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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Russian wins Singer of the World | Russian wins Singer of the World |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009 final has been won by Russian soprano Ekaterina Shcherbachenko. | The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009 final has been won by Russian soprano Ekaterina Shcherbachenko. |
| Speaking after the result was announced, the 32-year-old said it was the "happiest day" of her life. | Speaking after the result was announced, the 32-year-old said it was the "happiest day" of her life. |
| She beat four other finalists from Japan, Italy, Ukraine and the Czech Republic to win a trophy and £15,000. | She beat four other finalists from Japan, Italy, Ukraine and the Czech Republic to win a trophy and £15,000. |
| Shcherbachenko performed in French and Italian in a packed St David's Hall, before closing in English with Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. | Shcherbachenko performed in French and Italian in a packed St David's Hall, before closing in English with Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. |
| The £2,000 Audience Prize, chosen by public telephone vote, was the youngest competitor - 21-year-old Italian tenor Giordano Lucà. | The £2,000 Audience Prize, chosen by public telephone vote, was the youngest competitor - 21-year-old Italian tenor Giordano Lucà. |
| In all, 25 competitors were selected from more than 600 original entrants to the competition. | In all, 25 competitors were selected from more than 600 original entrants to the competition. |
| The four other finalists were: soprano Eri Nakamura, 31, from Japan; Luca, 21, from Italy; bass Jan Martiník, 26, from the Czech Republic and 30-year-old counter-tenor Yuriy Mynenko, from Ukraine. | The four other finalists were: soprano Eri Nakamura, 31, from Japan; Luca, 21, from Italy; bass Jan Martiník, 26, from the Czech Republic and 30-year-old counter-tenor Yuriy Mynenko, from Ukraine. |
| Martinik beat four other finalists, including Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw, 22, from Morriston, Swansea, to win the competition's £5,000 song prize. | |
| This year all the singers are eligible to benefit from a new bursary to help towards the development of their musical careers. | This year all the singers are eligible to benefit from a new bursary to help towards the development of their musical careers. |
| A follower of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Annie Sankey, has left the competition a bequest and a new bursary in her name to support singers who take part in the competition has been established. | A follower of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Annie Sankey, has left the competition a bequest and a new bursary in her name to support singers who take part in the competition has been established. |
| Menna Richards, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: "The bursaries will help support the studies of competitors, including helping with travel and the purchase of musical scores." | Menna Richards, director of BBC Cymru Wales, said: "The bursaries will help support the studies of competitors, including helping with travel and the purchase of musical scores." |