Soprano on song for home show

Soprano on song for home show

Elizabeth has a natural agility, critics say

Soprano Elizabeth Donovan is hoping to impress crowds on her home turf when she takes to the stage at one of the world's greatest vocal showdowns.

Born in the Welsh capital, the 23-year-old is now rehearsing for June's BBC Singer of the World in Cardiff, launched at London's Covent Garden on Thursday.

Critics are tipping the post-graduate music student as Wales' brightest prospect so far in the 20-year-old competition.

But Donovan, who lives in Bridgend, is taking it all in her stride.

Cello

Broadcast exclusively by the BBC, the contest is one of the highest-profile operatic events, but has never been won by a homegrown entrant.

BBC SINGER OF THE WORLD

Runs from June 22 to June 29, 2003

Five concert rounds to be shown on BBC Four, final live on BBC Two, streamed on new website

Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize broadcast live on BBC Radio 3

BBC Radio 3 reports from Cardiff throughout the week

Extra coverage on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru

Special 'Battle of the Baritones' DVD due out in May

BBCi: Cardiff Singer of the World

Elizabeth - in her final year at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester - has begun looking for work.

An impressive performance in Cardiff, where agents will be scouting, would boost her employability immensely.

"I knew, from about the age of 13, music was going to play a part in my life - but I didn't know which way," she said.

"I thought it would to be the cello - until the age of 16, when singing took over."

Natural

But, though Elizabeth - who discovered music when her father commandeered her uncle's discarded piano - is still at college, she is already garnering critical acclaim.

Adulation awaits the winner, like 2002's Romanian Marius Brenciu

"She has a natural, sweet voice capable of being expanded in to a much richer sound," said music critic Rhian Evans.

"She has got a natural agility which she uses very cleverly so you get vocal acrobatics which she does without too much difficulty at all, it seems.

"More importantly, you feel she gets to the heart of the music, that she knows what the words mean."

2003's Singer of the World boasts a new direction - like interactive voting by TV, phone, web and in St David's Hall - for the 20th anniversary.

But the intense pressure of the make-or-break environment will be as hot as ever.

Pressure

Ms Evans added: "It puts huge pressure on the young singers and there is a strong lobby of opinion to suggest that isn't a very good thing.

"On the other hand, singers opting for a professional career are opting for exactly that kind of pressure.

"Whenever they are on a public platform, they have to have nerves of steel.

"There is no question it is a good platform for being spotted for the future."

But Elizabeth is said to have enough natural talent to relax on the big night.

"Every time I enter a competition, I don't think about it. It's just a fantastic opportunity," she added.

"I just do it for the sheer love of singing."