upfront
SINGER OF THE WORLD
IT’ S 30 years since St David’ s Hall threw open its doors to welcome classical singers from around the globe, all eager to compete in the first ever BBC Cardiff Singer Of the World competition. It’ s certainly no place for wide-eyed newbies who’ ve only ever sung in their bedrooms though. Cardiff Singer is a highly regarded competition and attracts submissions from hundreds of experienced and gifted artistes. Elaine Padmore, one of three judges tasked with trotting the globe to audition the shortlisted competitors, says“ It’ s always a fascinating process listening to young singers. Every voice is individual, and you’ re always looking for that tingle that makes you think,‘ this is different and special’.” As well as the main competition, the Song Prize takes place at the Dora Stoutzker Hall at the Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama. It will feature Lieder( German art songs) that use melodies for just piano and voice. A fresh faced Bryn Terfel took the prize in 1989, shortly before his debut with Welsh National Opera. RWCMD will also be hosting masterclasses with event Patron Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the four jury members sharing their expertise.‘ This year’ s youngest competitor, 25-year-old Marko Mimica, is a bass-baritone from Croatia. He originally majored in trumpet, but obviously a talented multitasker, went on to graduate as a vocal student. English soprano Katherine Broderick enjoys dog walking on the North York Moors, but I’ m sure she does a bit of singing out there too. She studied at the National Opera Studio and recently performed at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Welsh baritone Gary Griffiths certainly has the shortest commute, coming from Pembrey. He studied opera at the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama and won the Welsh Singers Competition just last year. The BBC’ s full coverage over the eight days will give all of the competitors a truly global platform, as agents, opera house directors and impresarios focus on Cardiff for this wonderful showcase of classical singing talent. MARIA-LUISA MEREDITH
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY pic: © BRIAN TARR 2011
Cardiff Singer Of The World, Sun 16-Sun 23 June, St David’ s Hall, Cardiff. Tickets: £ 17- £ 60. Info: 029 2087 8444 / www. stdavidshallcardiff. co. uk
IMAGINE a football tournament where only the giants of the game like Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain and such were the participants. A two-week tournament where every game was a classic and there were no matches between minnows. Well, in the world of cricket, that’ s exactly what’ s going to occur in Cardiff during June, when the ICC Champions Trophy takes place. No Netherlands or Zimbabwe, this is an elite one-day tournament reserved for the world’ s leading cricket nations to compete for the ICC trophy and the small matter of $ 2million. The tournament has two groups: Group A which sees Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England. And Group B which includes India, South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan. Just looking at the strength of the squads, showcasing talents like Michael Clarke, Brendon McCullum, Mahela Jayawardene, MS Dhoni, Saeed Ajmal, AB de Villiers and possibly the world’ s greatest one-day batsman, Chris Gayle, it’ s clear that nobody with any certainty could possibly pick a winner. The fun begins in Cardiff on Thurs 6 June with South Africa playing India. Both are bidding to emulate Australia by trying to become double winners. There’ s no love lost between the teams and this opening game will surely set the tone for what follows as neither team will want to begin their campaign with a defeat, which would see the losers with one foot already on the plane home. The second game in Cardiff will be between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Sun 9, followed by a potentially explosive match between a Chris Gayle-inspired West Indies and the South Africans( Fri 14). We know we’ ll get military precision from South Africa, and it’ s anyone’ s guess what we’ ll get from the erratic Windies, but at least in Gayle, fresh from having recently scored the fastest ever century in any form of cricket, off just 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore, you can guarantee fireworks. The group matches in Wales are wrapped up on Sun 16 June when England entertain New Zealand in a match to potentially decide who makes the semi finals, one of which also takes place in Cardiff on Thurs 20. DAVE BRAYLEY
ICC Champions Trophy, Cardiff, Thurs 6-Thurs 20 June. Tickets: £ 5- £ 50. Info: 029 2040 9380 / www. glamorgancricket. com
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