North Terrace

Song Prize - Final Nombulelo Yende, soprano  (31, South Africa) - Simon Lepper, piano Strauss : "Befreit" Strauss : "Allerseelen" Barber : "Church bell at night" ( Hermit Songs ) Barber : "St. Ita's Vision" ( Hermit Songs ) Grieg : "Jeg elsker dig!" Quilter : "Love's Philosophy" Strauss : "Zueignung" The opposing ends of Yende's recital were above all, I think, mainly designed to show off the beauty of her voice, and there's no denying that beauty, it's a sumptuous instrument.  However, it's a mistake to think of Strauss's songs merely as vehicles for a gorgeous soprano voice; in fact, that's the bare minimum, and you need a good deal more baggage to put them across properly.  When "Befreit" began at a snail's pace, my heart sank.  Lots of wallowing, almost static, and absolutely none of the luminous spirituality of the song.  "Allerseelen" was not a great deal ...

Song Prize - Recital 4 12) William Thomas, bass  (28, England) - Simon Lepper, piano Brahms : Denn es gehet dem Menschen Poulenc : Mazurka Mussorgsky : The He-Goat Stephen Adams : The Holy City All three of this afternoon's recitalists were in last night's concert round, so the qualities of the voices were known and expected.  First up was William Thomas, the youngest competitor, and one already promised to a fine career, even without his exposure here, which is why yesterday I said I would not be happy to see him in the Grand Final.  The Song Prize, though, is a slightly different matter, because the art of the recital is an infinitely subtle one, far less likely to get bogged down in stereotypes.  In opera, audiences tend to want to hear you sing the same thing, if they've liked it.  In recital, they always want something new.  Thomas began with one of Brahms's Four Serious Songs , wonderful material for a bass voice, and he brought warmth and solemnity t...

Main Prize - Concert 1 Welsh National Opera Orchestra Michael Christie Sungho Kim, tenor  (32, South Korea) Mozart : "Die Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön" ( Die Zauberflöte ) Puccini : "Che gelida manina" ( La bohème ) Donizetti : "Una furtiva lagrima" ( L"elisir d'amore ) Massenet : "Pourquoi me réveiller" ( Werther ) When there are enough tenors in the competition (and there are three this year, two of them from South Korea) there is always one who produces a tenorissimo  programme, all the staples of the repertory, and inviting the most invidious comparisons with legendary names like Pavarotti.  It has to be said that Kim acquitted himself well.  The voice is bright and fresh, the sentiment sincere, the diction in all three languages clear.  The Werther  extract began shakily, tenor and conductor not quite in accord with their tempi, but although he brought nothing new to this music, I'd certainly be more than happy if my local compa...