Round 2 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

It's a test of natural ability, nerve and meticulous preparation.

A career-defining appearance in front of the cameras, a packed

The search for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 is underway.

For over 30 years, this city has played host to the world's

A city where the chosen ones have been catapulted to stardom.

And now the hunt is on for a new star.

Last night, we had bliss, we had betrayal, we had despair.

But it was Anthony Clark Evans from the USA who stole everyone's hearts.

As he took his place in the Cardiff Singer final here at Saint Davids

Hall. And what a performance

that was from Anthony Clark Evans, the man who had given up

on his career completely, became a car salesman,

and now finds himself the first "Smashed it.

Great rep, what a voice! We welcome back to our

Cardiff Singer coverage, Mary King. She's with me all this week ?

a singer and voice coach with 40 That tweet a pretty accurate

assessment of him, Mary? Absolutely. I don't think the jury

would have taken very long to make that decision.

And let's welcome too a Cardiff born singer

with an international career - Rosemary Joshua.

You were in the audience last night - what are you hoping for tonight?

I'm looking to find a real communicator. And what will that

mean the? Somebody that engages with the text and really wants to bring

drama into the voice and performance. Well, I hope we will

get that. We shall see. We will be given lots from you as the evening

progresses. Highlights from all their

performances to come - and tonight's round winner

will definitely appear in Sunday's grand final

alongside the other winners, with one additional wildcard

chosen by the jury. We have Rosemary and Mary, and to

complete our triumvirate of great singers part of our team, we have

Angel Blue backstage for us throughout the night.

Angel, everyone's looking to win, of course, but I sense

there was a real bond between the singers last night.

Yes. There are absolutely was a strong bond last night. The singers

were very gentle and support with each other, and as a singer myself

that is very much appreciated. Normally in a competition this big

in stature, it breeds a bit of spirit backstage but that was not

the case. I hope that tonight we see that again. And tonight, one

competitor with a bit of extra pressure, representing Wales.

Sioned Gwen Davies, a soprano from Colwyn Bay carries

Miriam Albano is a Venetian-born mezzo.

Still only one Italian winner of this competition,

Baritone Ivan Thirion competes tonight for Belgium.

South Korea continues its strong competition presence,

with tenor Konstantin Lee flying the flag this year.

And first it's baritone Ariunbaata Ganbaatar,

the second of two finalists this year from Mongolia.

Ariunbaata Ganbaatar has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, at the

ball Savoy Theatre for Vladimir Putin and Buckingham Palace. But

this is a career he had not always dreamt of following.

The first time Ariunbaatar heard opera was Tom and Jerry

Here he comes now, joining the orchestra

of Welsh National Opera and their musical

Ariunbaatar has taken the decision to sing music

First, the role of the dying Rodrigo in Don Carlo.

Un Ballo In Maschera next - Ankarstrom has learnt that his wife

has fallen in love with the king, his friend - he's not too happy

about it, as you can imagine, denouncing his wife and vowing

The first singer in the second round of this BBC Cardiff Singer of the

World. Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar from Mongolia.

The betrayed and bitter Ankarstrom from Verdi's Un Ballo

He was working as a taxi driver as labourer when he came up with a fair

and the chance meeting led into singing with the police ensemble,

his first professional break. There is a singer every year that makes

Mary King cry and I did not expected to happen so quickly! Just

fantastic, Verdi, massive in sound, different colours, fantastic

communicator. What is not to love? Wonderful confidence? He is

extraordinary, only 29 and Ruckert-Lieder that is very young,

fully in control of the colours in his voice but I have to say, with

all the brilliance of tonight was my performance, something happens in

the extreme of his voice at the top that concerns me. He is very young

and is strain with his vocal chords rubbing, perhaps the strain of the

competition and the fatigue of taking part. Certainly something he

needs to work on? He must think about it. What about doing Ivan

Thirion? Do you want a broader range? At this stage it is not

important, it is what you do with the material you choose. If you show

variety in the material, that is better than a varied repertoire.

Thank you very much. He is through to the final of the Song Prize so we

will see him on BBC Four in that on Saturday evening. We can find out

his thoughts on his performance backstage with Angel. What a great

performance. How did you use the words to create such a wonderful

story for all of us? TRANSLATION: Thank you very much, it

is how I was taught by my teachers and I do research by translating

Italian language. Bravo, wonderful job, back to you.

Well our second competitor is already waiting in the wings,

but first a quick reminder of our Cardiff Singer jury.

The American Grace Bumbry made her name as the first black

singer ever to sing at Wagner's Bayreuth.

The voice has to expression, that makes a difference and if you do not

have that, you are uninteresting. Baritone Wolfgang Holzmair straddles

both opera and concert stages, and is now much in demand

as a teacher for young singers. Korean soprano Sumi Jo has performed

and recorded across the world, including appearing

at the Sochi Winter Olympics. To stick out in a competition like

this, you should have good communication skills. Don't forget

to smile onstage. I think it makes a huge difference.

Estonian Anu Tali brings the perspective of a conductor

to the jury - she's currently Music Director of the Sarasota

And our chairman is David Pountney, world-class opera director

and Artistic Director at Welsh National Opera

I'm hoping to be surprised. Somebody who maybe comes out and looks like

they will deliver one thing and suddenly they deliver something

completely different. Those are the moments you really wait for.

The formidable team sitting in judgement

Back to business now, and our second competitor tonight

brings the lapping waters of her native Venice

Even though Miriam is a highly accomplished violinist, singing has

always been her first love. After attending the Venice Conservatory,

she lives in Austria and she sings with the state Opera and becoming a

professional performer was clearly her destiny. I always wanted to

sing. To use my voice as an instrument and express what I wanted

to say through my voice. My parents or musicians. My grandfather was a

musician as well. And by grandmother was a singer. I would like to say

that in my blood there is something really close to music. Other members

of the company in Vienna include past competitors who have had great

success in Cardiff. Two of them have offered Miriam some very simple

advice. Enjoy! We studied and practised so much for so long to

make this music. To be alive again. It is worth it to try to enjoy it

because the time goes so quickly during our performances.

Miriam opens her programme in French with some pure lyricism

from Offenbach's Opera 'The Tales of Hoffmann'.

Nicklausse trying out a violin - which produces soothing sounds

to console tears and capture a lover's heart.

Miriam Albano singing from Offenbach's tales of Hoffmann.

The first English language performance of the competition next

- Elgar's great Sea Pictures - premiered by Clara Butt,

We go to the depths - the land 'Where Corals Lie'.

# By mount and mead, by lawn and rill.

# When night is deep, and moon is high.

# That music seeks and finds me still.

# Yes, press my eyelids close, 'tis well.

# To rolling worlds of wave and shell.

# The land, the land, where corals lie #.

And Miriam Albano sings in her native Italian to finish,

Miriam Alfano, the 26-year-old mezzosoprano, showing off her skill

and vocal acrobatics. At the conclusion of Rossini's Lady of the

Lake. What a lovely, exuberant, natural mezzosoprano Shias. She has

a real flexibility and musicianship. An intelligent young singer. I would

question whether she is a true mezzo. I find that she has a

fantastic top range to voice and I would encourage her to expand on it.

She has a beautiful colour but she could possibly be a soprano. Very

interesting to hear her singing Elgar's see pictures, because we

associate that with a different type of singer. She never went into a

chest voice with that, which is interesting. But a very poised, and

beautiful text. Mary, at Vienna state opera she is a very

experienced artist even though she is one of the youngest. Yes, and I

think she would have been very suited to that repertoire. She

should have shown off at least one of the roles she did in Vienna.

Let's go backstage to Angel. Miriam, how did you manage to keep your

singing so clean and clear? I actually had to think about every

note. Every note has to be here. And of course, through the text, I can

express many, many different colours. And we have to concentrate.

I have to keep the concentration, and say what the poultry has to say

through my aria. Brava, well done. -- what the poetry has to say.

Three singers still to come this evening -

and you can expect an exuberant response when this year's

Welsh entrant takes to the St David's Hall stage.

But first a singer from Belgium, Ivan Thirion, the second

Ivan credits his Bulgarian heritage for his love of music. It was this,

as well as a passion for the theatre that led him to the world of opera.

You like music, you like drama, why do you not sing? I never thought to

sing before. And I don't know even how it began, but I was 14 or 15,

something. I had known Cardiff Singer since I

began to sing professionally at 18 years old. In Belgian, we know it is

one of the biggest, if not the most important or hard to reach

competition. The expectation will first of course be to enjoy myself

and I'm sure I will. I am sure the stress will not be too big. More

than half of the programme is roles that have already sung, so in a way

it is more comfortable and you are more sure about what you're saying,

and you more ideas. Again there are things that I did not sing, that I

just love, and I want to try here. I hope to let the public and the jury

feel my love for music and what I can express, and I hope I move them

with my performance. Ivan Thirion began his

professional career singing Mozart at the opera in Liege -

and he's chosen Mozart The scheming Count in The Marriage

of Figaro, furious that he's not going to get his way

with his wife's maid. Ivan Thirion singing from Mozart's

marriage of Figaro. Most singers choose to perform opera in this

competition but there is no ban on oratorio.

Much softer shades now as Ivan takes the role of Mephistopheles

Salt converting to Christianity and changing his name to Paul. The

Belgian baritone. Cheered on in Cardiff by his parents. Rosemary and

Mary are with us here on BBC Four, Mary, he seems very involved with

the text. Wonderful language skills? Yes, and a very introverted

performer, he is just a little bit too inside and sensitive and I find

the breath is not right so we have a disaster on longer notes so there

was not enough full rejection and dynamism. He is more figural than

kind. I think he is very promising and very likeable and well-prepared,

his programme, but there is not enough connection at the moment in

his body. You can see him bouncing up and down survey needs to get his

roots into the ground and feel more solid and have more confidence.

Backstage and Angel. You were so charismatic and you really connected

to the role of the Count, have you sung this before? In Belgium, yes.

It is a fantastic role, each phrase there is a new idea in the head of

the Count so you are starting to get into things that character and I

love that. We did a wonderful job. Congratulations.

By the way, if you're within range of Cardiff this week,

don't forget that there's a whole Cardiff Singer Fringe

Recitals, masterclasses, films and a children's ABC of Opera.

Over at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama we've

All but one of this year's competitors doubling up their opera

performances with entries in that competition.

Hear the heats at lunchtimes on Radio 3.

The final is here on BBC Four on Saturday night.

Wales is next as mezzo soprano Sioned Gwen Davies

Remember, though Bryn Terfel won the Song Prize, a Welsh

singer has never taken the Cardiff Singer title.

A graduate of the Guildhall School of music and drama, Sioned is based

in Glasgow where she sings with Scottish Opera. Cardiff Singer of

the World is a competition she has grown up watching. It is amazing, I

cannot believe I'm here. It is something I never thought I would be

a part of, you always think it would be nice and when it happens, it is a

little bit weird! But I am having a lot of fun and that is the most

important thing. With the added pressure of representing the host

nation, Sioned asked for advice from the Welsh singers who have competed.

They just said, try to go out there and enjoy it as a construct and just

be aware of the mass of law that will come in from the construct

stage. My parents are coming from Colwyn Bay and my brother is coming,

I need to focus and make sure it does not get to me but to just enjoy

it and appreciate the support that will be there. I want to put Wales

on the map, I am hoping to make everybody proud.

Well, Sioned Davies tours the full range of the operatic

repertoire here tonight, beginning in the Baroque

and the trouser role of Handel's King Serse.

The King is furious to have lost out in a love triangle,

calling on the Furies of Hades to deliver earthquakes

"If you can sing Handel, you can sing anything" she says.

Another tale from the classical world now, but this time in a 20th

Britten's Rape of Lucretia takes us to a dark world of sexual violence.

To finish, our second visit of the night to

The young, impetuous Grand Duchess of Gerolstein seems rather to have

The grand Duchess of Gerolstein contemplating joining the regiment

as a canteen keeper so that she could be close to her Alawites

soldiers. Sioned Gwen Davies from Wales, performing with the Welsh

national orchestra. The Welsh contender at this year's Cardiff

Singer of the World. Let's get a response. What you think of the

range of repertoire? It was very broad, from the tragedy and pain of

Britten to the pro rata. It was an adventurous choice of programming.

Very different to pull all of those things off. She is very assured, and

very confident but I think it was very difficult. I suppose when you

come to the grand Duchess of Gerolstein, that would ordinarily go

to an older singer, this slightly mad lady dreaming of the soldiers.

It is a real crowd pleaser but I think it is a very adventurous

choice. She did a wonderful job but I think she really sold it. She

didn't quite come off, vocally. She is working at Scottish Opera and

just made her Spanish debut. Any brief thoughts on what roles she

should be focusing on? I think she will come into one in about ten or

15 years. She is doing exactly the right thing, laying the smaller

roles. She will come into her own in ten years. Straight backstage to

Angel Blue. What an exciting performance, thank you so much for

singing. What does that aria mean to you? It means everything. It is a

very dark opera but I think it is important to bring something like

that in to the whole, because I know the acoustics well. And the silence

afterwards was just amazing. You seems to be really enjoying

yourself. Was it as exhilarating as it seemed? You tried to smile

through it and in your head you are going, oh no, it is this next bit,

but I wanted to go out there and enjoy myself and I think I did. And

we enjoyed you, brava. And I guess you might just be

starting to make your own picks of favourites from the singers

we've heard so far. Don't forget that there

is an Audience Prize here at BBC Cardiff Singer,

picked, of course, by you. ?2,500 and the Dame Joan Sutherland

Trophy up for grabs. Last time it was the unforgettable

Mongolian Amartuvshin Enkhbat who took the trophy,

a real hit with the audience Voting for this year's audience

prize opens on Friday - Now, we've only been missing one

thing tonight - a tenor! From South Korea, let's

meet Konstantin Lee. Considine Lee Selby at the Seoul

College of music before moving to Hamburg where he is now in his final

year of his studies. His love of singing started watching television

in his childhood. I remember when I was ten the three tenors came to

hurry up and did a concert. -- came to Korea. I saw the concert on the

television and I was so impressed. Oh my God, I want to sing like them.

Konstantin was inspired to compete at Cardiff Singer by the success of

his compatriot who won the audience prize in 2005. I saw her

performance, and agreement, oh my I want to there, too. Cardiff Singer

is the biggest competition in the world. And I really want to share my

passion to all of the world. Well, to begin, Konstantin plays

the quintessential young lover. Music

from Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore. Federico is in love with a girl

he knows he can never marry. If only he could sleep peacefully,

true love looks like it Now hold onto your hats

because Konstantin Lee is going for the big one -

the nine top Cs of Tonio's aria from Will he go out in a blaze of glory

or an acrobatic flop? What a way to bring this second

round of Cardiff Singer performing with the Welsh national

orchestra with Tomas Hanus. Rosemary Joshua and Mary King

holding their breath during that, that was a high wire act?

Absolutely, slightly dangerous living, very open at the top! Well,

he got the 87 zacro. He is a communicator, he loves every minute.

And that is why the audience in to him. -- adore him. There was real

pleasure from him and this barrier is not always go absolutely

smoothly? As we have seen. At the great opera houses of the world. He

gives 150%, such commitment and he's saying all of those top Cs this

afternoon, he lives in that area. Great programme. Very brave for a

competition and I did think once or twice there were a few moments when

I thought he was going to fall off but hopefully... There was the sense

that he is very capable of telling a story? He is not just going for the

notes, he gets what is written underneath? He has a wonderful

connection with his text and creates beautiful colours and there were

some really beautiful baritone qualities but he suffers in the

middle, that is where her voice -- his voice gets caught in the throat.

But still, a beautiful performer and adorable to watch. We know that he

is a keen water skier so whether he will be water-skiing in Cardiff Bay

tomorrow or preparing for the final, we shall find out very soon.

Backstage to Angel. A great programme, how do you feel it went?

I made it! Yes, you did! I am very happy. I was very happy to be here

and very happy to be on the stage and honoured. I was very focused to

be my character. Not only singing. To show my emotion and passion and

my message. We achieved your goal so bravo! Thank you so much. That is

all from backstage. Well, in a few moments we'll

know who has been picked The jury is just about to

make their way backstage Sumi Jo has stopped by for a chat.

Lovely to see you in Cardiff. He sang at the opening of the

millennium centre 13 years ago? You are singer, who still sing, what is

it like on the other side of the stage, judging these young singers?

Actually, it is very interesting and experience, I have been singing more

than 30 years and I am still singing. Performing on stage is for

me the most natural thing in the world but to suddenly be on the

other part of the stage, that makes me a little nervous! But I like it.

I must say, I enjoyed it a lot. Can you give some advice to the singers

in this environment, it is very different to an Opera House, cameras

everywhere and the audience hanging on everything they do? If I may, I

can tell some advice that works for me... To be natural and exercise and

practice in front of the mirror. As many times as possible. Try to be

confident and natural and most of all, I think, never forget to smile

on stage. It makes a huge difference. As we have seen this

evening. They give very much. Good luck with your deliberations. Sumi

Jo. Thank you. Now, all of the singers competing

here at Cardiff Singer of the World spend a great deal of time

preparing their performances but choosing what to perform can be

the most difficult part. Our very own Angel Blue and guest

expert Mary King got together to discuss the importance

of repertoire and how to get With regard to repertoire, it

matters how they construct their programme, from the point of view of

stamina but also variety so they have audience pleasers, a little

porcini or whatever, but more stability and challenging

repertoire. It is nice to have a party piece, something that shows

off what someone can do vocally but it is also important for each singer

to show the judge their technical abilities and maybe sometimes that

means choosing a piece that is less known to the audience. I notice

there is a lot of 19th-century repertoire this year. Three pieces

of Mozart in four minds. But 50 pieces of 19th-century repertoire,

Donizetti, Bellini. I like Lenny and Donizetti but it is definitely

important to show different facets to your voice so if we are stuck in

the 19th century we can lose a lot of the nuances that can be seen in

20th-century music. With all of this 19th-century repertoire, it might

come into play that the orchestra is very much louder than you might

think when practising in a room with a piano. Our fully staged

production, with the orchestra underneath the stage, is very

different in having and 90 piece orchestra on stage with you playing

triple forte and trying to sing over them. Another fascinating thing

about the competition this year is so many of the pieces chosen

probably really are the favourites for the singer, do you think

anything is overly ambitious? Actually, on paper, I think it is

extraordinary but we have to remember that we have not heard all

of them yet so it might be brilliant!

Do let us know what you think of the singers' repertoire

choices so far this year - #cardiffsinger on social media.

And if you missed last night or switched on late,

don't forget you can catch up on all the week's action over

on the BBC iPlayer and also there's coverage every lunchtime

of the Cardiff Singer Song Prize on BBC Radio 3 -

a chance to hear our singers in an altogether more

Now we are expecting the jury back any moment,

so let's have a quick reminder of the singers we've heard tonight.

From Mongolia, baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar.

Next was Venice-born mezzo Miriam Albano.

Ivan Thirion plunged the sublime depths of Mendelssohn's St Paul.

We heard our first home entrant - Wales's Sioned Gwen Davies.

And finally, our South Korean tenor, Konstantin Lee.

Those are contenders. Let us see who Rosemary Joshua and Mary King

reckoned the winner was tonight. They were charmed by Konstantin Lee

from South Korea, we thought Miriam was elegant. Who is your winner? I

loved the sheer potential of the Italian mezzo a lot but I think it

will go to the baritone from Angola. Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. Do you agree?

I do, I adored the Korean boy but I think it is the Mongolian for me,

also. Mary, you will be back tomorrow. Angel, how has it been

backstage? I have thoroughly enjoyed the performances this evening from

all of my wonderful colleagues. Tonight I was reminded why I wanted

to be a singer and they all had so much joy and they really signed with

their heart on their sleeve and that is a great thing to do, it is honest

and every single one of the singers portrayed that. I am absolutely

happy I am not part of the trip but I look forward to seeing who wins

this evening. APPLAUSE

David Pountney, the chairman of the jury.

Tonight's winner... Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar. From Mongolia.

APPLAUSE I can tell you, and big cheer from

my guests, they are delighted, as I think most of the audience in Saint

Davids Hall is. The 29-year-old Mongolian baritone who provided that

all Verdi programme is the winner and guaranteed a place in the final

on Sunday night. Plenty more world-class singing to come tomorrow

night. We'll have the second

of our home nation competitors, English soprano Louise Alder,

plus competitors from the USA, Turkey and Ukraine and also our

single representative Until then, good night and a

performance from Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar.