This is an article about BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2011. For news about the finalists of the 2013 competition, click here.
Twenty young opera singers from around the globe have been whittled down to just five for the final of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, to take place on 19 June.
Meeta Raval from England, Olesya Petrova from Russia, Andrei Bondarenko from Ukraine and Hye Jung Lee from South Korea all won their respective rounds earlier this week. Winning a round does not guarantee a place in the final, but does make it very likely.
The fifth place in Sunday’s final went to Valentina Naforniţă from Moldova who was in the same round as Bondarenko but convinced the judges she deserved a place in the final with a performance of 'Amour, ranime mon courage' from Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet.
The singers will perform with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Jac van Steen and Lawrence Foster.
Soprano, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, patron of the competition, and a member of the judging panel said: 'The standard of singing has been extremely high throughout the week. The winner will need to have exceptional talent, and be worthy of the reputation of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World title.'
The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World final takes place on 19 June and will be broadcast on BBC Two and Radio 3 at 5.30pm. The past rounds can be viewed on BBC iplayer
Elizabeth Davis