Back in June of this year we published a series of articles about concerts in Barga performed by the students from the Cardiff International Academy of Voice. The singers were: Mary-Jean O’Doherty, Clair Egan, Catrin Aur Davies, Ione Cumming, Renee Martin, Noel Hernandez, Carlos Osuna, Rhys Jenkins, Philip Rhodes, Bulelani Madikizela, Hyun Tae Kim, Julia Lezhneva, Sally He Li, Courtney Mills. The pianists were Jane Samuel and Sharon Richards .
After their second concert in Barga we wrote the following: “something has to be said straight away – it is now so very obvious to all and sundry that these singers do not deserve to be called “students” They are singers who are just about to be launched into their chosen careers. All fourteen are of an extremely high standard of professionalism and skill.”
It is not often that one name is singled out but really one voice stands out head and shoulders above the rest (even taking into account her diminutive stature) That is the nineteen year old Russian soprano, Julia Lezhneva. Write that name in your diaries folks … “Julia Lezhnev”
The Russian soprano, Julia Lezhneva, was born into a family of geophysicists. She began playing the piano and singing at the age of five. In 2004 she graduated with distinction from the Gretchaninov Music School; between the ages of 14 and 18 she continued her vocal and piano studies at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. In 2008 she received an honours degree for her vocal studies and a diploma for piano. In September 2008 she began studying with the tenor Dennis O’Neill at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice. She has attended master-classes with Elena Obraztsova in St Petersburg in 2007, and with Alberto Zedda at the Accademia Rossiniana in Pesaro in 2008.
Since then we have been watching her career with great interest.
Two days ago she was in Moscow performing N.PORPORA Aciss Aria «Alto giove» from the opera «Polifemo»
Sit back, turn up the volume, click the video to full screen and enjoy nearly ten glorious minutes in the company of Julia Lezhnev.
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