Which Russian soprano won singer of the world title?”
It’s 20 years since baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky won the Cardiff Singer of the World title. No Russian has repeated that success until now. Whether soprano Ekaterina Shcherbachenko will go on to make a comparable career remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the platform this competition gives singers is still keenly sought after. Shcherbachenko had already made an impact in her earlier round with a stunning performance of Tatyana’s letter-scene from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Blessed with a lovely vocal instrument – silvery gleam at the top, golden bloom to the middle – it was the finesse and colouring she brought to the sound that set her apart. In the final, any doubts about range of repertoire were answered with her beautifully delivered aria from Turandot and Anne Trulove’s aria No Word from Tom, from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. A Russian singing Stravinsky certainly felt like a turn-up for the books. The four other finalists made a good showing. The deeply expressive cou
Beautiful Russian soprano Ekaterina Shcherbachenko last night won the world’s greatest operatic competition BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The elegant 32-year-old soprano delighted the packed St David’s Hall, Cardiff audience with a stunning programme that brought the week of competition to a thrilling close. The decision of the panel of international judges was announced by John Fisher, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Welsh National Opera. Ekaterina was then presented with her Welsh crystal trophy and £15,000 prize by the Competition’s Patron Dame Joan Sutherland.
