Elizabeth Connell Prize
The International Singing Competition in memory of the great soprano and mezzo takes place in London for the first time.
Elizabeth Connell (1946 - 2012)
The South-African mezzo and soprano, affectionately known as “Liza” Connell, died in 2012, aged only 65, four years after giving one of her most memorable performances as Puccini’s Turandot at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. At the beginning of her career, as a member of English National Opera her future looked destined primarily for Wagner roles - I remember a thrilling Sieglinde in the famous “Goodall” Ring - conducted by ENO’s then music director, Charles Groves in 1979 - which presaged the upwards direction of her voice into dramatic soprano territory.
Since 2014, the Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring female dramatic singers has taken place in Australia, where Liza often sang and hoped to retire. This year a decision was taken to hold the event in London - the final will be at Wigmore Hall on June 3 - because of the increasing costs to fly to Sydney. Prizes totalling £37,000 will be divided between three winners: first prize (and crystal trophy) £15,000, second prize £7,500, third prize £5000 with £3000 each for the runners up. Dame Anne Evans, Bernadette Culllen and Peter Katona, the Royal Opera’s casting director, lead the judging panel. The semi-final takes place at Marylebone Theatre Rudolf Steiner House, 35, Park Road, London NW1 6XT on June 1 at 2pm (£5, cash at the door only) with the Wigmore Hall final on June 3 at 1pm (£20, £18 concessions).