Bradman and the Baroque

Soprano Greta Bradman returns to Sydney in early June for the first of two concerts with the Choir of St James’ King Street, performing repertoire that showcases her voice at its pure and luminous best.

The programme includes some of the gems from the Baroque repertoire written for choir, for soprano and for the two together, amongst them, Antonio Vivaldi’s Nulla in Mundo, two of J S Bach’s glorious motets Komm, Jesu, Komm and Lobet den Herrn, Handel’s Ode for St Cecilia’s Day, and Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate.

The Choir of St James’ King Street is a professional ensemble directed by Warren Trevelyan-Jones . It maintains a busy schedule of both sacred and secular engagements. The choir recently reached a global audience when it sang at the memorial service for Margaret Whitlam AO. The choir has recorded 3 CDs and performs regularly on ABC radio. Recently it performed with the Tallis Scholars and undertook a workshop with the Hillyard Ensemble.

Talking to Sounds Like Sydney in August last year, Bradman commented: “I love how jazzy and risky Bach’s music can be. It is so different to Handel – Bach is so precise and the phrases are quite instrumental. I have to think very carefully about breathing because the phrases are so astronomically long”.

She went on to reveal an invaluable practice tip: “One technique I used to hone my coloratura I took from one of my favourite composers – Chopin. I used to get out my books of Chopin Etudes and play the left hand whilst singing the right hand part.  I think it’s that element of continually changing instrumental line that I love about Bach”.

Bradman has high praise for the Choir of St James, saying “I am delighted to be working with a vocal ensemble of such a high calibre, and in such a magnificent historical venue [Greenway’s church in King Street, Sydney]. I don’t get to collaborate with choirs nearly enough!”

Greta Bradman is a highly sought after soloist around the nation. She has performed with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonia Choir, the Adelaide Chamber Singers and Sydney Chamber Choir, and has toured with Russell Watson. She has also recorded two albums on the Sony label. Her debut album Forest of Dreams released in August 2010, was shortlisted for “Best Newcomer Award” by the ABC’s Limelight Magazine and nominated for an ARIA Award that year. Her second album Grace was released in in August 2011.

In September this year, Greta Bradman is the soprano soloist when the Choir of St James’ King Street performs JS Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

Tickets: Full price $48, Concession $40, Friends $43.20, Friends Concession $36
Concessions available to pensioners and students with ID.
Tickets are available at www.cityrecitalhall.com or by calling 02 8256 2222/1300 797 118 (Booking fees may apply).

Tickets are available at the door unless sold before.