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Each year, La Scena Musicale assembles an informal jury that listens, grades and evaluates the 24 participants of the Concours musical international de Montreal (CMIM). For this year’s Voice edition, a team consisting of La Scena’s voice specialists Adrian Rodriguez, Justin Bernard, Wah Keung Chan and Gianmarco Segato have drawn their top predictions for the competition winners.
AR: Jingjing Xu possesses what can only be described as flawless bel canto technique—her voice is consistently focused, her coloratura is impeccable, she can sing forte and (AR adds with a sigh) she can sing piano! She’s on a promising path, having recently won the 2024 Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition. Xu’s masterful control and effortless nuance makes her song performances feel natural and unforced. GS: One of a small subset of the competitors who, even at this early career stage, shows signs of becoming a complete performer. Xu is fearless in her delivery of text and already knows that to simply emit a perfect sound isn’t always the main point. In art song, Xu stands out for her ability to communicate in a very specific way so that voice and text are inextricably combined. JB: Xu displays breathtaking vocal maturity and a concern for dramatic expression that is rare for her age. Her artistic personality seems better suited to the inner character of melodies than to the more dazzling character of operatic arias. An important element to consider here is the volume of her voice, which appears less developed than that of other candidates. Her emotional commitment is one of her great strengths. Will she beat the odds and repeat Simone McIntosh’s success, another mezzo-soprano who won first prize in the Aria category in 2022?
Ricardo Garcia, tenor, Nicaragua/U.S.A.
Aria 1st: Justin Aria 2nd: Adrian, Wah Keung Song 3rd: Adrian
JB: In 2018, tenor Mario Bahg won with his memorable performance of “Salut, demeure chaste et pure.” This tenor from Nicaragua sings from the gut. Extremely mature for his age, he has a powerful, heroic voice that should effortlessly fill Maison symphonique. Above all, he’s capable of expressing the strong emotions beloved by opera lovers. AR: His stentorian tenor voice and the rare ease of his high register make him the standout among many gifted performers. However, his sense of style and diction—particularly in French—still lacks refinement, which could jeopardize his chances, especially in Montreal. With such a clear dramatic and operatic voice, I didn’t expect him to be a strong melodist, but I was pleasantly surprised by his interpretation of Schubert’s iconic “Erlkönig” on YouTube. If he selects the right repertoire and maybe sprinkles in some canciones along the way, he could definitely charm the public and win the jury over with his emotive style.
Ruby Dibble, mezzo-soprano, U.S.A.
Aria 1st: Wah Keung Aria 2nd: Gianmarco Aria Dark Horse: Adrian Song 2nd: Justin, Adrian
GS: Ruby Dibble is a mezzo with a lovely dark tone, full to the bottom of her considerable range. She pulls you into the character due to her excellent understanding of the text. A versatile performer who is convincing in new repertoire as well as the standard chestnuts. JB: Dibble possesses a rich, velvety timbre, solid technique and a gift for expressive interpretations. A near-perfect balance that could see her perform well in both the Song and Aria categories. The mezzo knows how to render songs in German and English, her mother tongue, magnificently into music. AR: Dibble’s warm and expressive tone seems particularly well-suited to the intimacy required in art songs.
Fanny Soyer, soprano, France
Aria 2nd: Justin
JB: The competition is fierce, especially with Julia Muzychenko-Greenhalgh and mezzo-soprano Ruby Dibble, but France’s Fanny Soyer seems to have the edge in terms of pure vocal qualities, mastery of nuance and artistry. Another distinctive feature is her lack of visible effort, which allows her to rise naturally to the top.
Karoline Podolak, soprano, Canada/Poland
Aria 3rd: Adrian, Wah Keung
AR: The Canadian coloratura of Polish heritage has it all: charisma, excellent voice control, acting skills, aesthetic beauty, and experience at CMIM, where she previously left empty-handed. I would expect that setback has fuelled her determination to secure a prize this time around.
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano, U.S.A./Poland
Aria 2nd: Gianmarco Aria Dark Horse: Justin Song 2nd: Gianmarco
GS: This immensely talented soprano really understands that opera is about voice—and words. Dramatic diction, well-considered pauses and rallentandi add up to lyric excitement—and she has great high notes! In song, she already understands the importance of maintaining a stillness in the body that doesn’t come across as stiffness. She lets her face and vocal colours do the communicating. JB: The Polish/American soprano has a powerful voice and a timbre comparable to shiny metal. She breathes opera and a passion for singing.
Valentin Ruckebier, bass, Germany
Song 3rd: Justin, Gianmarco
GS: Given the importance of the Lied in the realm of song, German bass Valentin Ruckebier makes his mark with his nuanced delivery. The latter might hinder him in the opera competition, though I find his understated approach refreshing. JB: Who better than a German to interpret the Lieder repertoire? The bass’s nationality is not a factor in our overall assessment, but it does contribute to the quality of the language in which he expresses himself. From his performances, it’s his pleasure and taste for interaction with the audience that shine through.
Pete Thanapat, bass-baritone, Thailand
Aria 3rd: Justin
JB: To be a bass of this calibre, you need exceptional vocal maturity. This is certainly the case with Pete Thanapat, who already has all the attributes of a professional singer. His incomparably rich timbre and imposing voice command admiration. The Thai has a good chance of a high placement, even though it’s normally high voices who take the spotlight.
Jaeeun Shin, soprano, South Korea
Song Dark Horse: Justin
JB: I really enjoyed her interpretations of art songs. The South Korean soprano has a very elegant voice, with a refined elocution.
Hedvig Haugerud, soprano, Norway
Aria Dark Horse: Gianmarco
GS: In a world of cookie-cutter singers, opera needs more sopranos like this one. Her technique may not yet be perfect, but her unique, clean-toned, old-school sound is fascinating to listen to.
Nikolai Zemlianskikh, baritone, Russia
Song Dark Horse: Gianmarco
GS: A baritone whose clear, unaffected tone and delivery are entirely suited to the song repertoire, especially in his native Russian. I could see him making inroads in the Song portion of the competition.
Francais (French)
