Jamie Barton, "the Georgia farm girl" who won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013 competition

Mezzo Jame Barton, "the Georgia farm girl", who won the Cardiff Singer of the World  2013 crown.

"The Georgia farm girl who yesterday won the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World crown". That is how Iowa Public Radio described the winner of the 30th anniversary Cardiff Singer of the World competition, mezzo soprano Jamie Barton, who also carried off the song prize. (I was particularly pleased that she chose to sing Var det en dröm? (Was it a dream?), one of Sibelius's finest songs, which sadly is not performed very often by non-Scandinavian singers). 

Argentina's Daniela Mack could also have won.

All the five finalists were outstanding talents, and the prize could very well had gone to e.g. the Argentinian mezzo Daniela Mack or the Croatian bass baritone Marko Mimica. I also liked the expressive singing and the personality of Italian soprano Teresa Romano. 

Of the two studio expert commentators, voice coach Mary King was the clearly more helpful and appreciative. First Singer of the World winner Karita Mattila seemed to have only one comment about Barton and the other finalists - "more color". 

Italian soprano Teresa Romano has a strong personality and a fine voice.