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16 November 2009
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BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2005

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Performer Profiles
Amanda Echalaz Name: Amanda Echalaz

Country: South Africa

Voice: Soprano

Date of birth: 29.09.1976

Place of birth: Durban, South Africa

Studied at: Royal Northern College of Music

Amanda Echalaz was born in Durban, South Africa. She sang First Bridesmaid in WNO's 2001 production of Le nozze di Figaro and Flower Maiden Parsifal in 2003. She was an Associated Young Artist at WNO in 2003.

Amanda won the Great Elm Vocal Award in 2003 and came second in both the 2001 John Ireland Song Competition and the 2002 Rita Hunter Singing Competition. She was the recipient of the 2003 Bayreuth Bursary and was a finalist in the 2003 Kathleen Ferrier Singing Competition.

She also participated in the Royal Opera House Masterclass Series with Robert Tear, broadcast by the BBC, and in a masterclass with Dame Gwyneth Jones on Wagner. 2005's engagements include Fiordiligi Così fan tutte for English Touring Opera.

She enjoys reading and swimming.

(Profile last updated June 2005)

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Your comments

Fom Barcelona, Joana
Do not leave Mozart. It`s yours. Come scoglio is very dificult and you did it well. Congratulations.

ruth, cambridge
I recently saw her as Alcina and she was INCREDIBLE. the fiordiligi song is great, but you should hear her do Handel's power arias!

JUDITH BARNETT Leeds
Thought Amanda was brilliant, her class shone through in her performance and natural stage pressence was a joy to behold, dont need judges to form our own opinions

Helen, London
I really admired Amanda's performance - the Fiordiligi and the Vanessa were spot on. She has great style and poise, as well as a shimmering and solid voice. Why was she not in the final?

Mark Silbergeld from Baltimore Maryland USA
beautiful performance of the French songs, but don't drive your top notes so hard. That tends to turn the voice harsh and you can get plenty of volume and drama without it.

hsde Bingley
Inspiring presence and thrilling voice. Should have won! Thank you - you have given me alot.

Claude in London
I thought she was absolutely fantastic and should have won over the Brit for that evening. Stunning

Julian Mountain from Cape Town
What can I say? Performance was mindblowing!

Joan Murray from Wales
Amanda doesn't need to be in ANY contest. She has EVERYTHING to make it on her own.

John Moore, Belfast
The voting panel made a big mistake by choosing Kennedy. Were they asleep ? Amanda would have won the final. What a wonderful voice and beautiful artist. I predict a great future for her.

T. Chessa from Rotterdam
Great mezzo, great voice, world class to be. Only minor thing was the pronounciation of italian. I think it's in the colour of the vowels, it's not Italian enough and that's a pity. But with her class I'm sure she will improve this in the future!

Jannie van der Merwe from London
You were the clear winner last night. Your Mozart and Barber were absolutely amazing. Incredible voice and technique. Well done!

Philippa Smyth from Belfast
Your performance was fantastic and I so enjoyed your super confident stage presence.

Julian Mountain from Cape Town
Amanda is an inspiration and has the most incredible singing voice. Best Wishes to her! She is also and amazing swimmer.

Thanks to all our users who submitted the above comments. This facility is now closed.



Competitors

Did you know...
South African flag Amanda Echalaz is the third South African to take part in the competition. She will be hoping to emulate her predecessor, Abel Motsoadi, who reached the Final in 1997.



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