great opera houses of the world. He
:17:38. > :17:44.gives 150%, such commitment and he's saying all of those top Cs this
:17:45. > :17:53.afternoon, he lives in that area. Great programme. Very brave for a
:17:54. > :17:57.competition and I did think once or twice there were a few moments when
:17:58. > :18:02.I thought he was going to fall off but hopefully... There was the sense
:18:03. > :18:09.that he is very capable of telling a story? He is not just going for the
:18:10. > :18:13.notes, he gets what is written underneath? He has a wonderful
:18:14. > :18:16.connection with his text and creates beautiful colours and there were
:18:17. > :18:22.some really beautiful baritone qualities but he suffers in the
:18:23. > :18:28.middle, that is where her voice -- his voice gets caught in the throat.
:18:29. > :18:34.But still, a beautiful performer and adorable to watch. We know that he
:18:35. > :18:38.is a keen water skier so whether he will be water-skiing in Cardiff Bay
:18:39. > :18:44.tomorrow or preparing for the final, we shall find out very soon.
:18:45. > :18:50.Backstage to Angel. A great programme, how do you feel it went?
:18:51. > :18:58.I made it! Yes, you did! I am very happy. I was very happy to be here
:18:59. > :19:10.and very happy to be on the stage and honoured. I was very focused to
:19:11. > :19:15.be my character. Not only singing. To show my emotion and passion and
:19:16. > :19:18.my message. We achieved your goal so bravo! Thank you so much. That is
:19:19. > :19:22.all from backstage. Well, in a few moments we'll
:19:23. > :19:24.know who has been picked The jury is just about to
:19:25. > :19:37.make their way backstage Sumi Jo has stopped by for a chat.
:19:38. > :19:42.Lovely to see you in Cardiff. He sang at the opening of the
:19:43. > :19:47.millennium centre 13 years ago? You are singer, who still sing, what is
:19:48. > :19:56.it like on the other side of the stage, judging these young singers?
:19:57. > :19:59.Actually, it is very interesting and experience, I have been singing more
:20:00. > :20:05.than 30 years and I am still singing. Performing on stage is for
:20:06. > :20:11.me the most natural thing in the world but to suddenly be on the
:20:12. > :20:18.other part of the stage, that makes me a little nervous! But I like it.
:20:19. > :20:22.I must say, I enjoyed it a lot. Can you give some advice to the singers
:20:23. > :20:26.in this environment, it is very different to an Opera House, cameras
:20:27. > :20:33.everywhere and the audience hanging on everything they do? If I may, I
:20:34. > :20:43.can tell some advice that works for me... To be natural and exercise and
:20:44. > :20:52.practice in front of the mirror. As many times as possible. Try to be
:20:53. > :20:55.confident and natural and most of all, I think, never forget to smile
:20:56. > :21:01.on stage. It makes a huge difference. As we have seen this
:21:02. > :21:03.evening. They give very much. Good luck with your deliberations. Sumi
:21:04. > :21:06.Jo. Thank you. Now, all of the singers competing
:21:07. > :21:10.here at Cardiff Singer of the World spend a great deal of time
:21:11. > :21:12.preparing their performances but choosing what to perform can be
:21:13. > :21:14.the most difficult part. Our very own Angel Blue and guest
:21:15. > :21:17.expert Mary King got together to discuss the importance
:21:18. > :21:39.of repertoire and how to get With regard to repertoire, it
:21:40. > :21:45.matters how they construct their programme, from the point of view of
:21:46. > :21:48.stamina but also variety so they have audience pleasers, a little
:21:49. > :21:53.porcini or whatever, but more stability and challenging
:21:54. > :21:57.repertoire. It is nice to have a party piece, something that shows
:21:58. > :22:01.off what someone can do vocally but it is also important for each singer
:22:02. > :22:04.to show the judge their technical abilities and maybe sometimes that
:22:05. > :22:09.means choosing a piece that is less known to the audience. I notice
:22:10. > :22:17.there is a lot of 19th-century repertoire this year. Three pieces
:22:18. > :22:22.of Mozart in four minds. But 50 pieces of 19th-century repertoire,
:22:23. > :22:30.Donizetti, Bellini. I like Lenny and Donizetti but it is definitely
:22:31. > :22:34.important to show different facets to your voice so if we are stuck in
:22:35. > :22:40.the 19th century we can lose a lot of the nuances that can be seen in
:22:41. > :22:43.20th-century music. With all of this 19th-century repertoire, it might
:22:44. > :22:46.come into play that the orchestra is very much louder than you might
:22:47. > :22:52.think when practising in a room with a piano. Our fully staged
:22:53. > :22:56.production, with the orchestra underneath the stage, is very
:22:57. > :23:01.different in having and 90 piece orchestra on stage with you playing
:23:02. > :23:05.triple forte and trying to sing over them. Another fascinating thing
:23:06. > :23:09.about the competition this year is so many of the pieces chosen
:23:10. > :23:16.probably really are the favourites for the singer, do you think
:23:17. > :23:19.anything is overly ambitious? Actually, on paper, I think it is
:23:20. > :23:22.extraordinary but we have to remember that we have not heard all
:23:23. > :23:24.of them yet so it might be brilliant!
:23:25. > :23:29.Do let us know what you think of the singers' repertoire
:23:30. > :23:31.choices so far this year - #cardiffsinger on social media.
:23:32. > :23:33.And if you missed last night or switched on late,
:23:34. > :23:36.don't forget you can catch up on all the week's action over
:23:37. > :23:39.on the BBC iPlayer and also there's coverage every lunchtime
:23:40. > :23:41.of the Cardiff Singer Song Prize on BBC Radio 3 -
:23:42. > :23:46.a chance to hear our singers in an altogether more
:23:47. > :23:50.Now we are expecting the jury back any moment,
:23:51. > :23:55.so let's have a quick reminder of the singers we've heard tonight.
:23:56. > :24:00.From Mongolia, baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar.
:24:01. > :24:05.Next was Venice-born mezzo Miriam Albano.
:24:06. > :24:11.Ivan Thirion plunged the sublime depths of Mendelssohn's St Paul.
:24:12. > :24:16.We heard our first home entrant - Wales's Sioned Gwen Davies.
:24:17. > :24:24.And finally, our South Korean tenor, Konstantin Lee.
:24:25. > :24:31.Those are contenders. Let us see who Rosemary Joshua and Mary King
:24:32. > :24:38.reckoned the winner was tonight. They were charmed by Konstantin Lee
:24:39. > :24:43.from South Korea, we thought Miriam was elegant. Who is your winner? I
:24:44. > :24:50.loved the sheer potential of the Italian mezzo a lot but I think it
:24:51. > :24:59.will go to the baritone from Angola. Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. Do you agree?
:25:00. > :25:04.I do, I adored the Korean boy but I think it is the Mongolian for me,
:25:05. > :25:10.also. Mary, you will be back tomorrow. Angel, how has it been
:25:11. > :25:14.backstage? I have thoroughly enjoyed the performances this evening from
:25:15. > :25:19.all of my wonderful colleagues. Tonight I was reminded why I wanted
:25:20. > :25:22.to be a singer and they all had so much joy and they really signed with
:25:23. > :25:26.their heart on their sleeve and that is a great thing to do, it is honest
:25:27. > :25:30.and every single one of the singers portrayed that. I am absolutely
:25:31. > :25:33.happy I am not part of the trip but I look forward to seeing who wins
:25:34. > :25:42.this evening. APPLAUSE
:25:43. > :25:44.David Pountney, the chairman of the jury.
:25:45. > :26:11.Tonight's winner... Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. From Mongolia.
:26:12. > :26:26.APPLAUSE I can tell you, and big cheer from
:26:27. > :26:31.my guests, they are delighted, as I think most of the audience in Saint
:26:32. > :26:39.Davids Hall is. The 29-year-old Mongolian baritone who provided that
:26:40. > :26:49.all Verdi programme is the winner and guaranteed a place in the final
:26:50. > :26:50.on Sunday night. Plenty more world-class singing to come tomorrow
:26:51. > :26:52.night. We'll have the second
:26:53. > :26:54.of our home nation competitors, English soprano Louise Alder,
:26:55. > :26:56.plus competitors from the USA, Turkey and Ukraine and also our
:26:57. > :27:11.single representative Until then, good night and a
:27:12. > :27:13.performance from Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar.