Christine Brewer Sings Her First Turandot, under Gustavo Dudamel at Hollywood Bowl (July 17)

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“She is in her prime and sounding glorious.”– Anthony Tommasini, New York Times


American soprano Christine Brewer takes on her newest challenge on July 17 at the hallowed Hollywood Bowl, debuting in the iconic title role of Puccini’s Turandot in a concert performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel. The performance not only marks the first time Brewer will have sung Puccini’s Chinese princess; it also marks Dudamel’s first time conducting a Puccini opera. The Grammy Award-winning soprano’s summer also includes Beethoven’s Missa solemnis in San Francisco with Michael Tilson Thomas, as well as recitals of early American songs, including numbers from her most recent celebrated Hyperion recording (Echoes of Nightingales), in New York state. At the Toronto Summer Music Festival on August 4, Brewer and frequent collaborator Roger Vignoles give a recital of her signature Wagner and Strauss, along with rarely-heard English-language songs from Echoes of Nightingales.

Brewer’s cast-mates for the Hollywood Bowl Turandot include tenor Francesco Hong as Calaf, soprano Hei-Kyung Hong as Liú, and bass Alexander Vinogradov as Timur, with Dudamel also leading the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus.

For her Toronto Summer Music Festival recital with Vignoles, Brewer will sing songs by Strauss alongside Wagner’s moving Wesendonck Lieder. Of her way with Strauss and Wagner, London’s Sunday Times reports that Brewer “brings a soaring opulence” to the music. The recital will also include songs from Echoes of Nightingales.

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