MARIO LANZA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION awards - 26 may 2007
The Mario Lanza Awards competition was held at the Recital hall, Birmingham Conservatoire 26 May. There were 13 competitors taking part, and the programme promised us a very enjoyable afternoon's entertainment. three was barely an empty seat as the competition began. Michael Barry, head of Drama studies introduced the Adjudicator donald Maxwell in Julian Pike's absence.
The programme was excellent with arias from Mozart, Puccini, Handel, rossini, Gounod, Dvorak, Donizetti and Bellini, giving the adjudicator quite a task to choose the winner of the competition. Eventually, the decision was announced, and the winner was Rhydian roberts, who sang "Largo al factotum" from Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini. His second area was "Avant de quitter ces liex" from Faust, by Gounod. He was very confident, and both arias suited him perfectly. He gave a very polished performance, and was a worthy winner.
The runner up was a young lady Eleanor Laugharne, who sang "Zeffiretti Lusinghiera from idomenco" by Mozart. Her second choice was "Piangero la sorte mia from Guilo Cesare" by Handel. Derek Wheldon, our Vice chairman presented the cheques to the winner, who received a cheque for £1,000 and the runner up £500.
Always for Mario
Carol Jacobs