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Frock Blog
Stage Door Jeannie's weblog on matters mostly sartorial as she observes the world around the Competition.
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And finally...
And so it's all over. As Beti George said on Friday, "What will we do next week?" I think it's been a vintage year, with many of young singers seeming to take more control of their repertoire and their presentation. In the two years before the next competition, look out for them - you'll see most of them taking their careers to the next level, I'm sure. The great thing about Cardiff Singer is that not winning doesn't end your career. Chances are you'll be seen by someone who will make a note of your name. There may be two winners but there have been 24 great singers in the making here.
Now as six hours a day in the concert hall and long hours typing move me one stage nearer to Deep Vein Thrombosis, I bid farewell. Keep frockwatching!
Too hot to handle
Beti George at the masterclasses, deadpan, to the audience: "Phillip Thomas has been complaining that it's too hot on stage so I've given him my permission to take his shirt off." (He didn't, of course!) More on the masterclasses.
Handle with care
The least envied job of the whole competition must be the handling of the crystal prizes. We watched with bated breath on Thursday as 24 goblets were lined up. Overseeing this is Simon Denman-Ellis, the Hall's Technical Stage Manager. He wears white cotton gloves so that the Welsh Royal Crystal is not spoilt by fingerprints. But while others around the Hall wear black waistcoats with their dinner suits, Simon sports a waistcoat with a huge red dragon on it. He doesn't flaunt it, just occasionally we audience members glimpse it, but it's worn with pride. Simon hails from Wrexham - the same town as the Welsh competitor Camilla Roberts, so doubtless he recognised some faces in the audience on Wednesday.
Back to basics
One detail that is much in evidence this year is lacing on the back of bodices. The girls are keen to make an impression as they leave as well. This can be 'pretty ornamental' but on Wendy Dawn Thompson's costume it looked very 18th century and appropriate to her repertoire. She also has some embroidery detail on the back of what appears to be a plain skirt from the front. Definitely a girl who doesn't mind you talking behind her back!
If music be the food...
What do all the best singers do after their recital? Well I don't know about Renée Fleming but in Cardiff they head for Marks & Spencer's Foods. Conveniently sited between the New Theatre and the singers' hotel, it's the main stopping off place for juice, fruit and all the little extras you need to recover from giving your all in song. On Monday, Hayoung Lee and Wendy Dawn Thompson actually got there before me, which is a bit of a record. Obviously the juice is providing vitamins to fight off the threat of laryngitis that has been prowling around Cardiff this year.
Georgia on my mind (reprise)
Staying with M&S theme for a moment, two audience members met Mikhail Koleishvili in the Cardiff store and said how good they thought he was. He said how keen he is to improve his English and, to prove a point, sang 'What shall we do with a drunken sailor?' Obviously this drinking is a bit of a theme in Mikhail's repertoire! The big news is that he's had his hair cut since his appearance in the Song Final and very good he looks too. Of course it may have been a clip-on ponytail for the event!
Broadcast news
The audience at Cardiff is very special. Everyone is passionate about singing and all are keen to debate the merits of individual singers. They take part in the whole event too, living and breathing the competition all week. I heard yesterday of a group, strangers to each other before last weekend, who are staying at the same hotel. They have discussions over breakfast and exchange views at the bar later.
For those not blessed with BBC Two Wales, you will not know that there is a mad dash at the end of each concert to get home in time to see Aled Jones' programme of highlights from that evening, broadcast about an hour after curtain-down. This group has been indignant because the TVs in their hotel rooms have no BBC Two Wales, just the English version of the channel. This may be the hotel's idea of giving punters what they want, but these punters have not been happy. Last night, after lots of hard work, one of the number managed to retune the TV. Phone calls ensued and they all squeezed into one room to watch. Of course, everyone had been preparing for bed so it turned out to be a pyjama party!
Motif moment
 Butterflies are everywhere this year in Cardiff. I've already mentioned Humphrey Burton's tie, and he actually has a second in bright pink with a butterfly jacquard woven into the silk. On Wednesday Beti George, who has been the stage presenter at both venues, wore the most perfect shoes. Slim and very pointed, each shoe was embroidered and beaded with a magnificent butterfly. Interestingly, whenever I mentioned 'Beti's shoes' every woman had noticed and desired them. Look out Beti, we'll all want to borrow them!
Back to school
 As part of the competition's outreach programme, singers visit schools in the area. Oakfield Primary School is one of them, and some of the singers talked to the children there, including Nicole Cabell, the American soprano. She said how important it is to remember that there is a world outside the concert hall that needs to be introduced to music. But this was not a one-sided visit. In exchange the children sang to the singers and I'm confident now that there is a group of competitors who can count their goats in Welsh. When Nicole won her round on Tuesday, classes 5A and 5R sent congratulations to her via her page on the website so she can be sure of support in both the song and main prize finals.
Georgia on his mind
Mikhail Koleishvili is married to the Georgian contestant in the 2003 Cardiff Singer competition, Nino Surguladze. This makes them the first couple to have both performed at Cardiff Singer and they will be releasing a CD soon. Nino is supporting from afar as she is at home looking after their little daughter Tina.
Stuck on you
I hear that Andrew Kennedy sang his concert programme with a piece of chewing gum in his mouth! No, he wasn't planning to sing a selection from Grease, but had been chewing to lubricate his throat. When his moment came, he went onstage forgetting to remove it. Since Andrew played his programme straight through without a break, the gum had to remain tucked against a molar until he got offstage.
Cardiff Singing Day
The wheels on the bus were not going round and round in Cardiff on Wednesday because the Vocal Coach was stationary and ready for business. There was soon a long list of people signed up for singing lessons, including one Humphrey Burton who gave us 'O Isis und Osiris'. They were accompanied by Bryan Davies, who you may remember from the Imagine programme on Bryn Terfel, and who was sporting a very fetching musical tie.
I particularly like the two scruffy teenage boys who, noticing the bus wondered 'what was going down here?' They stayed to listen to a beautifully sung Summertime from Porgy & Bess (from student Elenor Bowes-Jolley) and applauded with enthusiasm before shuffling off. The whole event was hosted by our very own Webmistress Viv Goldberg (in her new blue glasses - they deserve a Frockwatch mention!)
Cardiff on a Saturday night
Last Saturday, the first day of the Competition, Cardiff was en fête. I was surprised at how many people were around - some brandishing national flags and many in evening dress. This seemed odd. Cardiff Singer audiences are not usually so partisan about which singers they support and though always smartly dressed, the gentlemen rarely wear black tie.
Later it all became clear. Black tie and posh frocks were for the University 'May Ball' (May is a little late in Cardiff this year). The girls were, to a woman, wearing very little but with great aplomb. The world was a sea of sequins and turquoise, this season's must-haves (turquoise even merits its very own webpage.) Most of the young men were obviously not natural black tie wearers. And the national flags? Well, we clashed with an International Speedway competition at the Millennium Stadium - just to show what a diverse city Cardiff is. I lost count of how many times I was asked "Are you here for the speedway?"
Look at Mimi!
The competitors this year seem to be more aware of their image than ever before. They have to send in photographs for the programme book and website, and most have submitted professional studio shots, not the run-of-the mill 'posh passport photos' from the past. Several have their own websites (we provide links when they do) and there seems to be more attention to outfits and presentation then ever before.
In Britain, and probably around the world, music students receive very little advice about the non-singing part of concert appearances. Perhaps there is a feeling that that side of things is a bit fluffy, there is obviously pressure on funding and what help can be provided, but this competition shows the importance of the impression a singer makes on an audience. We expect a certain standard of singing, but it's the other parts of the performance that can make all the difference in this competitive world.
Presenter presentation
Humphrey Burton joined us for pre-recital nourishment on Saturday. There's less of him than there used to be and he is now a fine figure of a man! Humphrey is wearing a lot of black this season during the day when he broadcasts for Radio 3 from the New Theatre. It suits him and his style is very European with a light sweater knotted around the shoulders. Evenings mean tailoring and last night I caught a glimpse of summer butterflies on his tie. Some years ago, Humphrey was dubbed "the man from Del Monte" by his colleagues on the BBC production team at Cardiff Singer - he was always to be seen in a white suit, like the man in the advert at that time. But - did he always say "yes"?
Ties are a source of heated debate with viewers. There are those who believe that Aled Jones (who introduces the BBC Two Wales programme each evening) and Petroc Trelawny (who introduces the BBC Four broadcast) should wear ties with their shirts and jackets. These are modern well tailored outfits and personally I don't think ties are necessary. These are exactly the outfits young men wear nowadays and a tie would seem rather unnatural. It would also add an air of formality that could be quite off-putting. Opera is blamed for being elitist often enough by those who know nothing. Why give them another reason to beat us?
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Peter Nichols
I totally agree with what you're saying. I wish more people felt this way and took the time to express themselves.
Gillian Robinson from Birmingham
Once again a wonderful competition this year and many fine performances. How wonderful to see Dame Joan Sutherland once again, my particular vocal heroine and the one person in the world I would like to meet if only given one choice. Ahh, maybe one day - that's the stuff that dreams are made of - but if I never do get to meet you Dame Joan, I just want to say that you have been an inspiration to me since I was young and thank you for so many wonderful hours listeneing to your exquisite voice. What's more you appear to be a very nice person also - a double blessing.
Beatrice from Wrexham
I thought all the presenters looked great and I agree it would be good for the orchestral players to wear something less stuffy. The competition was marvellous. I was able to go to Cardiff for part of it and hope I will be lucky in the lottery next time. It is a marvellous arena for young singers and the frocks were lovely. I adore reading the witty comments on frockblog and just feel very gratful that the BBC puts on this marvellous competition. I like the song contest too, so well done all and of course Camilla who comes form Wrexham. I am sure that her career will go from strength to strength. Best wishes to all.
Anne Edwards from Bristol
I'm surprised that some of your correspondents assume that 'no tie' automatically means scruffy. Both Aled & Petroc were wearing smart shirts and jackets when I saw them and they looked very good. Scruffy means beachwear or clothes to tackle weekend tasks like car-cleaning - shorts, t-shirts, etc. It's about time classical music represented the under 50s, otherwise it will certainly die out when its current elderly audience does. An open-neck shirt doesn't stop people appreciating good music.
joe temple northumberland
Joan Sutherland looked magnificant in her beautiful gown. What a stunner.
fifi
I imagine if you're a singer you get training in drama, movement etc at college, but I wonder if you get much of a lead in how to present yourself when giving a concert performance of opera arias? Almost as tough a discipline, I should think, but perhaps it's taken for granted as you don't have stage directions to follow?
Gareth Griffiths from Cardiff
I really feel that the experts, competitors, orchestral performers, accompanists and venue staff should all wear G-Strings. I seriously doubt that this would divert anyone's attention from the primary focus, after all it's the singer not the thong that we'll all be watching!
Anthony Halligan LOT valley France
As a retired orchestral player I would like to know why the gentlemen of the orchestra have to wear 18th century equestrian coats to play an evening concert? They are not comfortable. Get Giorgio Armani to design a modern concert dress for men,& get him to fit it on a bass player.
joan from Ballynure, Co Antrim
Wonderful singing. Petroc! forget the tank-tops.
Alisha from Cardiff
wonder why male members of the orchestra have a strict dress code but the women can wear almost anything, even if unflattering, as long as it's black.
Valerie K, Bristol
Regarding the presenters not wearing ties: Does the lack of formality mean that soon we shall see members of the orchestra and the conductor also tieless?
Diana Barnes from Southampton
I think Petroc looks fine, and agree that we should get away from the formality that puts off potential new audience- I support the Lindsay Quartet, now unfortunately retiring, in their efforts to look unstuffy. Competitors, however, should look very smart, though that doesn't have to mean penguin suits for men. Tommi looked excellent last year- let's have a bit of imagination. Ladies' dresses have sometimes been a bit matronly- again we need modern designs and some creativity. I'm thoroughly enjoying the sound and the view,not that we've finally got BBC4, though my husband ocasionally dozes off. Looking forward to the final!
Sylvia Tims from Godalming
Yes, Jones and Trelawny should wear ties. If 'opera is blamed for being elitist... by those who know nothing', why descend to their level of scruffy ignorance?
Thanks to all our users who submitted the above comments. This facility is now closed.
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