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The first stage of the quest for the 2011 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cardiff Singer of the World takes place on 28 June 2010.

Four singers take to the stage at St David's Hall, Cardiff on Monday 28 June, each hoping to be standing there again next June, representing their country in the 2011 competition.

Each finalist in the Welsh Singers Competition performs a programme of their own choosing, up to 18 minutes in length. As well as items from the operatic and concert repertoire, accompanied by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ National Orchestra of Wales, they may also include songs with piano.

All the singers have chosen wide-ranging programmes, showing their skills and versatility in different periods and styles of music. Here are the details:

Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano)

• Handel's Giulio Cesare: Vani sono i lamenti ... Svegliatevi nel core
• Bizet's Carmen: Près des remparts de Séville
• Berg's Seven Early Songs: Die Nachtigall
• Rossini's La Cenerentola: Nacqui all'affanno ... Non più mesta

Samuel Evans (baritone)

• Handel's Agrippina: La mia sorte fortunate
• Wagner's Tannhäuser: Wie Todesahnung ... O du mein holder Abendstern
• Finzi's Earth, Air and Rain: The Clock of the Years
• Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro: Hai già vinta la causa! ... Vedrò mentr'io sospiro

Catrin Aur Davies (soprano)

• Richard Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder: Frühling
• Catalani's La Wally: Ebben? Ne andrò lontana
• Walton's Troilus and Cressida: At the haunted end of the day
• Verdi's La traviata: È strano! ... Ah fors'è lui ... Sempre libera

John Pierce (tenor)

• Mozart's Die Zauberflöte: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön
• Massenet's Manon: Instant charmant ... En fermant les yeux
• Verdi's La traviata: Lunge da lei ... De' miei bollenti spiriti
• Puccini's La bohème: Che gelida manina

Information about the competition is on the and tickets are available from , Cardiff.