Gwendolyn Bradley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gwendolyn Bradley
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| Background information | |
| Born | New York, New York |
| Origin | Bishopville, South Carolina |
| Genres | Opera, Concerts |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Voice teacher |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Deutsche Oper Berlin, Metropolitan Opera |
Gwendolyn Bradley is a talented American singer, known as a soprano. She has performed in many operas and concerts all over the world.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Gwendolyn grew up in Bishopville, South Carolina. Her parents were public school teachers. They were also involved in the civil rights movement.
Her high school music teacher noticed her amazing singing talent. Gwendolyn then started taking voice lessons. She studied at Coker College in Hartsville. Later, she trained at other famous music schools. These included the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Curtis Institute of Music. She also studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
A Star on the Opera Stage
Gwendolyn Bradley's first big performance was in 1976. She played Nannetta in Verdi's opera Falstaff. This was at the Lake George Opera.
After a very successful concert in New York in 1979, she joined the Metropolitan Opera. This is a very famous opera house. She started there in 1981. Her first role was Nightingale in Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges. For the next nine years, she sang many different parts. Some of her famous roles included:
- Fiakermilli in Arabella
- Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos
- Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann
- Clara in Porgy and Bess
- Gilda in Rigoletto
Gwendolyn Bradley performed 108 times at the Metropolitan Opera. Her last show there was in January 1990. She also sang in other American opera houses. These included the Memphis Opera and the Michigan Opera Theatre. She was often a guest at the Los Angeles Opera. There, she played roles like Oscar, Blondchen, and Pamina.
In 1983, Gwendolyn made her first appearance in Europe. She sang the main role in Handel's Rodelinda. This was with the Netherlands Opera. She performed in many European cities. These included Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Vienna. She was also in Arabella at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival. This performance was even released on DVD!
In 1988, she became a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany. She had first sung there in 1987. Her clear, bell-like voice helped her succeed in many roles. She played sweet characters like Gilda and Pamina. She also played lively roles like Blondchen and Zerbinetta.
Concerts and Recordings
Gwendolyn Bradley is also a very skilled concert singer. She has worked with many famous conductors. These include Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, and Lorin Maazel. Her concert performances include music from different time periods. She has sung works from the Baroque era to the 20th century. She has also given solo concerts in cities like Paris, Tokyo, and New York.
She has made several recordings. She recorded Fiakermilli in Arabella with Dame Kiri te Kanawa. She also recorded Virgil Thomson's Four Saints in Three Acts. Another recording was of Mozart concert works.
Teaching and Recognition
After returning to the United States, Gwendolyn began sharing her knowledge. She started teaching young singers. She taught as a vocal instructor at The Masters School and Nyack College.
In 2010, she was a judge at the Washington International Competition for Singers. This is a competition she had won herself in 1977!
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In 2014, Gwendolyn performed at the XX International Music Festival Krystyna Jamroz in Busko-Zdrój, Poland. She had performed there many times before. During her visit, she received a special honor. On July 5, 2014, she was given a 'sun'. This is a bronze plaque placed in the Star's Promenade. It's like the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Her plaque is in front of the Sanatorium Marconi in the Spa Park.
Media Contributions
Gwendolyn Bradley has been part of several media projects.
TV Appearances
- Live from the Metropolitan Opera, Season 12, Episode 1: Les contes d'Hoffmann (March 2, 1988)
Videotape Releases
- Glyndebourne Festival: Arabella (BBC, 1984)
CD Recordings
- Harfy Papuszy (Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz Antologia) (1995)
- Klassik Edition 8: Radio-Philharmonie Hannover des NDR, Bernstein-Gershwin-Gala (1997)
- R. Strauss: Arabella (Universal Music Classics & Jazz) (2012)
