I have said before that it all depends on the performance on the night and it was true again in this year's final. I am putting my thoughts down here at 19:38 before the judges make a decision so I cannot pretend I knew who was going to win all along. You have to admire my honesty. Well, you don't have to but it would be nice if you did..........
Japanese soprano - my favourite but she pushed a bit tonight and not sure she is going to do it; Italian tenor, terrific fun but at 21 a bit unremitting and feel he needs more colour in his voice though he was wonderful and I shall keep an eye out for him, a Pavarotti in the making (and no, he did not sing Nessun Dorma thank heavens, that would have been too much of a good thing); bass did an aria from Don Carlos and I felt he was good but he did not thrill me (I gather he won the Lieder prize). Then the Russian soprano (I apologise for using nationalities instead of names but I cannot spell most of them) came on and did a complete performance and was brilliant. I thought she was the weakest of the five even thought she did a wonderful letter scene from Onegin in her round, but tonight she was spot on. The counter tenor simply sensational and the audience adored him.
So in my opinion it comes down to the Russian soprano or the counter tenor and my choice would be the counter tenor - just. I wonder if the jury will agree with me - my gut feeling is they will go with Russia but we shall see.
I will let you know in about half an hour if I was right...or more likely, wrong.
LATER - Well, I was right. The Russian soprano won and on the performance she gave tonight the correct decision though I do wish the counter tenor had done it as I think that would have been a bold award. However, as soon as Ekaterina had finished, I thought 'she's got it'.
The audience prize, voted for by everyone watching in the theatre throughout the week and on TV and listening on radio, was Giovanni Lucca, the Italian tenor, and he was beaming all over his face. Lovely young chap and he is going to be a great singer, if, and it is a big if, he is not pushed too far, too fast.
The trophy was presented by Dame Joan Sutherland who made it, though she has recently had a fall and hurt her leg I gather. There she was and it is a sobering thought to realise that she is now 80 years old. I remember seeing her when I was just eleven in Lucia at Covent Garden and meeting her back stage afterwards. A kind and gracious lady who signed my programme for me. Needless to say as soon as she walked on the stage the audience leapt to their feet and simply yelled. Magical moment.
So, wonderful competition as ever and I thoroughly enjoyed the leisure and time that is now mine to sit and watch every single round. I have had hay fever back again the last few days so have spent a lot of time indoors and delighted that there was decent TV available. Oh and to add to it all of course, Andy Murray won the tennis championship at Queens today, the first Brit to do that for over 70 years.
So a good day - as I said in my previous post Tennis and Top Notes. Great mixture.
