Bruno de Sá soprano
JarosŁaw Thiel musical direction, cello
WrocŁaw Baroque Orchestra

Bruno de Sá is a pioneering Brazilian soprano celebrated for his rare vocal artistry and dynamic stage presence. With a remarkable soprano range, he transcends the traditional boundaries of voice type and mesmerises audiences with his interpretations of baroque, classical and contemporary repertoire. He has gained international recognition for his luminous tone and virtuosic agility, breathing new life into operatic and sacred works. In 2022, he signed an exclusive recording contract with Warner Classics consolidating his status as a rising star in the world of classical music. Through his unique talent and charismatic performances, Bruno de Sá is changing the perception of gender and vocal identity in classical music, earning accolades on prestigious stages worldwide.

"In mezzo a mille affanni / Fremo, deliro ..."

"Under a thousand agonies / I bend, / I sink down ..."

These words of Lindoro, the hero of Luigi Caruso's comic opera Il fanatico per la musica from 1781, should probably not be taken at face value. But when Bruno de Sá collected ideas for his second solo album, they triggered something in him. He has already savoured the dramatic potential of the Baroque for the male soprano; now he wants to move forward into the age of Mozart - an era that was characterised by a new intensity and immediacy of emotional expression as well as a musical language that conquered both the sacred and profane realms beyond the opera house. 'Mille' hits the nail on the head: a thousand facets of emotion are at play here.

"However, the word 'affanni' [endeavour] doesn't look particularly nice in the title", laughs de Sá. "Affetti [affection, emotions] fits better". Such emotions are expressed in vocal compositions of unprecedented boldness and range, which composers in the 18th century wrote for the castrato voice using all their imagination. "When you're a soprano, people immediately think you sing baroque music—Vivaldi, Handel and so on," explains de Sá. "Of course, this repertoire is very close to my heart. But I've been singing Mozart since my first year at university and have always had a good approach to the classical era. Now seemed like the right time to try out different musical possibilities and engage with an era that really appeals to me—on an emotional, musical and technical level."
(Richard Bratby)

Organised by Musica Imperiale. Tickets via eventjet.at and at the box office (on 1 June from 5.00 pm).