主播大秀
Singer of the World celebrates 20 years with a number of new initiatives
路
Dame Joan Sutherland to become Patron of the Competition
路 Concert Rounds and Final to be televised in full
路 New "Audience Prize" added
路 Song Prize to be a separate contest broadcast by 主播大秀 Radio
3
路 Opus Arte to release DVD of highlights from the past ten
contests
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Wales announced today (Tuesday 23 July 2002) that the eleventh Singer
of the World Competition will take place from Sunday 22 to Sunday
29 June 2003.
The
event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, will see
a number of changes which reflect its growing importance as the
world's leading vocal competition and a major 主播大秀 event.
These
include the announcement of its first ever Patron - legendary diva
Dame Joan Sutherland, who, having made five appearances as a jury
member, is no stranger to the Competition.
Dame
Joan Sutherland said: "I will be delighted to become Patron
of Singer of the World. I am looking forward to coming to Cardiff
and celebrating the 20th anniversary on which I congratulate everyone
in advance."
Announcing
details of the 2003 event, the Controller of 主播大秀 Wales, Menna Richards,
said: "Singer of the World will be 20 years old next year and,
as we approach our 11th competition, it is time to change, to build
on our strengths and on those things that make this contest different
from the others.
"In
consultation with my colleagues in 主播大秀 TWO, 主播大秀 FOUR, 主播大秀 Radio
3 and with Welsh National Opera we have agreed on a number of new
initiatives which we are sure will enhance the competition's standing
still further and at the same time reinforce the City's bid to become
European City of Culture in 2008.
"In
doing this we have looked at the ways in which we can enable our
singers to compete in both orchestral and piano accompanied items
in the best possible way - especially bearing in mind the standing
that the Song Prize now enjoys, the tremendous success of the event,
and the huge amount of interest from the viewing public who all
want to have their say.
"Therefore, for 2003, we shall be running two separate competitions
- the 主播大秀 Singer of the World in Cardiff as it will now be called
will take place in St. David's Hall each evening and will be broadcast
in its entirety on 主播大秀 FOUR, whilst the Song Prize will take place
in Cardiff's New Theatre and will be broadcast by 主播大秀 Radio 3.
"The
Final, one of the most prestigious events in the operatic calendar,
will continue to be broadcast live by 主播大秀 TWO.
"Finally
we will also introduce a new audience Prize voted for by the viewers
of 主播大秀 FOUR and the St David's Hall audience."
Welsh
National Opera's General Director, Anthony Freud, said: "Cardiff
Singer has a rich tradition of showcasing some of the finest young
operatic talent in the world and has been the springboard for many
successful careers.
"I
am delighted that the 2003 event will introduce a number of innovations
which should broaden further the competition's appeal and enhance
its position as the premier event of its kind in the world."
Commenting
on the coverage on 主播大秀 TWO the channel's Controller Jane Root said:
"主播大秀 TWO is committed to broadcasting a significant number
of major arts events, I am delighted that once again this thrilling
contest will be watched by millions of viewers all over Britain
and abroad."
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FOUR Controller Roly Keating said: "Singer of the World is
just the sort of event that 主播大秀 FOUR was created for, we can offer
extended coverage, discussion and critical comment in a way that
simply was not possible before, I look forward with enthusiasm to
our coverage."
The
主播大秀 Singer of the World will receive the first prize of 拢10,000,
an engagement with the 主播大秀 and with Welsh National Opera.
The
jury will be chaired by Anthony Freud, General Director of Welsh
National Opera, and both Gundula Janowitz and Sherrill Milnes will
return to Cardiff to be members of the jury.
Making
his first appearance will be the leading Welsh tenor, Dennis O'Neill.
Speaking
about the competition the American baritone Sherrill Milnes said:
"A competition of this level and exposure probably could not
happen in the United States; its electricity and excitement is comparative
to a sporting event here.
"Your
attitudes toward music and singing in general are so positive and
supportive.
"The
manner in which the whole affair is run is of the highest musical
and organizational level. I am thrilled to be a part of it again."
A new
innovation for 2003 will be the introduction of an Audience Prize
- using 主播大秀i's digital technology, viewers of 主播大秀 FOUR's extensive
coverage of the competition will be able to vote from their armchair,
whilst a ballot of the St. David's Hall audience will also be held.
This
competition will be based on the five evening concerts that make
up the preliminary round only. The Audience Prize will be worth
拢2,500.
The
2003 Song Prize will take place at the New Theatre Cardiff, and
will enable the singers to concentrate on orchestral items in their
evening performance.
The
new Song Prize will be worth 拢5,000 and the winner will also
be selected to be part of 主播大秀 Radio 3's New Generation Artists programme.
The
separate, seven strong, jury will include singer Gundula Janowitz,
and the 主播大秀's Head of Music Programming, Dr. John Evans. Anthony
Freud, General Director of Welsh National Opera, will be Chairman.
The
Controller of 主播大秀 Radio 3, Roger Wright, said: "The new Song
Prize is ideal for Radio 3 and our Morning Performance programme
in particular, we are delighted with this new initiative.
"主播大秀
Radio 3 is committed to supporting outstanding young artists from
all over the world, and I am delighted that under this new arrangement
the winner of the Song Prize will join the other fine artists in
our New Generation Artists Scheme which offers performers unique
opportunities to develop their considerable talents.
"These
include lunchtime concerts at the Wigmore Hall, appearances and
recordings with the 主播大秀 Orchestras, special studio recordings, and
last but not least appearances at the Proms.
"The
New Generation Artists come from a very wide field, and provide
a representative cross-section of the most exciting British and
international young artists. I am sure the winner of the Song Prize
will be a worthy addition."
DVD celebrates anniversary
Another
new development will be the release (by the leading classical label
Opus Arte) in early 2003 of a DVD covering the highlights of the
first ten competitions.
Opus
Arte Managing Director Hans Petri said: "Ever since I first
came across Cardiff Singer I have wanted to be able to produce a
disc like this - what a wonderful collection for any opera lover
to have - here we have the 24-year-old Karita Mattila, the 24-year-old
Bryn Terfel, a slightly older Dmitri Hvorostovsky and a host of
other stars of today - people like Monica Groop, Soile Isokoski,
Hillevi Martinpelto, Nina Stemme, Randi Stene, Isabelle Vernet,
Tito Beltran, Vassili Guerelo and Franz Hawlata for example.
"And
more than that it will be a definitive record of the first ten competitions
with who sang, what they sang and a whole host of information that
will make this disc a must for anyone interested in the competition
- or the artists that took part."
Notes
to Editors
Entry
Details
Applications
to audition are invited from professional singers who are at the
start of their career.
Auditions
will be held world-wide during October, November and December 2002
to select the 25 contestants for 2003.
The
closing date for entries is 30 September 2002.
For
an application form and details of the entry requirements singers
should write to: 主播大秀 Singer of the World in Cardiff, 主播大秀 Wales,
Broadcasting House, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2YQ, Wales, or e-mail
singer.world@bbc.co.uk
The
Welsh Contestant
Wales
will be represented by the winner of the 2002 Welsh Singers Competition
- soprano Elizabeth Donovan.
Miss
Donovan is a student at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Broadcast
Summary
The
five concerts that make up the Preliminary Round will be broadcast
in their entirety on 主播大秀 FOUR (dates to be confirmed).
The
Final will be broadcast live on 主播大秀 TWO (Sunday 29 June 2003).
The
Song Prize will be broadcast on 主播大秀 Radio 3's Morning Performance
(Monday 23 to Friday 27 June 2003).
主播大秀i
will cover all events on the competition's website - www.bbc.co.uk/singeroftheworld
The
television coverage of 主播大秀 Singer of the World in Cardiff will be
a 主播大秀 Wales/Opus Arte co-production.
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