Cardiff Singer of the World 2015

[ardcarp]

I'm afraid I agree, Mary. I switched on as the black American soprano was halfway through her first piece. I really liked her voice...though agreed with the comments that the Mozart wasn't her finest hour. I think it came at the end of a demanding programme, and her voice was beginning to show a bit of strain. Maybe it would have been best to sing that first?

[french frank]

I suppose one should remember that even if they are in their late twenties and thirties they are the beginning of singing careers. Perhaps one should expect more than just promise but less than perfection?

[Dave2002]

Oh yes they can.....

Very few.

i'm about to sing it in the shower, however!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtf2Q4yyuJ0

[Flosshilde]

I am astonished by the winner. Far too many badly tuned notes. I know this stuff is hard, but since it's vocal acrobatics the only criterion is accuracy. The actual quality of her voice I like, but a winner who can't sing in tune? Perhaps it sounded different in the hall.

If she's the singer who's last aria was Medea (?) from Idomineo, I thought the discussion on the radio after her performance was interesting; one of the singers on the panel said she thought that she shouldn't have attempted it at this stage in her voice's development. There was also a discusion - I don't remember if it was then or later - about how the judges would 'see past' mistakes to the quality of the voice.

I am immune to big bass voices, so not as impressed as others by the Mongolian and the Korean.

Surely it's possible to appreciate the quality without actually liking it personally? The judges have to be able to assess the quality of a voice whether they personally like it or not.

[Mary Chambers]

Surely it's possible to appreciate the quality without actually liking it personally? The judges have to be able to assess the quality of a voice whether they personally like it or not.

Yes, of course. Luckily I'm not an official judge! Quite apart from my personal prejudices, I could see that the Mongolian had a very good voice, but found his performance, to be honest, a little bit boring.

[Simon Biazeck]

I thought they were going to award the singer who did the best on the night - that could not be Koutcher. She clearly has a fine voice, but under pressure, it didn't stand up. Perhaps they felt Jongmin wasn't a bass at all, and that Enkhbat wasn't ready for an international career... (I don't agree!), but who knows. In the end, they sang her off the stage! Even the young tenor with his occasionally "hurled" open onset high notes gave a far more even and engaging performance. Anyway, these panels have previous in the respect. It was an opera status quo decision, and as such, probably represents a lot that is wrong with opera.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Wasn't really right, but heck - look at the score (from p 147) - http://burrito.whatbox.ca:15263/imgl...LakmeVSheu.pdf

Presumably almost impossible.

I've never really looked at vocal parts like that before. Rather challenging I'd say. I think the Queen of the Night aria might actually be even more challenging, though, but hardly anyone can sing that one IMO, though last time I saw the Magic Flute at ENO I was amazed that the soprano managed it, and did so in a live performance.

My daughter sings the QOTN aria. proud dad

[DracoM]

Simon
Very interesting notions. Can you elucidate a bit on 'opera status quo decision' and why last night's decision IYO was wrong?
Maybe performan ce was indeed more important than potential? Not sure how they judged at all. In fact, I became less sure as the comp went on!

[jean]

...I think the Queen of the Night aria might actually be even more challenging...

That's ruled out for any soprano without a top F but it isn't otherwise technically very difficult, is it?

[Pianorak]

Not overly keen on voices, but couldn't resist watching the Final. I liked both Jongmin Park and Nadine Koutcher. Lauren Michelle, Oleksiy Palchykov and Amartuvshin Enkhbat would probably benefit from some more German-language coaching?

[visualnickmos]

Simon
Very interesting notions. Can you elucidate a bit on 'opera status quo decision' and why last night's decision IYO was wrong?
Maybe performan ce was indeed more important than potential? Not sure how they judged at all. In fact, I became less sure as the comp went on!

I recall a judge saying in one of the 'interviewettes' that they would be judging on the performance on the night.

Interesting thread, this, and I have to say I did quite enjoy the final - (albeit, maybe in only a slighter greater sense than watching a talent show) but I was quite underwhelmed by the winner. Very wobbly on some higher notes, and I felt her singing lacked something.... I'm NO knowledge-base whatsoever on singing; this was just my impression.

Just for what it's worth, my 'winner' would have been the guy from Mongolia (can't recall his name) and/or the American girl from LA. Loved her performance.

[Honoured Guest]

I recall a judge saying in one of the 'interviewettes' that they would be judging on the performance on the night.

... meaning that the jury would judge the singers on the basis of their Final performances, without reference to their performances in their earlier Rounds.

The jury wasn't rewarding the best performance in the Final. It was rewarding the best singer in the Final, based on the evidence of their performance.

[mercia]

lowering the tone somewhat (blame Petroc) - any suggestions for the identity of the "tattoo of a Beethoven score" apparently on the winner's leg ???

[Nick Armstrong]

lowering the tone somewhat (blame Petroc) - any suggestions for the identity of the "tattoo of a Beethoven score" apparently on the winner's leg ???

[Flosshilde]

Yes, of course. Luckily I'm not an official judge! Quite apart from my personal prejudices, I could see that the Mongolian had a very good voice, but found his performance, to be honest, a little bit boring.

I did wonder if the tenors are at an advantage as the tenor is usually the hero (or at least lead) in opera & therefore get the best/most interesting/most exciting music.