Walking in The Dark

Description

American soprano Julia Bullock, the revelation of the 2017 Festival d'Aix, releases her first solo album. She is accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Christian Reif. Among the most unique artists of her generation " (The New York Times) - " An extraordinarily gifted soprano " (The New Yorker) - " The one we have been waiting for " (Peter Sellars)." Soprano Julia Bullock is about to embark on an extraordinary career. She is one of the most unique artists of her generation. She is a singer with an engaging tone, a remarkably mature presence, and an exceptionally astute cultural, social and historical understanding." --- New York Times ---. On the album 'Walking in the Dark', Bullock is accompanied by the London Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Christian Reif for Knoxville: Summer Of 1915 by Samuel Barber and an aria from El Nino by John Adams. With Reif at the piano, she also performs a traditional spiritual and songs by Oscar Brown Jr., Billy Taylor and Sandy Denny. The album title comes from the lyrics of the song "One By One" by Connie Converse. Commenting on the album's diverse repertoire, Julia Bullock says: "The music and poetry included have contributed to my development as a singer. Over the years, I have returned to this material with new perspectives, modifications and reassessments. That is why I call these songs "classics". They embrace the traditions of different cultures and celebrate diversity of expression, thought and experience. Julia Bullock is an American classically trained singer who "expresses authentic feeling with such intensity that it seems as if she were drawing directly from her soul" (Opera News). She combines diverse artistic skills with a curious intellect and a confident stage presence. She is also an important voice in social engagement and democratic civic participation. Vanity Fair highlighted how Julia Bullock is "young, highly successful and politically engaged". "She has the ability to bring a sense of grace and urgency to every note she sings, giving her performances both an instant quality and an impressive timelessness." In 2021, she was named Artist of the Year by Musical America and Ambassador of Change. In December 2020, she gave a special online quarantine concert (at home) as part of NPR Music's live "Tiny Desk" series. Tom Huizenga of NPR described the performance as "one of the most transcendent musical experiences I have ever had". Bullock was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where she joined the artist-in-training program at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis during high school. She then earned her bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music, her master's in the vocal arts program at Bard College, and her artist diploma at the Juilliard School in New York. It was there that she first met her husband, conductor Christian Reif, with whom she now lives in Munich.