Did anyone see this last night? The Japanese soprano was much better than the rest, though I quite liked the Argentinian bass as well. Its on each evening this week.

Yes, I am glued to the TV this week. I'm missing seeing it live this time - I had the pleasure of seeing a heat and the Song Prize final in Cardiff last time. It is amazing how the sound changes from live to screen and voices can sound so different. I liked the Japanese soprano, too. Ths bass was good, but I think we are hearing him a few years too soon. I couldn't believe he was only 23.

Next time around I am going to take the week off and go to hear each one live. I have been listening to the repeat in the small hours on BBC 4.

Has anyone else been listening to that countertenor this evening? I thought that his voice was rather

Did I imagine it, or did he sing some - rather - high notes?

Yes, he did rather! Some described him as a male soprano. I think that countertenors are just singing higher these days! Lovely voice though!

I hope that the singing Forumites are watching or listening to this. There are some fabulous voices on stage this lunchtime. And I thought that the Welsh soprano was brilliant too!

I just LOVED the male soprano. Will catch up with the Welsh girl tonight.

It's on BBC4 (Sky 116) 7.30 - 9.00 each day.

I enjoyed the lyrical bass tonight and he deserved to win, but I fell in love with young Natalia Romaniw from S Wales ! She needs another few years yet for her voice to mature though.

There are radio broadcasts also, and programmes on BBC 2 and BBC 2 Wales.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/cardiffsinger/s...rogrammes.shtml

Well I managed to see it every evening and (unusually for me) picked the winner each time. The final is on BBC2 on Sunday.
I will stick my neck out and say it's pretty close between the Japanese soprano from Monday and tonights Italian tenor (terrific 'Che gelida manina). I'd go for the tenor. Third best? The young Czech bass.

You could be right, Fred. My money is on the countertenor at the moment followed by Miss Japan and the rather lovely Italian tenor. It will all depend on the choice of programme as much as anything else. It has been a really brilliant competition this year.

The Italian tenor won the audience prize!

Miss Japan had the difficult task of opening the competition today and wasn't as assured as she was in her winning round. I still think that the counter tenor should have won! Brilliant competition though.

Excellent competition! I was going for the Counter-tenor too!

I still don't know who won. I mis-set the DVD recorder and missed the entire final!!

Oops!

The Russian Soprano won. The Italian tenor won the audience prize.

I hadn't seen any of the earlier rounds, but thought the Italian tenor was the least impressive tonight. He attempted some very difficult arias and very nearly brought it off; he's going to be great in a few more years when he has just that bit more emotion and passion!

I thought it was a super final, and I thought the right person won. The counter tenor was extremely good though.

You can see it all this week on BBC iplayer.
I was enthralled, and I really liked the counter tenor, but the Russian soprano's programme was more varied in terms of characterization and she carried it off beautifully.
We'll be hearing more of them all, I'm sure. I'd like to hear the Italian tenor in five years time!

I saw some of the competition and some of the final Its on Iplayer I think

My impression overall is that some of younger singers attempted material which was too mature for their current voice. One bass baritone so called had virtually no low notes but an excellent top

Re the tenor - too much to young I hope someone is looking out for this voice. I admired the beautiful lyric sound but it tended to go squally under pressure and lacked support and some steel. He was badly advised on some of his final arias. Too many tenor warhorses However if he is handled right a stellar future awaits

Yes I think thats right Tony, the Italian Tenor and the Czech Bass were both quite not mature enough to win something like this. Even more so the young Welsh soprano from Wednesday round, she needs another six years yet I'd say. I only saw a bit of the final, but all the earlier rounds. What happened to the Japanese girl, I though she was as good as any of them in the rounds, and better than the Russian.

The Russian girl was by far the best and justice was done and seen to be done.

I understand the 'Song Prize' final is on BBC4 next Friday, though I will miss it