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Smoothhound.co.uk - All Eyes On Cardiff 2011...
Smoothhound.co.uk - All Eyes On Cardiff 2011...
Hailed in 2010 as the second most musical city in the United Kingdom, Cardiff will once again be hosting the prestigious Singer of the World competition this year as 20 of the finest voices around the globe
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire,
United Kingdom
(prbd.net)
12/02/2011
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire February 10, 2011 – Hailed in 2010 as the second most musical city in the United Kingdom, Cardiff will once again be hosting the prestigious Singer of the World competition this year as 20 of the finest voices around the globe take to the stage to claim the honor that has helped to launch the operatic careers of so many talented vocalists.
Established in 1983 by the BBC, the biennial contest has become known throughout the classical world as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers as agents, managers, opera house directors, and impresarios descend in person in search of the next star for their books. But it is not a competition exclusively for those in the industry, as public participation is a key component in making the Singer of the World the hugely popular event it has become. Indeed, not only can the eventual winner enjoy 5,000 pounds in prize money, but a further 2,000 pounds could be theirs as a result of the audience vote both from home and from those in the auditorium on the night.
With legendary opera diva Dame Kiri te Kanawa now installed as the competition’s patron following the sad death of the beautiful Dame Joan Sutherland last year, this year’s event will have an added touch of glamour and excitement when the final is played out in the exquisite St. David’s Hall. With over 100 operatic arias and solo arias to be performed from classic works all with full orchestral accompaniment, the 2011 Cardiff Singer of the World competition is destined to be one of the greatest so far and that there is a buzz about the place. Indeed, as Cardiff-born actor/composer Ivor Novello once said, “... there is something in the spirit of the crowd that adds to the enjoyment of entertainment.”
Of course, it is no surprise, as Cardiff, and indeed the Welsh nation as a whole, is synonymous with powerful resonant singing and there is no finer sound on the planet than the sound of the distinctive Celtic voice when in full choral glory. Indeed, the nation of Wales has quite rightly been lauded as the ‘Land of Song’.
But you don’t actually have to be a fan of opera to enjoy the full power of the Welsh voice as it pounds the air with joyful divine-like inspiration as any Welsh rugby supporter will tell you. And again, listening to men and women singing the national anthem at the Millennium Stadium before any match featuring the national side will always be an added bonus to watching the rugger itself.
And with Cardiff staging the final of the rugby European Cup this year too, the city will no doubt be awash with colour and fantastic song yet again and you can find somewhere to stay at http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/cardiff.html
Cardiff has come a long way since it was first granted city status in 1905, and then became the capital of Wales in 1955. Since 2009 it has been attracting 15 million visitors annually, and is the nation’s chief commercial centre, as well as most popular tourist destination. All that is helped thanks to the Cardiff Bay development begun in the 1990s which now houses the Welsh National Assembly building, and the stunning arts complex, the Wales Millennium Centre.
Opened by the Queen in 2004, the centre is now one of Europe’s significant cultural landmarks for performing arts of every genre, not just vocal. However, it is fitting that opera and ballet feature heavily as the spectacular building frontage proudly tells the world of its musical heritage and affinity with song: “In These Stones, Horizons Sing”
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However one chooses to spend the night enjoying the event, all fans of Cheese Rolling will be licking their lips at the very prospect of a 2-day festival and be watching this space...or rather watching Diana Smart as she starts preparing that unique and very round Double Gloucester!
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