For the outstanding quality and scope of the performances and work in any context of an individual singer in the UK between January 2018 and June 2019.

Nina Stemme, soprano

Panel citation: As Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera, Nina Stemme gave one of the all-time great performances of opera’s most formidable role. Definitive in its quality and humanity, it is remarkable that artists may yet set a new benchmark for such an iconic character – and this represents the pinnacle of her returning regularly to UK shores to sing Wagner here.

Also shortlisted:

• Carolyn Sampson, soprano
  
• Elaine Mitchener, vocalist

The 2019 Singer Award was decided by an independent panel drawn from across the music profession comprising:

• Anna Picard, writer
• James Clutton, Director of Opera, Opera Holland Park
• Joseph Middleton, pianist / Director, Leeds Lieder
• Sara Mohr-Pietsch, broadcaster, writer and curator
• Toby Spence, tenor