Baroque Brilliance – Julia Lezhneva With The Australian Chamber Orchestra

The crystal voiced soprano, Julia Lezhneva is to perform in Sydney with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Baroque Brilliance – a programme of music that is beautifully suited to the voice of the young Russian singer.

Just 26 years old, Lezhneva had completed an honours degree in voice and piano by the age of 15, and is an alumnus of some of the world’s most prestigious music institutes….and there is an Australian connection: after her early music studies in Moscow, Lezhneva continued her vocal training with the Australian soprano Yvonne Kenny who is a Professor of Voice at London’s Guildhall School.

Lezhneva shot to international prominence at the age of 17 winning the Grand Prix at the 6th Elena Obraztsova International Competition for Opera Singers. She was immediately in demand in opera houses and concert halls around the world, and scored an exclusive recording deal with Decca. In 2010, she was invited by her mentor Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, to perform at the Classical Brit Awards in London, at the Royal Albert Hall, where she slayed Rossini’s Fra il padre, sharing the stage with Angela Gheorghiu, Rolando Villazon and Bryn Terfel. Dame Kiri said “From time to time a really outstanding talent appears and I believe that Julia Lezhneva is just that. The brilliance of her voice and technique are extremely impressive.”

With the ACO, she sings a sacred gem from Porpora, and an antiphon from Handel. Of the Popora she says “It’s one of my favourite motets; I feel very passionate about it. It demonstrates the ecstasy of the love of God in parallel with reverence for nature, and what it is to be human and in harmony with all around you.” From Vivaldi’s first opera, Ottone in Villa, she sings an aria which displays the genius of his melodic gift. Handel’s Alessandro is “all lightness and charm, yet holds rich potential for vocal fireworks for a singer of Lezhneva’s abilities.”

Read our review of Julia Lezhneva’s CD Alleluia

Read our review of Julia Lezhneva’s CD Handel, with Il Giardino Armonico. It contains Handel’s Salve Regina which Lezhneva will perform on her Australian tour.

The programme:

PORPORA In caelo stelle clare, motet for soprano and strings/ BACH Orchestral Suite No.1 in C major/ HANDEL Salve Regina/ VIVALDI Ottone in Villa (selections)/ Overture/ Leggi almeno, tiranna infedele/HANDEL Alessandro (selections)/ Alla sua gabbia d’oro/ Solitudine amate in cui sfogarmilive una flamma infelice/ Aure fonti, ombre gradite/ Brilla nell’alma/ HANDEL Sonata a 5 in B-flat major.

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