We were beginning to think that the jury had forgotten to tell us their decision before leaving the building, as they took so long. Then, in the heat of the moment, chairman John Fisher had a momentary mental blank as the time came to give the winner's name!

The all-important name was that of coloratura soprano Mari Moriya from Japan. Also singing in Concert 4 were soprano Ida Falk Winland from Sweden, Irish baritone Owen Gilhooly, Russian mezzo Anna Viktorova and American baritone Ryan McKinny.

See the full concert on BBC Four tonight at 7.30pm.