“…an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory”

The New York Times

 “…one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world today”

NPR

 Lawrence Brownlee is a leading figure in opera, both as a singer on the world’s top stages and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry. He has been hailed as “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian), captivating audiences and critics around the world.  He is a fixture at leading international opera houses and major orchestra halls.  Named “Male Singer of the Year” by both the International Opera Awards (2017) and Bachtrack, he has been featured on PBS, NPR, Sirius Radio, American Public Media and other national outlets. Included among his other numerous awards and distinctions are the Kennedy Center’s Marian Anderson Award, the Opera News Award (2021) and Grand Prize winner at the 2001 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.

Highlights of Brownlee’s past seasons include his role debut, to great acclaim, in the title role of Rameau’s Platèe with Opéra National de Paris; role debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at New National Theatre Tokyo; and he added Fernand to his repertoire in a new production of Donizetti’s La Favorite with Houston Grand Opera.  His signature Rossini roles include Rodrigo in Otello, the title role of Le comte Ory, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.

Brownlee’s acclaimed recording career includes Donizetti’s rarely-performed song repertoire and the album Rising, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2023.

In 2021, Brownlee joined The Juilliard School as a Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member. He serves as artistic advisor for Opera Philadelphia, Ambassador for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited, and Ambassador for Opera for Peace.

Photo Credit Shervin Lainez

“Martin James Bartlett is not only a prodigy of the piano but an accomplished artist who counts among the greats of his generation.”

Nice Matin

“With Martin James Bartlett on the piano, this was like hearing Gershwin for the first time, he gave it new life, new confidence.”

Behind the Arras, 5 stars, November 2022

British pianist Martin James Bartlett, known for his fearless technique, was the inaugural recipient of the Prix Serdang in 2022.  In 2021, he was awarded the Queen Mother Rosebowl by HRH Prince (now King) Charles and, in 2020, won the Virtu(al)oso Global Piano Competition by Piano Cleveland. From 2020 to 2022, Bartlett was the RCM Benjamin Britten Piano Fellow, and made his play-direct and conducting debut with the London Mozart Players at the Cheltenham and Ryedale festivals in 2022. In 2019, Bartlett earned first place at the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York and, in 2018, won second prize and the Audience Award at the Kissingen Piano Olympiad.

Bartlett’s early public success was as winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2014, leading to engagements with several orchestras.  In 2015, he was one of the youngest-ever soloists to debut at the BBC Proms, with reviews in The Daily Telegraph and The Times praising his musical insight and maturity.

Bartlett has performed with many European orchestras and in recital internationally, including a debut US tour in 2022 in the Young Concert Artists Series in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  He has released two widely acclaimed albums: Rhapsody (2022), featuring concerti by Rachmaninoff and Gershwin; and his debut recital album Love and Death (2019), an exploration of elemental themes from Bach to Prokofiev.

Photo Credit:  Paul Marc Mitchell