The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023 – welcomes back a public audience – and takes place at St David’s Hall in Cardiff and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 June.

Celebrating it’s 40th anniversary in 2023, the biennial competition has launched the careers of some of the biggest opera stars, including Karita Mattila, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Sir Bryn Terfel, Anja Harteros, Jamie Barton and 2021 winner baritone Gihoon Kim from the Republic of Korea.

Audiences can follow all the drama of the competition – including all rounds of the main prize, the song prize final and the main prize final on the BBC – details to follow.

The singers who come to Cardiff will have made it through three selection stages from nearly 500 applications with virtual auditions for all selection rounds. The 16 singers will perform their programmes hoping to gain the title BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, or to become winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer Song Prize. Perhaps one lucky singer will gain both accolades!

The Main Prize jury is chaired by General Director of Welsh National Opera Aidan Lang, and the Song Prize jury by John Gilhooly, Wigmore Hall’s Artistic and Executive Director.

Main Prize
The two orchestras involved in the main prize are the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera.

The performances are broadcast across the BBC to audiences around the UK and beyond, and the five strongest singers are selected to compete in the exhilarating final in Cardiff. The singer named BBC Cardiff Singer of the World is presented with the Cardiff Trophy and £20,000.

Song Prize
The Song Prize puts our singers well and truly under the spotlight. Performing some of the most beautiful Lieder and arts songs in the repertoire, the singers are accompanied by internationally renowned pianists including Llŷr Williams and Simon Lepper. These more intimate performances take place at the Dora Stoutzker Hall of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, with the Song Prize Final happening at St David’s Hall.

The winner receives the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize Trophy and £10,000.

The Audience Prize
The Audience Prize is voted for by our audiences and presented during the grand final. The winner receives The Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Audience Prize, £2,500 and a crystal trophy.