Funding cuts hit BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition
24 November 2010, Cardiff, Wales
The BBC has announced funding cuts to one of its most prestigious international classical music awards, Cardiff Singer of the World.
From next year, the number of participants invited to take part in the biannual competition will be reduced from 25 to 20.
The number of competition rounds will also drop from five to four without any reduction in the price of season tickets.
Season ticket holders will instead be allowed to attend the final of the Song Prize, which runs alongside the competition.
A BBC Wakes spokesperson said that these decisions had been taken “due to challenging financial circumstances”, adding that “ticket prices for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World have been frozen for the past eight years, and next year's season ticket includes the Song Prize Final for the first time.”
The Song Prize was formerly funded by city lawyer, Ian Rosenblatt, but his support ended in 2009.
Patron Dame Joan Sutherland also recently passed away, leaving the competition temporarily without a figurehead.
Cardiff Singer of the World 2011 will take place at venues across the city between 12 and 19 June.
Winner of the Welsh Singers Competition 2010, tenor John Pierce, has automatically been selected to represent his home country.
