BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023 Final

Beth Taylor 

I was born in Glasgow and graduated with distinction from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and from the Open University. I am currently studying with several coaches including Jennifer Larmore.

I was the 3rd prize winner of the 2019 Wigmore Hall Competition, the 1st prize winner of the 2018 Gianni Bergamo Classical Music Awards and a grand winner of the 2022 Elizabeth Connell Prize for dramatic voices.

I made my debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as Bradamante Alcina in 2022. The 2022/23 season saw my role debuts as Erda, Schwertleite and Erste Norn in Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the title role in Rossini’s rarely-performed melodrama, Bianca e Falliero, at Oper Frankfurt, as well as performing Arsace Semiramide and Giuliano Gordio Eliogabalo at Opernhaus Zürich.

On the concert platform I’ve worked with ensembles including the Dunedin Consort, the Ricercar Ensemble and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, across a wide range of repertoire. I am passionate about art song, particularly early 20th century German and French repertoire, and have given recitals throughout Europe.

I am an arts accessibility advocate and a trained practitioner in supporting and promoting arts and cultural activities between mainstream and assisted environments.

Upcoming engagements include Anna Les Troyens with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Eliot  Gardiner and Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Opéra de Lyon.

In my spare time, I love to read, take long walks, visit museums, plunder charity shops, cuddle other people’s cats and cook for anyone willing to put up with my chattiness.

Nombulelo Yende

I was born and raised in Mkhondo in the Mpumalanga province and started singing mostly in my church choir from 4 years of age. After finishing at high school I moved to Cape Town to further my studies at the University of Cape Town: Opera School in vocal training under the guidance of Professor Virginia Davids.

While I was still at the opera school I sang in productions in various theatres in Capetown. Roles included Giulietta I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Serpina La serva padrona, Carolina Il matrimonio segreto, Fiordiligi Così fan tutte and 1st Lady Die Zauberflöte.

Awards I’ve received include First Female Prize, Audience Prize and several special prizes – Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition Warsaw, Poland, 2022; Audience Prize, Neue Stimmen 2019; Grand Prize and Audience Prize, Vincenzo Bellini International Belcanto Competition 2018.

Upon completing my studies I joined Oper Frankfurt's Opera Studio in the 2021/22 season, during which time I made my European debut singing Der Huter der Schwelle des Tempels and Falke Die Frau ohne Schatten, Lover Il tabarro and Suor Dolcina Suor Angelica. My second season roles included Polya in Tchaikovsky’s Charodeyka, Die Aufseherin Elektra, Sandmännchen Hänsel und Gretel and my role debut as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin.

I like to spend my spare time journaling and building puzzles.

Adolfo Corrado 

I was born in Apulia and first trained as an actor in Rome. Later on, I began my musical studies at the conservatory Tito Schipa in Lecce, under the guidance of Gianluca Belfiori. My training continues in the Young Artist Project at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

I won the International Competition Toti Dal Monte 2021, resulting in receiving the title role of Don Pasquale. Also, I won the 2022 As.Li.Co. competition for the role of Leporello Don Giovanni.

My most recent engagements include Teatro alla Scala in Milan (Andrea Chénier), Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari (Don Pasquale, Il barbiere di Siviglia), Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Oedipus Rex, Siberia, Tosca), Arena di Verona (Nabucco), Teatro la Fenice (I Lombardi), Palau de les Artes in Valencia (Don Giovanni), Teatro Regio in Turin (Turandot, La scuola de’gelosi, Lélio) and Salzburger Festspiele (Tosca). I have performed under the baton of conductors such as Daniel Oren, Zubin Mehta, Gianandrea Noseda and Daniele Gatti.

Future plans include projects at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Festival della Valle D'Itria in Martina Franca and Festival Donizetti in Bergamo.

One of my greatest passions is cooking, especially Italian cuisine, having worked for several years in the restaurant world before discovering music. I also really enjoy travelling and discovering new places, new people and new cultures.

Jessica Robinson

I was born in Pembrokeshire and graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama with a first-class honours degree and distinction in MA Opera Performance. At RWCMD I was awarded the Aneurin Davies Memorial Award; The Mansel Thomas Prize; The Margaret Tann Award; the Elias Soprano Award and was the 2016 Prince of Wales Scholar. In 2022 I won the Welsh Singers Competition.

My operatic performances include Rose Lakmé, Rosina The Barber of Seville and Despina Così fan tutte, for Swansea City Opera; Heavenly Voice Don Carlos and Tetka Jenůfa for Grange Park Opera; Spell for Reality Spell Book and Siren La liberazione di Ruggiero for Longborough Festival Opera; and Worker/Semi Chorus Gair ar Gnawd for Welsh National Opera/S4C.

I’m a regular soloist in oratorio and concert performances throughout the United Kingdom. Highlights include Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music for BBC Radio 3 with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; 1000 Male Voice Choir Gala at the Royal Albert Hall; soloist in Handel’s Messiah at Wales Millennium Centre and a performance for royalty and guests at Buckingham Palace. Internationally, I have performed in New York, China, Switzerland   and Italy.

Away from the stage, I enjoy working with the Forget-me-Not Chorus, walking my sheepdog, Sblot, and the occasional glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Siphokazi Molteno

I come from East London, South Africa and studied music at Nelson Mandela University and the University of Cape Town.

As a young artist with Cape Town Opera, I sang Dorabella Così fan tutte, Romeo I Capuleti e i Montecchi and the Third Lady Die Zauberflöte. For my performance as Dorabella at Cape Town Opera, I won the Fleur Du Cap’s Best Performance in an Opera (Female) Award in both 2020 and 2022. I also received the 2020 Rising Star Encouragement Award in the Glyndebourne Opera Cup and received both the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award and the Audience Choice Award at Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition in 2017.

During the 2021/22 season, I sang Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia at Saratoga Opera and was the mezzo-soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 with Camerata Notturna.

I’m currently in my second year as a member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. I make my Met debut during the 2022/23 season as Flora La traviata and as Sister Mathilde in Dialogues des Carmélites.

Recent concert engagements include Haydn’s Theresienmesse and Mozart’s Sparrow Mass with the New Choral Society, Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai and Mozart’s Coronation Mass with St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, and Verdi’s Requiem with Dar Choral Society, Tanzania.

When I'm not singing opera, I like to cook. I also love trying out different restaurants.