Sometimes It's Good To Look Back

I received an email recently regarding the Cardiff Singer of the World competition, a competition that I had been involved in many years ago.  In fact, I gasped when I realized that it had been 22 years ago.  When I tried to think about what had actually transpired during that competition, my mind at first drew a blank.  It took me a few days of walking down memory lane before I was able to get to my destination.  Then the memories came flooding back.

The main organizer of the event is Anna Williams, and she is retiring after 30 years of exemplary work.  All participants (384 since 1981!) have been contacted to ask them to send a brief message to Anna about their experiences working with her during the competition. All contributions will be compiled into a book to be presented to her upon her retirement.  This is my tribute to the woman who made it all happen:

The Cardiff Singer of the World Competition came at an extraordinary point in my career.  Having only left the RNCM about 18 months prior to the competition, I was as green as green can be.  In 1989 while still at college, I had been in awe when watching Bryn Terfel and Dmitri Hvorovstovsky on television – watching the two battle it out for the final prize.  For me then to be chosen just two years later to represent Canada was both a dream and a nightmare come true.

In the midst of this was a situation whereby I was understudying the role of Fiordiligi at Glyndebourne.  Amanda Roocroft took ill and I had to replace her at very short notice – for a total of six performances.  Not only was I dealing with the pressure of my Glyndebourne debut, I was also dealing with the rigours of an international singing competition, as well as racing back and forth between Glyndebourne and Cardiff in order to meet both commitments.

What I do recall with the utmost clarity is the welcome from Anna and the BBC Wales production team.  They were a bright light and warm welcome in the midst of my panic and exhaustion.  More than anything, I remember meeting up briefly with Anna on the grounds of the Llangollen Eisteddfod the following year, and having a quick chat about the whole experience.  I was so pleased that she remembered who I was, and that she encouraged me with my extremely basic Welsh.

She was a fundamental and integral part of why the competition was such a success for all involved.  We didn’t all make it to the final – me included – but we did leave with a sense of being part of something very special, a feeling that does not just happen but is nurtured by the people who quietly and unassumingly put together such events. To this day it is why Cardiff is one of my very favourite cities.  Thank you, Anna.

(originally written September 19, 2013)