Fact Fest
|
 |
|
Some Competition trivia - perfect if you like facts and figures |
|
|
- So far 244 singers (269 with this year) have taken part representing 54 countries (56 with this year).
- This year, 951 singers applied to take part; 483 were shortlisted, representing 56 nations; auditions were held in 40 locations across 30 countries.
- The Competition has been won five times by a soprano, twice by a mezzo, twice by a baritone and once by a tenor.
- No country has won the Competition twice, but Wales has won the Lieder prize twice - Bryn Terfel in 1989 and Neal Davies in 1991.
- Finland has won both the overall prize - Karita Mattila in 1983 - and the Lieder prize - Kirsi Tiihonen in 1995.
- Only Canada, England, the USA and Wales have been represented at every competition, including 2003.
- The youngest contestants were Patricia Bardon (Ireland, 1983) and Alexandrina Pendachanska (Bulgaria, 1989) who were both 18 when they took part.
- Brian McMaster has been a member of every jury.
- Dame Joan Sutherland has made five appearances, Anthony Freud will make his fifth this year, and Matthew A. Epstein has appeared four times.
- Other regular jurors include the legendary American mezzo Marilyn Horne, the late Finnish bass-baritone Kim Borg, the late Professor Shen Xiang, and the late Sir Geraint Evans, who all made three appearances.
- Richard Armstrong has conducted in five competitions and Carlo Rizzi makes his fifth appearance this year.
- John Stein has led the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera at every Competition.
- Ingrid Surgenor has been one of the official accompanists for ten Competitions and Phillip Thomas for four.
|
|
|
|
|
