NZ claimed top honours in this year’s National Operatic Aria Final, held at Albert Hall, with the $15,000 purse going to soprano Sarah Ann Walker.

Arias by Mozart and Wagner revealed her as a “clear winner” for the adjudicators, who described her voice as “warm, expressive and complete”.  Walker now has her eye on more training and singing roles overseas.

Adjudicators Lisa Gasteen and Roger Howell gave second prize and $7000 to soprano Emma Moore, after gripping performances of a concert aria (K418) by Mozart and “Depuis le jour” from “Louise” by Charpentier.

She’s now off to the Universitat Der Kunste, Berlin, to study her Masters of Opera.

The lone male in the finals, Scottish-born tenor John Longmuir took away third prize and $4000 after audience-pleasers by Rossini and Gounod. Much sought after, Longmuir this year has performed roles in several operas, including “The Barber of Seville” and “The Merry Widow”.

While the judges deliberated, final-year student at the ANU School of Music, pianist James Huntingford, gave a highly virtuosic performance of Liszt’s “Polonaise Mélancolique”.

Non-placed finalists did not miss out. In addition to the main prizes, sponsors ActewAGL and Tulloch Management provided $1000 each for sopranos Erin Patrick, Phoebe Humphreys and Michelle der Kinderen for their performances in what was a most entertaining and high-quality concert recital.