Lise Davidsen, soprano & James Baillieu, piano
Friday, October 23, 7:30PM
Ordway Concert Hall
Universally acknowledged as one of the greatest singers of our time and as “The outstanding Wagner soprano of her generation” (Financial Times), Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen has been described as “a one-in-a-million voice” and regularly performs at all the major international opera houses, festivals and concert halls.
Davidsen burst onto the international stage in 2015 winning multiple prizes at the Operalia, Queen Sonja and Hans Gabor Belvedere competitions. These were swiftly followed by triumphant debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Ballet & Opera Covent Garden and many more of the world’s most prestigious opera stages.
Born and raised in Stokke, Norway, Davidsen has been profiled in a full-length documentary for NRK, a Strauss film for the Norwegian National Opera as well as appearing on major radio and television programmes such as NPR. As well as frequent performances across the country, Oslo was the setting for her performance as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Met Stars Live in Concert which was live-streamed internationally.
She sounded like Tosca as she should be: at first optimistic, even naïve, then distressed and desperate. Davidsen’s ‘Vissi d’arte’ was one of the most moving things I’ve heard at the Met so far this season. – The New York Times
Phenomenal…Hers is a great voice, superbly controlled and beautifully equalised throughout its range. – Guardian
Described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘in a class of his own’ James Baillieu is one of the leading song and chamber music pianists of his generation. He has given solo and chamber recitals throughout the world and collaborates with a wide range of singers and instrumentalists including Benjamin Appl, Jamie Barton, Ian Bostridge, Allan Clayton, Annette Dasch, Lise Davidsen, the Elias and Heath Quartets, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Timothy Ridout, Adam Walker, and Pretty Yende. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Ulster Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, and the Wiener Kammersymphonie.
An innovative programmer, he has curated many song and chamber music festivals including series for the Brighton Festival, Wigmore Hall, BBC Radio 3, Verbier Festival, Bath International Festival, and Perth Concert Hall.
