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Tommi Hakala's Diary: Day 0 |
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Finnish competitor Tommi Hakala kept an online diary for us, giving a fascinating insight into what it's like to be on the sharp end of the Competition.
The first competitor to arrive, here's an account of the start of his stay in Cardiff. |
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Tuesday: I arrived for the first time ever in Great Britain and I was welcomed in a very British way: heavy rain followed by friendly sunshine! It was great to come over that beautiful bridge into Wales. Soon afterwards I got to Cardiff - and I was the first competitor to arrive.
Wednesday: In the morning I went to Moorland Primary School to take part in the Competition's education project. It's a very big school and I was made very welcome there, particularly as the school is twinned with another school in Finland, and some of the children have been there!
They had learned a folksong, the Shepherd's Song, which they sang to me, along with some of the players from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, who had helped them with their arrangement. Then, they asked me all kinds of questions - where I was from, what is my favourite place, what about my family. It was really nice to spend time there.
Meanwhile, all this was being filmed by the BBC for a TV feature about some of the things that happen around the Competition. Afterwards, we went to the BBC to do some filming of me at the computer, writing this diary - and that's when the photo above was taken.
Thursday: My first rehearsal - this was with conductor Carlo Rizzi and a repetiteur. It was good to meet him, I'd heard a lot of good things about how he works with singers and they're all true!
After that I had a long walk in Bute Park - I love to walk, and it's a very nice mixture of some quite formal parts and a more natural part, with lots of trees and wide spaces. My dog would have such fun there! Then - I went to the movies to see Matrix Reloaded. It isn't really my kind of film, but the action sequences are the best I've ever seen. Very deep action, very shallow philosophy! But I'm glad I've seen it.
Friday: In the afternoon I met the orchestra for the first time, and they are really good. Carlo Rizzi is so good at keeping the orchestra together but reacting exactly to the singer at the same time. He offered some suggestions as well - it's good that he's really helping to make it as good a performance as it can be.
Later I went to the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans, near Cardiff. It's a wonderful outdoor place where many old buildings have been rebuilt, and you can spend hours wandering in and out of them. And I saw some nice cows and pigs there too!
This very good day was finished off with a drink of the local Brains beer - I liked it but I think my wife would like it more as she prefers stronger beer - I usually drink lager.
Saturday: no rehearsals apart from by myself - I do an hour of so of warming up my voice, and I sang through the programme once. Then, I took a waterbus to Penarth and walked by the sea. I find the sea makes you feel very good, and there are some really interesting stones on the beach.
Then it was time for welcome party. Most of the competitors were there, and also many people who work on the Competition, either organising it, or working for the TV, radio and website.
Big day tomorrow...
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