麻豆社

This week鈥檚 Arts Hour meets some of the talented rising stars taking part in one of the most prestigious international competitions in classical music, the 麻豆社 Cardiff Singer of the World.

Nikki Bedi introduces the stories of six young opera singers from five different continents.

We hear from baritone Gihoon Kim from the Republic of Korea, who carried home the trophy and 拢20,000 main prize at this year's competition, and from South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, winner of this year鈥檚 Song Prize which is presented for the art of singing songs that are not from operas, such as folksongs and lieder.

We also hear from some of the other singers taking part from around the globe. From the US, baritone Reginald Smith Junior recalls how he was inspired to sing after seeing the African American baritone Donnie Ray Albert on stage.

Soprano Elbenita Kajtazi from the Republic of Kosovo, represented for the first time this year, tells us about her journey from child refugee in Albania to opera star.

Venezuelan soprano Maria Brea explains how despite the odds, she found a way to get to New York to continue her musical studies, and Georgian mezzo soprano Natalia Kutateladze on how the voice of Maria Callas moved her to try opera.

We鈥檒l also hear from veteran American soprano Roberta Alexander, one of the judges on this year鈥檚 panel, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa the patron of the prize speaks to us from her home in Auckland, New Zealand.

(Photo: Gihoon Kim. Credit: 麻豆社 / Kirsten McTernan)