BBC Cardiff Singer of the World heats; REVIEW.

Byline: AJ Sicluna

ONE of the most effective Welsh representatives yet in this hugely-prestigious competition will represent the Principality in the final of the Singers' Prize tonight.

However, 22-year-old soprano Natalya Romaniw, pictured, was beaten by the splendid Czech bass Jan Martinik in her hard-fought heat.

As only those singers with the highest marks make it to Sunday's overall final, the Welsh artist could yet be there, but it is extremely doubtful. She can take comfort though, in reaching the final of the Singers' Competition where she will be the only woman and faces lethal competition, yet again, from the Czech bass and singers from Chile, Croatia and Ukraine.

In her main event heat on Wednesday, Romaniw , still a young artist, sang with enormous sincerity in a tough item from Idomeneo, and instilled an aria from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette with the joy-filled innocence of a teenager. She, like the four other competitors, had the advantage of being accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Lawrence Foster who guided her through the programme with care and empathy for all she did.

Australian mezzo Katharine Tier lacked that essential discipline in Handel and Wagner found her wanting. Chilean baritone Javier Arrey produced a miraculous timbre in Rodrigo's big aria from Don Carlo, was brilliant in Rossini and is well-deserving of a place in the final. Another audience favourite was American soprano Vira Slywotzky who was impassioned in a tragic piece by her compatriot Samuel Barber.

So far this has been a keenly contested contest with, inevitably, a wide spectrum of standards but tonight's song prize decider and the big final will produce fireworks.

By AJ Sicluna