Chinese singer nominated for top prize

When Chinese tenor Lei Mingjie found he was on the shortlist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019, he thought there had been a mistake.

But there was no mistake, Lei's name was indeed among the 20 top young classical singers who were nominated for the prestigious award.

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World brings together 20 classical singers from 15 countries who were picked from more than 400 applicants

Born and raised in Hengyang, Hunan province, Lei grew up in a family of music lovers.

"Chinese folk music had an influence on me. However, when I was younger, we had opportunities to hear a lot of recordings of Western music, not just opera but also orchestral music and musical theater," he said.

Opera was a path Lei wanted to pursue after seeing a live performance of Cosi fan Tutte at the Beijing International Music Festival when he was a university freshman.

"I was immediately struck by the singers who performed that evening, all sang and acted through the show stunningly and without microphones," he said.

Lei studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he graduated with a bachelor of music. He also holds a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

The 31-year-old, who also has an artistic diploma in opera from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, said he originally had his eyes set on becoming a voice teacher but decided he "didn't have enough experience" in the profession, so took up performing instead.

Highlights of Lei's career so far include the role of Iopas in Berlioz's Les Troyens at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Liverotto in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at the Salzburg Festival, and Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff with Opera Colorado.

"I'm very much looking forward to making my debut as Ferrando in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, the same show I saw in Beijing, with Staatsoper Stuttgart this May," Lei said.

"Next season, I will be singing my first Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflote with Staatsoper Stuttgart, as well as making my debuts at Opera Vlaanderen, Belgium and Opernhaus Zurich, Switzerland."

The BBC Cardiff competition, taking place in June, is described as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers on the brink of major international careers.

Lei said he hopes the nomination will give him more exposure.

"Whether you win or not, going to Cardiff is already something very extraordinary," he said. "The exposure, as well as from online and radio, is very valuable for young singers."

The last winner from China was bass-baritone singer Shen Yang in 2007.

boleung@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily 04/04/2019 page6)