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Welsh Singers Competition 2014
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The Welsh Singers Competition, now 25 years old, resembles England’s soccer aspirations.
Winning this competition gives automatic entry to Cardiff Singer of the World. So hope springs eternal that the national representative will go on to glory in “the big one”.
The difference is England had one soccer world cup victory eons ago. It was only the creation of a new Lieder (Song) Prize that gave Wales, in the shape of Bryn Terfel (and then Neil Davies) some crystal for the trophy cabinet.
There have been some exceptional Welsh Singers Competition participants but not many. This year provided a feast. While this form of competition is desperately dated, it has none of the nonsense that has dumbed down Cardiff Singer of the World and, on this occasion, gave a platform for some magical singing.
The winner was the gloriously voiced Céline Forrest, a remarkable 24-year-old mezzo soprano from Swansea, oozing personality and charm. She is currently taking the Royal of Academy of Music’s opera course where she her master classes have included Dennis O’Neill who was on the jury for this all female singers competition with the Wagnerian Anne Evans and Neath-born mezzo soprano Della Jones.
Céline gave what has to be said was a disappointingly small Cardiff audience with a couple of crowd pleasers, Dove sono from The Marriage of Figaro and The Jewel Song from Faust, the former soulful and the latter a glittering finale. Her choice of Der Freischutz was inspired, displaying her language dexterity and ability to sparkle while the Pan Ddaw’r Nos by Merion Williams was perfect as this was a Welsh competition.
However, there could have been other winners on the night. We will certainly be hearing a lot more from them. In fact, at English National Opera in October, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate Samantha Price is singing Cherubino in Marriage of Figaro. Having been the toast of the eisteddfodau circuit, Pontypridd’s Menna Cazel Davies is already carving out what is going to be a fabulous career in Germany. Also well- known at home Eirlys Myfanwy Davies is now at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and success awaits her too.
Tecwyn Evans conducted the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, with pianists Paul McKenzie, Rebecca Taylor and Aska Carmen Jaen Saito accompanying the singers who took this completion back to where Cardiff Singer should be, combining opera and lieder.
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Tuesday, June 24, 2014 |
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