Young Maltese tenor Nico Darmanin among finalists for BBC competition

Nico Darmanin chosen to compete among finalists for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, will be ‘warming up’ on home turf with Manoel Theatre concert on May 18

Nico Darmanin
Nico Darmanin

Maltese Tenor Nico Darmanin has made it to the finals of the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Darmanin will be competing alongside 20 other international finalists, who were in turn chosen from a total of 350 applicants.

In preparation he will be performing the repertoire for the competition at Manoel Theatre on May 18 at 20:00. He will be accompanied by one of Malta’s best pianists Charlene Farrugia.

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World is a competition known throughout the classical music world as the premier showcase for opera and concert singers at the outset of their careers. It has launched the careers of some major stars including Bryn Terfel, Karita Mattila, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Anja Harteros and Jamie Barton.

Nico Darmanin was born in Malta and studied in London at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. He is a Samling Artist and has participated in master classes with Juan Diego Flórez and Joyce DiDonato and worked with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Thomas Allen at the Georg Solti Accademia, and with Mirella Freni in Modena.

In the 2013/14 season he made two debuts – at the Royal Opera House as Daniéli Les vêpres siciliennes and at Vlaamse Opera as Italian Tenor Der Rosenkavalier, a role he also performed at the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg.

Other highlights included Almaviva Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Holland Park and Belfiore Il viaggio a Reims at the Rossini Opera Festival. This season includes Ramiro La Cenerentola (Scottish Opera); Ottavio Don Giovanni (Vlaamse Opera); Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Festival Hall and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Barbican.

In concert, his repertoire includes Romantic song and operas by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Tosti, Fauré and Debussy. He has also recorded Massenet songs with Richard Bonynge and also Sullivan's On Shore and Sea under his baton.

Nico is keen to hear feedback on his competition repertoire so everyone is encouraged to come and participate on May 18 at Manoel Theatre as he sets off on this exciting journey to fly the Maltese flag in Cardiff, Wales.

Bookings: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, 2124 6389 or [email protected]