Two Guildhall alumni to feature in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019

Soprano Lauren Fagan (Opera 2014) and tenor Luis Gomes (Opera 2012) will be representing their countries in this year’s BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019.

The competition is one of the premier showcases for opera and concert singers at the outset of their careers, with over four hundred singers applying from across the globe before the selection of the 20 finalists. The singers will be accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ewa Strusińska, and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra conducted by Ariane Matiakh.

The competition’s Main Prize performances are broadcast across the BBC to audiences around the UK and beyond, with five singers selected to compete in the final at St David’s Hall. Fagan will sing Ma quando tornerai from Handel’s Alcina, Senza Mamma from Puccini’s Suor Angelica and No word from Tom from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Gomes will sing Tombe degli avi miei … Fra poco a me ricovero from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, L’amour! L’amour! … Ah! Lève-toi, soleil!  from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and No puede ser from Sorozábal La taberna del puerto.

The Song Prize sees the finalists perform Lieder and art songs accompanied by internationally renowned pianists. Fagan will sing Schubert’s Ganymed, I thought I heard a magpie call and A little town I love by Alfred Hill, and Meinem Kinde, Das Rosenband, and Cäcilie by Richard Strauss. Gomes will perform Schubert’s Auf der Riesenkoppe, Rachmaninov’s The Migrant Wind, Liszt’s Pace non trovo and Obradors’ Del cabello más sutil.

Among the competition's past winners are Guildhall alumni Sir Bryn Terfel and Ailish Tynan.

Follow the competition on the BBC website from 15 – 22 June.