Is this Pole the next Liza Connell?
mainThe international soprano Elizabeth Connell, who died far too soon, left a legacy to help rising dramatic sopranos.
The first winner is Anna Patrys, 33, from Poland.
The prize is worth A$20,000.
Anna, pictured with jury chair Richard Bonynge
press release:
INAUGURAL ELIZABETH CONNELL PRIZE
Held in conjunction with last night’s Bel Canto Award, the $20,000 inaugural “Elizabeth Connell Prize” was won by the 33-year old soprano from Poland, Anna Patrys. Open to the sopranos of the world the Elizabeth Connell Prize comes from a legacy left by the great South African dramatic soprano, Elizabeth Connell to help assist aspiring dramatic sopranos.
50 sopranos from 17 countries entered this year’s competition. 5 were invited to compete in Sydney at last night’s Finals Concert. The second prize went to British/Australian soprano Justine Viani (32) who’s family live on Sydney’s north coast. Justine was born in Australia but grew up in the UK and now lives in Cardiff Wales. The other finalist were Tracy Cox and Diane Kalinowski from the USA and Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon from Sydney.
Judges for both competitions were: Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE, soprano Marilyn Richardson, mezzo sopranos Bernadette Cullen and Fiona Janes and former Opera Australia Artistic Director, Moffatt Oxenbould AM.
She will never be a greate star. She was born in wrong country. Opera world is corrupt, behing her name stand no one importand like Domingo. So it’s almost year after competition… where is she???? In any opera house? Still not. If she was so good to winn Grand Prix why ROH or Sydney Opera House don’t hired her ? Because no one has the interest to promote Her. I listened all her recordings. She’s brilliant. Why then, despite such bombastic words no one (!!!!!) no one hired her? Because she was only an ideal advertisement of the contest… Pity. You could create a star. And You wasted a chance. I watch the actions of my colleagues here in Bulgaria. Their position also is lost – They was born in a third world country like Her.