BBC Cardiff Singer of the World
The ineludible meeting for the best world singers
Top Classical, December 2022
Held every two years, this prestigious competition for singers from around the world was launched to celebrate the hall’s opening in 1983.
It was founded by BBC Cymru Wales, and it is opened to singers at the start of their professional careers, aged 18-32. Starting from 18 singers in the first year, each nominated by their local broadcasting organisation, the number of contestants keep growing year by year. Competing on the very first evening was the now legendary Finnish soprano Karita Mattila, who went on to win the competition.
In the last editions more than 300 talented singers from 55 countries applied to come to the capital of Wales to represent their country. Contestants are auditioned by the Competition staff to select the final 20. The last BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2019 featured 20 singers from 15 countries, and for the first time the line-up included a singer from Guatemala. The 20 singers competed for the Main Prize, Song Prize and Audience Prize, the latter of which was dedicated to the memory of baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who died in 2017 and won the competition in 1989.
The contestants need to excel in a wide range of singing skills. The event is adjudicated by a panel of distinguished international jurors and the constants need to perform opera and concert music with full orchestra in four concerts. The winner from each concert plus one wild card (the best of the rest) competes in the final. This takes place in St David’s Hall, Cardiff.
The reason of its popularity can be found in the the £15,000 prize money and possibly a BBC engagement. In addition, an engagement with Welsh National Opera may also be offered. The four other finalists receive £2,500 each.
In addition, the competition in liaison with BBC Radio 3 will commission a new piece from composer John Lunn. It will be written especially for the winner, who will give its first performance at the 2016 BBC Proms, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
The winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize receives £5,000 and the Song Prize Trophy.
Baritone Gihoon Kim, from Republic of Korea was the winner of the latest edition of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. He had studied singing at Yonsei University in Seoul before he received a scholarship at the Junge Oper Hannover, where he sang roles including Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Marullo (Rigoletto).
“It has been an inspiring journey – and one that I will definitely remember for the rest of my career,” he said of the victory.
We can’t wait to meet the fierce contestants who will be ready to compete in the upcoming competition, which will take place next year, in 2023. If you are looking for the most promising classical music voices and the future star singers, keep a close eye on this outstanding competition!