Judges launch global search for BBC Cardiff Singer Of The World 2015
The world-wide hunt to discover the next generation of opera singers to compete in one of the world's most prestigious singing competitions, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2015, has begun.
Published: 24 October 2014
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is again patron of the eight day competition, which is known throughout the classical music world as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers at the outset of their careers.
At auditions held in cities around the world from Milan and Helsinki to New York and Toronto, 19 singers are currently being selected from 25 countries for a place in the competition - including representatives from Mongolia, Guatemala and The Democratic Republic of Congo, three countries new to the competition this year. The finalists will be announced early in 2015 and they will join the Welsh representative, Celine Forest, to compete for a place in the competition held in Cardiff from Sunday, June 14 to Sunday, June 21.
The world’s eyes will be on the Welsh capital for the competition now in its 31st year, and this year sees David Jackson join BBC Cardiff Singer of the World as Artistic Director.
He says: “From their base in Cardiff, the team have been busy preparing for the competition and I’m thrilled to be part of it. My aim now is to carry on the work of developing such a great competition, and I’m very much looking forward to the next thirty years of Cardiff Singer!
“We have a new trio of expert judges travelling to eight cities to discover the competitors. Head of Opera at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Angela Livingstone joins Isabel Murphy from Welsh National Opera, and producer Jeremy Caulton, as they attempt to whittle down the singers for the next rounds.”
Angela Livingstone says: “It's is a true honour to be a part of the judging process. This is an exciting opportunity, and one that comes with a lot of responsibility. It’s a privilege to be involved in an event which encourages the art of classical singing at the highest level.”
In 2013, operatic mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton from Georgia, USA was awarded both the Song Prize and the Cardiff Singer of the World Prize.
Jamie says: “I cannot begin to describe the feeling associated with being awarded both the Song Prize and the Cardiff Singer of the World Prize. ‘When you wish upon a star...’ comes to mind! Thank you for the outpouring of encouragement and excitement for me.
“I want to thank the incredibly warm people of Wales. You opened your arms to 20 of us from around the world, and I think I can speak for us all in saying ‘Thank you for the memories!’ I cannot wait to visit you again, and I hope that day is soon!”
The Song Prize, awarded to the best singer of Lieder and art song, will take place in the Dora Stoutzker concert hall at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and they will be accompanied by Simon Lepper and Llyr Williams. All competitors will then perform their choice of opera in front of a distinguished jury at St David’s Hall, Cardiff.
The singers will be accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by their Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Martyn Brabbins.
Notes to Editors
Pictures of Jamie Barton, winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013 are available on request.
Ticket and booking information for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2015 will be announced in December 2014. Season tickets will be distributed in early 2015. For more information see bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger
SG
Welsh language version
BEIRNIAID YN TEITHIO I BEDWAR BAN BYD I GANFOD BBC CANWR Y BYD CAERDYDD 2015
Mae’r cyrch byd-eang i ganfod y genhedlaeth nesaf o gantorion opera i gystadlu yn un o gystadlaethau canu mwyaf arobryn y byd, BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2015, wedi dechrau. Unwaith yn rhagor, y Fonesig Kiri Te Kanawa yw noddwr y gystadleuaeth sy’n para am wyth diwrnod, ac a gydnabyddir gan fyd cerddoriaeth glasurol fel y prif lwyfan ar gyfer cantorion opera a chyngerdd sy’n dechrau eu gyrfa.
Mewn clyweliadau a gynhelir mewn dinasoedd ym mhedwar ban byd o Milan i Helsinki i Efrog Newydd a Thoronto, mae 19 o gantorion ar hyn o bryd yn cael eu dethol o 25 o wledydd i gymryd rhan yn y gystadleuaeth. Maent yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Mongolia, Guatemala a Gweriniaeth Ddemocrataidd y Congo - tair gwlad sy’n newydd i’r gystadleuaeth eleni. Cyhoeddir enwau’r cantorion sydd wedi cyrraedd y rownd derfynol ddechrau 2015, a byddant yn ymuno â chynrychiolydd Cymru, Celine Forest, i gystadlu am le yn y gystadleuaeth a gynhelir yng Nghaerdydd rhwng dydd Sul Mehefin 14 a dydd Sul Mehefin 21.
Bydd llygaid y byd wedi’i hoelio ar brifddinas Cymru adeg y gystadleuaeth, sydd yn ei 31ain blwyddyn erbyn hyn, ac eleni bydd David Jackson yn ymuno â BBC Canwyr y Byd Caerdydd fel Cyfarwyddwr Artistig. Dywed:
“O’u canolfan yng Nghaerdydd, mae’r tîm hwn wedi bod yn paratoi’n brysur ar gyfer y gystadleuaeth, ac rwyf wedi gwirioni gyda’r cyfle i fod yn rhan ohoni. Fy nod yn awr yw parhau â’r gwaith o ddatblygu cystadleuaeth mor wych, ac rwyf wir yn edrych ymlaen at y tri deg mlynedd nesaf o Ganwr Caerdydd!
“Mae gennym driawd newydd o feirniaid arbenigol sy’n teithio i wyth dinas i ddarganfod y cystadleuwyr. Mae Pennaeth Opera Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, Angela Livingstone, yn ymuno â Isabel Murphy o gwmni Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, a’r cynhyrchydd Jeremy Caulton, wrth iddyn nhw geisio dethol pa gantorion fydd yn cyrraedd y rowndiau nesaf.”
Dywed Angela Livingstone:
“Mae bod yn rhan o’r broses feirniadu yn anrhydedd wirioneddol. Mae hwn yn gyfle cyffrous, ac yn un sydd â baich cyfrifoldeb trwm ynghlwm wrtho. Braint yw cael bod yn rhan o ddigwyddiad sy’n annog crefft canu clasurol ar y lefel uchaf.”
Yn 2013, enillodd y mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton o Georgia, UDA Wobr y Gân a Gwobr Canwr y Byd Caerdydd. Meddai Jamie:
“Alla’ i ddim dechrau disgrifio’r teimlad a gefais wrth ennill Gwobr y Gân a Gwobr Canwr y Byd Caerdydd. Meddyliais am y gân When you wish upon a star! Diolch am y don o anogaeth a chyffro a gynhyrchwyd ar fy rhan.
“Hoffwn ddiolch o galon i bobl anhygoel Cymru – maen nhw mor groesawgar. Fe wnaethoch agor eich breichiau i 20 ohonom o bob rhan o’r bryd, ac rwy’n credu y gallaf siarad dros bob un ohonom wrth ddweud ‘Diolch am yr atgofion melys!’ Rwy’n ysu am ymweld â chi eto, a gobeithio y dof yn fuan!”
Bydd Gwobr y Gân, a ddyfernir i’r canwr sy’n cyfleu’r gân Lieder a chelf orau, yn cael ei chynnal yn neuadd gyngerdd Dora Stoutzker yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, a Simon Lepper a Llŷr Williams fydd yn cyfeilio iddynt. Bydd pob cystadleuydd wedyn yn perfformio eu dewis o ganeuon opera ger bron panel arobryn o feirniaid yn Neuadd Dewi Sant Caerdydd.
Bydd Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC yn cyfeilio iddynt, dan arweiniad eu Prif Arweinydd, Thomas Søndergård a Cherddorfa Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, dan arweiniad Martyn Brabbins.
Nodiadau i olygyddion
Mae lluniau o Jamie Barton, enillydd BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2013 ar gael, dim ond i chi ofyn amdanynt.
Cyhoeddir gwybodaeth ynglŷn â thocynnau ar gyfer BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2015, a sut i’w harchebu, ym mis Rhagfyr 2014. Dosberthir tocynnau tymor ddechrau 2015. Am fwy o wybodaeth, ewch i bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger
SG
