At the fourth concert of the 2017 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, exceptional performances of two arias from Massenet’s WERTHER were particularly gratifying. Tenor Kang Wang (above), who has sung an impressive Narraboth at The Met, delivered the poet’s lamenting “Pourquoi Me Réveiller?“ with striking sincerity.
Catriona Morison (above), from Scotland, moved me deeply with her sense of quiet desperation in Charlotte’s “Air des Lettres“. A superbly attractive woman, Ms. Morison’s voice and her emotional engagement in the character’s situation made her performance of this aria – which does not always work well out of context – as fine as any I can recall.
UPDATE: Catriona Morison was co-winner – along with Mongolian baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar – of the 2017 Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize. Watch as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa presents the trophy here.
Both Ms. Morison and and Kang Wang along are finalists in the competition for the Main Prize, as are Mr. Ganbaatar, England’s Louise Adler, and the American baritone Anthony Clark Evans.
UPDATE #2: Hot off the press: Catriona Morison named Cardiff Singer of the World 2017!! Can I pick ’em or can I??
Oberon's Glade 