Cape Town Opera soloist, Mandla Mndebele, (baritone), wins third prize, plus the audience prize at the 36th edition of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. First prize was awarded to Russian Aigul Akhmetshina, (mezzo-soprano) and second prize to Kang Wang, (tenor), Australia.
From the 1125 singers from across the globe who gathered in Moscow, 15 singers from different countries qualified for the finals, among them four singers from Russia, two from Spain and one each from Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea and USA. Altogether two basses, two bass-baritones, three baritones, one tenor, three mezzo-sopranos and four sopranos participated.
The prestigious Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition is known as the springboard for a career in opera or the “Wall Street of Voices.”
Cape Town Opera’s Managing Director Michael Williams joined the jury of 13 that consists exclusively of opera and casting directors from international renowned opera houses, who award additional engagements to the participants. The engagement ratio of past participants in the final rounds is about 70%
The complete list with the media prize, the audience prize and all special prizes will follow on 7 July during the day on http://www.belvedere-competition.com/press/
Photo Anna Molyanova / Helikon Opera Moscow