Judges in world-wide search for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017
The global hunt to discover the next generation of classical singers to compete in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 begins today.
Published: 4 November 2016
This is always such an exciting time, as we get to hear those glorious voices in the flesh for the first time
English Language Version
Nearly 400 international singers entered BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world, now in its 34th year next year. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, patron of the competition, and Nicholas Payne (Director, Opera Europa) were then tasked with choosing the 44 young opera and concert singers to face the judges in this live audition process.
At auditions held in cities around the world from Houston to New York, Hamburg to London and Berlin to Warsaw, 19 singers are currently being selected from 24 countries for a place in the competition - including a representative from Uzbekistan, a country new to the competition this year.
The finalists will be announced early in 2017 and they will join the Welsh representative, Sioned Gwen Davies, to compete for a place in the competition held in Cardiff from Sunday 11 June - Sunday 18 June. The competition will be broadcast across BBC television, radio and online.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa says: "I really enjoyed my part in the selection process. It was exciting to hear the wonderful talent, and Nicholas Payne and I were very diligent watching and listening to the singers - it wasn’t easy to choose! I’m looking forward to seeing the next panel of judges’ choices and can't wait to meet the final selection when they come to Cardiff next year.”
David Jackson, Artistic Director of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, says: “We’re about to set off on the final leg of our search for the brilliant singers who’ll come to Cardiff next year. This is always such an exciting time, as we get to hear those glorious voices in the flesh for the first time.
“As before, the expert selection panel will consist of Head of Opera at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Angela Livingstone, Isabel Murphy, the casting director of Welsh National Opera, and veteran record producer, Jeremy Caulton. They make a benevolent and knowledgeable, if daunting trio!”
Nicholas Payne says: ““Three days of intensive listening to a wide range of singers from all over the world yielded a vintage crop of artists. It will be fascinating to discover which of those selected will rise to the occasion in Cardiff next June, but I am confident that there will be strong competition.”
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 Tomáš Hanus.
Notes to Editors
Pictures of Nadine Koutcher, winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2015 are available on request.
Ticket and booking information for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 will be announced in December 2016. For more information see bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger
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Welsh Language Version
BEIRNIAID YN TEITHIO’R BYD I CHWILIO AM BBC CANWR Y BYD CAERDYDD 2017
Mae’r helfa fyd-eang i ganfod y genhedlaeth nesaf o gantorion clasurol i gystadlu yn BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2017, yn dechrau heddiw.
Bu i bron i 400 o gantorion rhyngwladol ymgeisio ar gyfer BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2017 - un o gystadlaethau canu mawreddog y byd, fydd yn ei 34ain blwyddyn y flwyddyn nesaf. Y Fonesig Kiri Te Kanawa, noddwr y gystadleuaeth, a Nicholas Payne (Cyfarwyddwr Opera Europa) sydd wedi cael y dasg o ddewis y rhestr fer o 44 o gantorion opera a chyngerdd i wynebu’r beirniaid yn y clyweliadau byw.
Cynhelir y clyweliadau mewn dinasoedd ym mhedwar ban byd, o Houston i Efrog Newydd, Hamburg i Lundain a Berlin i Warsaw, gyda’r bwriad o ddewis 19 o gantorion i ymddangos yn y gystadleuaeth yng Nghaerdydd. Mae’r 44 yn cynrychioli 24 o wledydd y byd gan gynnwys Uzbekistan, sy’n wlad newydd i’r gystadleuaeth eleni.
Bydd enwau’r cantorion sydd wedi cyrraedd y rownd derfynol yn cael eu cyhoeddi ddechrau 2017, a byddant yn ymuno â chynrychiolydd Cymru, Sioned Gwen Davies, i gystadlu am le yn y gystadleuaeth a gynhelir yng Nghaerdydd rhwng dydd Sul Mehefin 11 a dydd Sul Mehefin 18. Mi fydd y gystadleuaeth yn cael ei darlledu ar deledu, radio a gwasanaethau ar-lein y BBC.
Meddai Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: "Fe wnes i wir fwynhau cymryd rhan yn y broses dewis a dethol. Roedd hi’n gyffrous iawn cael clywed y talent anhygoel, a mi fues i a Nicholas Payne yn drylwyr iawn yn gwylio a gwrando ar y cantorion – doedd gwneud penderfyniad ddim yn hawdd! Rwy’n edrych mlaen at ddewisiadau’r panel nesaf o feirniaid a methu disgwyl cael cwrdd â’r grŵp terfynol fydd yng Nghaerdydd flwyddyn nesaf.”
Meddai David Jackson, Cyfarwyddwr Artistig BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd: “Ry’ ni ar fîn cychwyn ar gam olaf ein siwrne i ganfod yr cantorion gwych fydd yn dod i Gaerdydd flwyddyn nesaf. Mae’r cyfnod hwn wastad yn gyffrous gan ein bod yn cael clywed y lleisiau gogoneddus hyn yn y cnawd am y tro cyntaf.
“Fel ag o’r blaen, mi fydd y panel o arbenigwyr yn cynnwys Pennaeth Opera Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, Angela Livingstone, Isabel Murphy, cyfarwyddwr castio Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, a’r cynhyrchydd recordiau profiadol, Jeremy Caulton. Maent yn driawd hael a gwybodus, er ychydig yn frawychus!”
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 Tomáš Hanus.
Nodiadau i olygyddion
Mae lluniau o Nadine Koutcher, enillydd BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2015 ar gael, dim ond i chi ofyn amdanynt.
Cyhoeddir gwybodaeth ynglŷn â thocynnau ar gyfer BBC Canwr y Byd Caerdydd 2017, a sut i’w harchebu, ym mis Rhagfyr 2016. Am fwy o wybodaeth, ewch i bbc.co.uk/canwrybyd
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