Last night, from the stage of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, General Director Speight Jenkins announced the winners of Seattle Opera's second International Wagner Competition. Elza van den Heever from South Africa and Michael WeiniuTonight from the stage of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, General Director Speight Jenkins announced the winners of Seattle Opera's second International Wagner Competition. Elza van den Heever from South Africa and Michael Weinius from Sweden were selected from among the eight finalists by a panel of six distinguished judges. Each finalist performed two Wagner arias, accompanied by members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, led by the acclaimed conductor Asher Fisch. The winners will each receive a $15,000 prize, along with a boost to their careers.
"All of the judges agreed that we had eight fine finalists. I feel that the level was even higher this year than the first year," said Jenkins."It was a hard-fought decision for the two winners, but a great one." The panel of six judges selected Elza van den Heever following her performances of "Dich, teure Halle" (Tannhäuser) and "Einsam in trüben Tagen" (Lohengrin), and Michael Weinius for his performances of "Preislied" (Die Meistersinger) and "Amfortas! Die Wunde" (Parsifal). Elza van den Heever was named the Audience Favorite from votes cast by the audience and Nadine Weissmann was named the Orchestra Favorite from votes cast by the orchestra.Susan Hutchison, Executive Director of the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, announced the winners of the Audience Favorite and Orchestra favorite. The competition was sponsored for the second time by the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences.
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