Â鶹Éç

Singers from all over the world start arriving in Wales next week ready to stake their claim for one of opera's most prestigious titles: Â鶹Éç Cardiff Singer of the World.

Find out about the singers along with the repertoire they will perform on the 2009 competitors page, and see the full performance schedule.

Words of wisdom

It is 20 years since Bryn Terfel took part in the competition, winning the first Lieder Prize, and he shares his passion for performance with the next generation of singers. Bryn took time out of his hectic schedule to meet some of the London-based 2009 contestants at the Royal Opera House.

He shared some pearls of wisdom with Guildhall School of Music and Drama student Natalya Romaniw (Wales), along with Ji-Min Park (Republic of Korea) and Eri Nakamura (Japan), both of whom are members of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists Programme.

Bryn's main message to the contestants is to realise that their performance begins the moment they walk on to the stage and to remember to smile!

His top tip was to keep hydrated. "You will be doing so many rehearsals, interviews and then the performances - just keep on drinking water, keep it in your bag and drink it whenever you can."

The jury

Also preparing for their demanding roles are the international jurors. These include Ann Murray, who is currently in Cardiff, taking part in Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades with Welsh National Opera. View full details of the jury members.

Master classes

On Saturday 13 June, distinguished jury members give master classes to some of the competitors not taking part in the final. Hugely popular, these give a unique opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the world of singing sharing their skills and experience with up-and-coming talent. View the schedule of master classes.