Bostridge, for whom this performance will be one of only three appearances in the United States this year, is one of the foremost opera singers and recitalists in the world. Widely known for his tremendous vocal range, he has performed with the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony and the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, to name a few of his most prestigious concert engagements. Bostridge also performed at his own Perspectives series at Carnegie Hall in 2005 and 2006.
His opera career has included work with the English National Opera, the Vienna State Opera and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Bostridge's repertoire includes "Don Giovanni," "The Rape of Lucretia" and "Death in Venice."
Bostridge has long been adored by music critics. The New Yorker has hailed him as "a lyric tenor of uncanny focus and intensity," and his recording of "Die schone Mullerin" in Hyperion's Schubert Edition was the recipient of the 1996 Gramophone Solo Vocal Award. In 2004, Bostridge was made commander of the order of the British Empire for his services to music.
While the opportunity to see a live Bostridge performance may come along only once in a lifetime, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is an equally compelling act. Founded in 1972 and based in New York, Orpheus is best known for playing without a conductor. Leadership roles rotate within the orchestra, with members selecting the concert master and principal players for each section of the works they perform. The system has become known as the Orpheus Process, a collaboration among members during rehearsals that leads to a more personal connection with the music for both the artists and the audience.
This unusual and daring approach has worked splendidly for Orpheus -- it has recorded more than 70 albums and received a Grammy in 2001 for "Shadow Dances: Stravinsky Miniatures."
On Friday, Orpheus will perform Mozart's "Serenade No. 9 in D Major" as well as pieces by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu and British composer Benjamin Britten.
As part of the orchestra's mission, Orpheus regularly performs a wide range of music, showcasing both traditional classical pieces and exciting new music from contemporary composers. Critics have praised the group for its remarkable energy and ability to connect with listeners, and they regularly tour throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
In addition to Friday's performance, Bostridge will offer a master class on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Spaulding Auditorium for a select group of vocal students. The class will be free and open to observers.
