mia from pennsylvania
why oh why did she not win. this is what sucks about being a performer. you give your best and they sometimes choose someone else. No one, NO ONE outsung or out performed her. I hope she knows this and is reaping the benefits now from her absolutely flawless performance.

Kevin from IN
Wow, on stage convulsions. Couldn't watch any role of that. Nice voice though.

Uli, Hamburg (Germany)
I just had the luck to hear her as Violetta here in Hamburg. I've seen La Traviata meanwhile 14 times (once in Madrid, the other times here in Hamburg) and she was the most impressive Violetta of all. hope she'll stay here for a long time.

William Wilkins, USA
Do any of the 'experts' realize that she is singing VIOLETTA'S MAD SCENE?? the POINT in her looking STRANGE is because she is supposed to be LOSING HER MIND during this aria. PERFECTLY in context - I don't know why everyone is analysing her technique and things that DON'T MATTER - when her PRODUCT was flawless. BTW - she KNOWS the role. Read the BIO.

Chrissy, London
I have to disagree with the comments about her movements being 'a matter of personal taste'. The best singers in the world, Magda Olivero, Lili Pons, Curuso and Gigli didn't move a muscle while singing. Their singing was truly effortless and a result of years of dedicated studying of the bel canto method. Ha-Young Lee was using so much bodily effort to do everything. She had to support her back and distort her body to pysically reach the top note at the end of 'Sempre Libera'. Everything about her stance suggested discomfort and effort and that is not what great singing is about. I'm glad the judges noticed.

Len Brown Calgary AB Canada
Magnificent voice. Went for a repeat performance.

Jay, USA.
You have a a good vocal quality but your body language is telling us that what you are singing is beyond your skill. Watch your body language and you will be fantastic.

jane soprano from anywhere
A lovely talent. Re movements ... merely a matter of personal preferance. Unfortunately the competition environment is seldom comparable to an actual staged performance, involving other singers.... I have been double cast with multiple competition winners who did not manage to move the audience in context.... Ms. Lee does indeed have a lovely and impressive voice, though not as "polished" as the judges choice. Her dramatic impulses will likely direct themselves in time, and she may indeed prove to be the more succesful and moving artist.

Antony Lias London
I must say that as a self-confessed coloratura fanatic, with extensive experience of the magical genre of bel canto, I can sincerely say that Ha Young Lee has a great future ahead of her. Her legato was pure and effortless, her tone warm and her high notes stratospheric. I hope that she will soon sing Lucia, Amina and Elivira, as I believe they will suit her exceptional talents magnificently. I also hope that La Stupenda herself, Dame Joan Sutherland, had some good advice for you, because if you enjoy even a measure of the success of this legendary soprano's career, then your talent will have been recognised.

jpos, London
Ha-Young Lee was robbed! A clear winner of the Cardiff 2005 Singer of the Year. I LIKED her active posture. I want her back ASAP .

glynne hughes St.Asaph.
Shall I tell you my dream ? A new recording of La Boheme . Ha-Young Lee ,Musetta.A show stopper with voice and looks. Daria Masiero,Mimi,beautiful and fragrant,a sumptious voice. Luis Olivares Sandoval,Rodolfo,a real poet with a voice to match. The rest of the cast is on hand. Carlo Rizzi,conducting the WNO orchestra and chorus. Do not wait too long !

Helen, London
Me and my family were bowled over by Ha-Young Lee too....she lived every moment of the text, as well as singing with precision, clarity and beauty of tone. The judges made a big mistake in not rewarding her conviction and commitment with a place in the final, and obviously decided to overlook her world class talent. They may have found her style too 'direct'? We wish her loads of luck in the future!

kim in Cardiff
She was absolutely great, but her movement was too exaggerated, over-acted. I was in the St.David Hall at that night, but after she sang, I was relief from her too tensed performance by a Chilean tenor. And that was the reason why he did get through the final. Too scared face, acting.... I really enjoyed her singing, but the other singers were also fantastic in the hall. Her voice wasn't the best.

Michael Egerton, Liverpool.
You where terrific, Sensational and without doubt deserved to win.

G Roberts, Derby
I have to say I actually agreed with the Judges. I think I saw what they saw. I love a coloratura voice as much as the next person, and when it moves me it really does send shivers down my spine. This lady did not do that for me, for whatever reason, even though she clearly has a great deal of power in the upper echelons of the voice. I am glad she won the audience prize though, because she was clearly very popular indeed.

Frotune Penniman form LONDON
WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING VOICE!!! THE BEST SINGER I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME AND MY FAVOURITE SINGER I HAVE AND WILL EVER HEAR!!

hayoung lee(london)
Thank you very much for your support! I just can not believe all these e-mails for me.I really enjoyed the experience in cardiff for last 2 weeks and I'd love to come to cardiff and sing again. The audience through the whole week was just so supportive but my audience (specially) was the best audience ever I had.I really appreciate your vote for me!

Christopher Beynon from London
Ha-Young. It is absolutely outrageous that you were not in the final - in fact, after your performance, the final was completely unnecessary. You were the only performer who completely knocked my socks off, and that's what it should all be about. I can only think that the judges - they must be a trifle old-fashioned - disapproved of your body movements, but Ian Bostridge (the English tenor) does that sort of thing too, and it works for him. Good luck with your career; I will look for when you're next in London.

john from sheffield
magnifique! the world is your oyster!

Jaqueline Vilela, Canterbury
You were fantastic! All the best for your career!

H. Dawson from Newport
Congratulations Ha-Young! You truly deserved to win the audience prize in this year's competition and I'm only sorry that the "judges" didn't have the sense to recognize your great talent as much as did all your admirers in the audience and at home. You have a wonderful career ahead of you but it will certainly be the greater if you manage to tone down the histrionics just a little - your voice alone already conveys all the emotions necessary and that for me was one of your very greatest strengths. It was that ability to convey the meaning of the text which so impressed me and not the way you moved your body. Your interpretive skills are second to none so please remember this and don't get so carried away with the body movements. I wish you all the very best for the future and thank you for bringing your wonderful art to Cardiff!

Martin from London
Wonderful to see her win the audience prize. Having just heard her in Orfeo in London, all I can say is: lucky Hamburg!

K. Kim from Coventry
As a Korean, I am so proud of her wonderful performance and I cannot believe she fails to reach the final. However, I am sure her future is really bright.

Glynne Hughes , St.Asaph.
Do not leave these shores "my little swallow," return when the robbins nest,give us your Manon ,for there is only one happiness in life,to love and be loved !

Emily Tingle from Bristol
I simply cannot believe that this wnderful voice not only did not win on Thursday but she was not even included in the final.I was really shocked.It cannot be in doubt that she was a winner and it casts serious doubt on the cabability of the judges when such a mistake occurs.Above all it should be overturned and she should be allowed to take part in the final.Have they the courage to right a wrong? I doubt it!

Zeba from Brussels
What a glorious performance - you were robbed and should have had both the trophy and the place in the final.

Hyam Lehrer from London
I cannot understand how Ha-young Lee did not make the final. She has a fabulous voice, wonderful technique and is stunning to look at. She sang with passion and feeling. What else did she have to do!

Pauline Lawson from Bristol
Obviously streets ahead of everyone else

Malcolm Ingham from Brighouse
In my opinion, she should have won!

june fraser from chesterfield
brilliant singer should win the competion in my opinion

Brian Templeton. Cardiff.
I have always thought the judges in this competition were a bit stuck in the past and this girl not winning proves it. A sad day for the competition - a missed opportunity to reward someone with dramatic as well as musical gifts. Having been a supporter of this competition since it began I honestly feel so angry about this result that I might never come again - and hundreds of people in the audience that night felt the same.

G. Starling from Reading
Ha-Young Lee is VERY special, I wonder why she wasn't the winner of last night's competition and why wasn't she selected as one of the 5 finalists??

Yehuda Shapiro, London
Terrific technique, and clearly a big personality too ... but shouldn't an evidently world-class singer be able to keep still while singing?

Diana Sanderson, Durham
Beautiful voice. Knocked the socks off the others in Round 5, but marred by tortuous physical stance throughout. Surprised ROH hasn't sorted this for her.

Joan McDonald from Wirral
Why did this singer not win her heat when she was clearly the best ? A lovely voice and a very impressive performance.

Anne from London
Great stage presence and lovely voice. Pity she didn't win her round. Would love to hear more from her. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear her Violetta with Andrew Kennedy as Alfredo?

Adam from Muswell Hill
Made me believe in Violetta for this very first time

Mark and Paddy vidal-hall
Could someone please explain how the judges decided to give the decision to the tenor from chileha-young lee gave an electrifying performance and of consummate musicianship while the tenor came nowhere near her in overall artistry . Clearly the audience at cardiff were as delighted with her as we were. Their applause for her was ecstatic and their applause for the decision indicated their surprise and disappointment. I really think the judges owe us some kind of explanation

Anthony Halligan. LOT valley France
It is obvious that this young lady is well established but what is wrong with the judges? The audience knew she was remarkable & the best.

Howard Phillips Swansea
thrilling complete singer conveying the passion and anguish of Violetta's predicament

Rosemary Smyth, Bangor
Was shocked at tonight's decision. Thought she was the most engaging and 'involved' performer of the evening.

Carlos Cogul (London)
What a great voice and easiness and clean coloratura plus great expression. Really touched by your brave choices and wonderful performance tonite !

Peter Owen from Leeds
A fabulous performance, both technically and dramatically, of the Verdi. I cannot understand why she's not in the finals.

Lyndon Jones from Nottingham
How could the judges not have chosen Ha-Young Lee for the final? She sang and performed superbly.

Rachel from Liverpool
An outstanding talent and sure to be appreciated on the world stage in future.

Geoff Bartlett from Birmingham
Ifeel you should have been in Final I think you really put into Friday performance a blow you away effort quite fantastic.

Almos Kovacs from Bournemouth
She should have beeen declared the WINNER without waiting for Sunday: her voice, her dramatisation - facial and body - the subtlety and emotional delivery of her voice exceeds by far the other women finalists. Her non-placement is disgrace and an admission by the jury of negating their own declared criteria for judging the competitors - a confession of intellectual and musical bankruptcy.

Steven from Canada
Terrific voice and a very engaging programme. I clearly think that she should have been the winner tonight, and should have made it to the final. Oh well, still a great voice and a terrific performance.

Clive from Surbiton
What beautifully and movingly sung arias, especially the Verdi. Ha-Young Lee should have been a finalist.

Jean Benson from Hull
I can't believe that the Chilean tenor won tonight's concert. He had a lovely voice but was wooden. Ha-Young Lee was outstanding. She portrayed every emotion and captivated the audience. Were we all wrong?

Clive from Surbiton
What beautifully and movingly sung arias, especially the Verdi

Claude from London...again
oh MAN...you got totally RIPPED OFF!! I thought you were the best and you portrayed the character stunningly. You will have an international career. Best of luck!!

Chris Monk from Hastings
You were robbed, you deserved to win.

Professional singer from London
Your voice is divine. Fresh, young and emotional. It is absolutely scandalous that you are not in the final.

Ed Sturmheit from York
She gave an absolutely stunning and captivating performance in aleague of her own. She was robbed.

Kiernan Burke from Ireland
You were the best and you were robbed. I am so sorry. Your passionate and intelligent singing moved me immensely.

Diane O'Neill, Kingston upon Thames
The best voice and performance all week and she is not even in the final!

Cecil Pearse from Llandysul
We just cannot understand why Ha Young Lee has been passed over tonight. She was exceptional and deserves a place in the final

Sebastian - Swiss Cottage
I am OUTRAGED you did not win your heat! Just can't believe it! Everyone in the audience felt exhilarated by what you did tonight - it was really special, extremely courageous and had more drama in it than than the rest put together. I'm glad I'm not in Cardiff, my home town, or I'd probably punch the jury. A disgrace. Might have to write to my MP..

Claude in London
Oh my goodness! What a STUNNING performance. I love the animation and what a voice!! Totally unequalled..and that Verdi aria!!

Binnie Job from Pontyates
Best voice.