|
Forward
Back
Opera X
Factor-Style
The BBC is to launch a "reality radio" show in a nationwide
hunt to find the next opera sensation.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the world's leading sopranos,
will head a panel of judges scouring the country for new opera stars, the
best of whom will showcase their talents on BBC Radio 2.
The Radio 2 Kiri Prize will be announced this week as part of the BBC's
attempt to open opera up to a wider audience.
The winner will perform with Dame Kiri at the BBC's Proms in
the Park in September, launching their opera career in front of an audience
of thousands.
Dame Kiri, who will also offer the winner a three-week course at the Solti
Te Kanawa Academia opera school in Italy, said: "I have a passion for
finding new opera talent, so I'm thrilled to be involved in such an exciting
project."
Aspiring opera stars will be invited to send a recording of themselves
singing an opera aria into Radio 2.
Regional auditions will take place in March in Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow,
Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham and London, with the best contestants who
make it through the auditions attending a series of 10 masterclasses with
Dame Kiri.
Fifteen semi-finalists will perform this summer on a series of special
episodes of Friday Night is Music Night, Radio 2's flagship live music
programme, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The best five singers chosen by the judges, who will also include Robin
Stapleton, the conductor, will then go through to the final, which will be
broadcast on Radio 2 on Sept 3.
A spokesman for Radio 2, said: "The judges will be looking at several
criteria, but foremost among them will be technical ability, artistic
interpretation, intonation, phrasing and dramatic performance.
"The initiative is looking for serious vocal potential in a very focused
area of the music world. We hope to discover a unique talent who will go on
to have a career in the world's opera houses for many years to come."
The competition will be open to amateur opera singers, opera students and
members of company choruses aged 20 and above.
The launch of The Radio 2 Kiri Prize comes as leading opera singers have
heavily criticised ITV 1's latest reality television show, Popstar to
Operastar, for "cheapening" opera.
The show features celebrities including Alex James, a guitarist with the
band Blur, Danny Jones from the boy band McFly and Kym Marsh, the Coronation
Street actress, attempting to sing opera to a judging panel including
Katherine Jenkins, the classical singer, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the
television presenter.
23:02
January 23
2010 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Top
Forward
Back
|
