BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007 Evan Dickerson [N.B. For each round of both competitions, I offered my impressions of the competitors, their repertoire and the buzz from the audience. I was the first critic to review the event in such detail online or in mainstream media. In so doing, I paved the way for other critics to follow my example in subsequent years.]
Main Prize reviews Main Prize Concert 1: Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Carlo Rizzi St David’s Hall, 7.30pm, 10.6.2007
http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2007/Jan-Jun07/cardiff_mp_concert1.htm KOREA: Sae Kyung Rim Soprano Born 1975 Catalani: Ebben? Ne andrò lontana (La Wally) Sae Kyung Rim walked on to the stage at St David’s Hall with little fuss and started the competition with a fair amount of style. It took the opening passages for her to scale the voice appropriately to the size of the hall, but once done she displayed more than competent phrasing along with the ability to launch soaring high notes at volume relatively easily. The aria’s ending was noteworthy for its spirited attack and gutsy tone. Verdi: Ritorna vincitor! (Aida) Attacked the opening with some passion, and the quieter passages were shaded down well to convey emotion. When in full flow Sae Kyung Rim produced impressive fortissimo notes that showed a sense of flair.
Puccini: Principessa, l'amore...Tu che di gel sei cinta (Turandot) Coped well with changing the placing and size of her voice from the large scale needed for Aida to the more intimate needed for Liu in Turandot. Started to express some emotion in her face and relaxed towards the end to give a performance that drew the audience in. General comments about singer Moments of brief uncertainty were overcome, although taken as a whole the La Wally aria was the most convincing interpretation.