American classical singer Julia Bullock, who “communicates intense, authentic feeling, as if she were singing right from her soul” (Opera News), returned to Festival d’Aix-en-Provence for two performances this summer. After proving herself “the opera’s emotional powerhouse” (Opera Wire) in the festival’s 2017 production of Stravinsky’s Rake’s Progress, Bullock gave a recital of lieder and songs by Schubert, Rossini, Wolf, Weill, Berio, Cage, Billie Holiday, Connie Converse and Nina Simone with pianist Bretton Brown.
In collaboration with AMOC (American Modern Opera Company), Bullock joined pianist Conor Hanick for Messiaen’s affecting hour-long song cycle, Harawi, in the European premiere of a new staging by AMOC Artistic Director Zack Winokur, featuring original choreography by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. Of her performance, Berkshire Fine Arts said, “Bullock mixes sensual love and sacred mystery […] What emerges in notes is a rich mix of feeling, ideas and the character of the singer. It is less a road trip than a stunning dramatic tone mix into which the listener can dive.”
Photo of Harawi by Olivier Messiaen – Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2022 © Vincent Beaume