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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