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´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World 2011 has released postal application forms for tickets.

This is the first opportunity for music lovers across the globe to secure their season tickets for one of the most prestigious singing competitions in the world. Booking forms should be returned to St. David's Hall by Friday 4 February 2011.

All eyes will be on Cardiff from Sunday 12 June-Sunday 19 June 2011 for the biennial competition which will be shown on television, heard on radio and online, and has become known throughout the classical music world as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers at the start of their careers. 

Bass baritone Bryn Terfel, who won the Lieder Prize in 1989 and went on to become a household name, explains how taking part in the competition can shape an opera singer's career: "For an emerging opera singer, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World is a priceless opportunity. It is three steps up the ladder of that professional career you are striving for. It opens doors. I know for myself: two of the opera houses I later sang in – the Vienna Staatsoper and the Munich Opera House – saw the competition I was in and invited me to audition for them. It's such an important platform – and then, of course, there is the fact you are representing your country. Without doubt, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World is one of the most important competitions in the world."

Nineteen singers from around the world are currently being selected to join the Welsh representative, the tenor, John Pierce, for a place in ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World 2011, held in the capital city of Wales.

Every competitor will perform their choice of opera and concert repertoire in front of a distinguished jury and enthusiastic audience at St David's Hall, Cardiff. They will also have the option of entering the Song Prize competition in recitals of Lieder and Art Song.

Bryn was a member of the jury which selected the Welsh representative in June 2010. He describes what an important decision it is to choose a singer at this vital stage in their career: "I frequently say 'no' when asked to be on a panel or to give masterclasses to young singers. What some might want is the vocal equivalent of a very talented personality who is both comfortable performing in front of the public and of a very high calibre, but ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World is even more challenging.

"It was a very difficult choice when we decided who would sing for Wales. As a past competitor, who didn't win the competition, I know that even if you don’t win - but you are in that final – it is still something of huge significance."

Established in 1983 by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales, past winners have included Karita Mattila, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and the 2009 winner Ekaterina Scherbachenko.

The singers will be accompanied by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Jac van Steen and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Lothar Koenigs.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World is organised by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cymru Wales in association with Welsh National Opera and supported by the City and Council of Cardiff.

Season tickets include four concerts, the final and the Song Prize Final and are priced from £50 to £190. Song Prize season tickets for the four recitals at the New Theatre are £24.

Tickets to join the audience for the masterclasses, led by members of the world famous jury, are £8. Masterclasses will be held on Saturday 18 June at the New Theatre Cardiff and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Season tickets are available by post only. Brochures with booking forms are available from St. David's Hall, Cardiff CF10 1AH. Booking forms should be returned to St. David's Hall by Friday 4 February 2011.

A booking form to download and details about ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cardiff Singer of the World can be found at bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger.

CM5