Julia Bullock
Official page of American Vocalist Julia Bullock
couldn’t include this 🎵 video in my last post about the , because of Facebook whatevers 🤷🏽♀️ But this was beautiful working rehearsal with Christian Reif/Christian Reif, the night before recording. If I don’t share now, then when? 😄
Fact: we recorded this track last, also thinking it would be placed midway thru the album, but it ended up first 🎶
“Fun” Fact: I faintly say near the end of this clip: “I’m just tired, hunny…” which makes me chuckle a bit now, because in spring 2021, I neither had, nor was I with, child. Now it’s 😮💨😅🤪😨😴🫨🥳😬 well it’s different is all ♥️🤣
[arr. by Jeremy Siskind of Oscar Brown Jr.’s original — inspired by Nina Simone’s interpretation. Recording location Snape Maltings]
Nonesuch Records
♥️ so nice to watch this…
Thanks to the wonderful Molly Tuttle. How lovely that you were the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs presenter in the classical voice category! 🥰
06/02/2024
to the composers, poets, interpreters, and performers — past and present: wanted to share a quote from my mom, who said, teary-eyed on the phone, post-Grammy win:
“Just think of all the giants whose voices, and names and faces you may never know and never meet, but who are now shared with us, because of what you offer…”
And that’s what music is all about, isn’t it? That’s what makes it a classic, human art form.
Not much more to say other than THANK YOU & CONGRATULATIONS to all of my friends & fellow musicians who could lay down some music (whether with a Grammy association or not!) And of course to those who were honored with a nomination, and/or received an award this 66th Grammy Year!
1. the recording team: me, Christian Reif, and our , Dave Rowell & Matthew Bennett after recording all songs at Snape Maltings on Benjamin Britten’s piano, in the Britten/Pears studio (perfect acoustic 🎵)
2. joy-filled photo, post-recording the orchestral tracks of Barber’s “Knoxville” and John Adams’ “Memorial” with the Philharmonia Orchestra
3. mom & me exuberant ~1:30am (Cen Euro Time)/6:30pm Cen Standard Time (US) , right after she found out. She’s who introduced me to Nina Simone and Judy Collins… and so many more great singers and interpreters of songs
4. a vending machine of facemasks & hand sanitizer at the airport. Why? because… WALKING IN THE DARK was recorded during the dizzying pandemic days/daze. It’s a testament to its time, and miraculous that it happened at all…
5-8. Behind the scenes photo of the Oh-So-Brilliant Grant Legan Photography. Special Thanks to Elizabeth Fildes who worked with me at 21C Media Group during this time, and put this amazing and intimate shoot together. (Luv her and grateful for her. Happy she’s now happy at Ravinia Festival 🥰)
9. a stunning, naturally architectural, twisted tree on the campus of SnapeMaltings. We were essentially there all alone for 3 days. It was magical
10. double rainbow 🌈 🌈 that felt like it came out just for us the last day of recording
Nonesuch Records Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
05/02/2024
Middle of the night news here in Munich 😆 All smiles and quiet 🤫 excitement about the ! — will share more later (tomorrow!?), cause still feeding kiddo. But wow! Thank you thank you thank you to everyone involved in “WALKING IN THE DARK”
Partner in love + life Christian Reif, the ENTIRE team Nonesuch Records, Jeremy Siskind for beautiful song arrangements/collaborations, our producers Dave and Matthew, the Philharmonia Orchestra!!!! my dream support team 21C Media Group and Askonas Holt, and my family for sharing so much classic music with me over the years, which found a presence onto this particular album…
04/02/2024
☺️🌸🌺💕
Today are the Grammys. Can’t be there for the Recording Academy ceremony despite being nominated this year, but it’s an honor to be recognized by people in our music field. And yes… it’s also special to receive recognition from respected friends whenever/wherever it comes. 😌
Thanks, Alice Sara Ott and Karina Canellakis for including two tracks from my debut album WALKING IN THE DARK: “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” and “Knoxville: Summer of 1915”, on your recent Apple Music Classical . 😘
Find me and Christian Reif and Philharmonia Orchestra featured on:
Alice’s Apple Music playlist — A Place Beyond
Karina’s playlist — Epic Landscapes
Nonesuch Records Jeremy Siskind
30/01/2024
So sad to not come for my final residency week with the Philharmonia Orchestra because of unexpectedly throwing out my back 😱 making it near impossible to travel… 😖
The is a community of the most gracious people, and have been so sympathetic to this predicament. Glad that the programming of ’s “Les Nuits d’été” and 4 can still be shared by music director Santtu-Matias Rouval and the gorgeous soprano Anu Komsi.
Sadly, the project “History’s Persistent Voice” with poetry readings, visual art by Hana S Kim, amazing musical works by Jessie Montgomery, Allison Loggins-Hull, Tania León, and a premiere by Cassie Kinoshi had to be canceled.
“History’s Persistent Voice” is a project close to my heart and mind… I’m mostly sad about the loss of this opportunity, bc this was a chance to share it in Europe for the first time, and talk about the generational impact of both the trans-Atlantic human trafficking trade and colonialism… Cassie Kinoshi wrote a glorious piece that featured the poetry of the great Jamaican writer, feminist, and radio producer Una Marson. This iteration of our ’s would have been a focused tribute to ’s work and perspectives as well…
I sincerely hope we find a time to reschedule, because the energy and public interest going into this performance already felt so meaningful… (shout out to BBC Radio 4: with Anita Rani!)
As a bittersweet consolation, sharing this Les Nuits d’été performance from last summer with Christian Reif at Lakes Area Music Festival to be heard and hopefully enjoyed. (Although, it’s not quite to the standard of my favorite recordings, it felt wonderful to finally sing this work that inspired me to sing classical music 20 years ago.) Look forward to singing it again at some point…
Lakes Area Music Festival - Summer Nights - 7/30/2023 Lakes Area Music Festival Symphony Orchestra Christian Reif, conductor Julia Bullock, classical singer ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour HECTOR BERLIOZ: Les nui...
In celebration of W.A. Mozart’s birthday today January 27, 1756 🥳🎉 “Sull’aria” duet from LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO)
How delightful to have this special/hilarious (albeit height of Covid-19) memory with one of the most iconic Countesses of all time, Renée Fleming!
We devised this “modern” concept with dear friends Ryan McKinny and Tonya McKinny, and it was edited to brilliant effect. Maybe that’s what makes Mozart so beautiful to listen to and so fun to perform — it’s timeless.
Lyric Opera of Chicago
24/01/2024
Thanks for the nomination BBC Music Magazine! What an honor! Check out the link for voting info…
https://www.classical-music.com/awards/2024-awards/vocal-award-2024
Nonesuch Records Christian Reif Philharmonia Orchestra
Ok! Our recital tour is successfully completed and have arrived home to Munich!
Traveling/performing 4 days with violent gastrointestinal events was hard enough, but it bordered ridiculous with baby AND husband/primary caregiver getting so sick as well.
When I say the audience members in Baltimore and Brown were generous, I really mean it… cause while adrenaline can take you to a point, having energy to sing with full body engagement and focus was taxing, and I wasn’t always able to do it well… but y’all stayed and laughed and seemingly enjoyed yourselves. 😌
Thanks to the presenters for your generosity and understanding, to Flo at Askonas Holt for working swiftly to shift travel plans as needed, and to my parents who happened to be in Baltimore during the worst of my sick days and spent an entire day with kiddo.
And for my partner onstage, Bretton Brown:
JUST THANK YOU.
Thank you for your flexibility and providing support in every sense: musical, vocal, physical, philosophical, etc etc… Can’t imagine it much more intense than this. We had several great moments out there onstage. And we definitely have great memories… 😅🥰 So glad we could spend these few weeks together preparing this program and sharing it.
Stay well each and everyone!
19/01/2024
Thanks to dear friends & sweet fans for sharing these over the past months! Very much looking forward to tonight Carnegie Hall!
with pianist Bretton Brown
photos by the great Allison Michael Orenstein
some of “The Sound Of Music” —
Special thanks to Capital Region Classical for gifting us a few days to rehearse in the gorgeous Memorial Chapel at Union College. It’s an acoustic that reminds me of some of the my favorite recital halls in the world… an unexpected gem in Schenectady, NY! 🎵 (also the is 🙌🏽 👏🏽)
06/01/2024
Can’t wait to get this recital “show on the road” with dear friend, and pianist Bretton Brown.
And the music? 🎵 Composers Alban BERG, Richard STRAUSS, tunes written and inspired by Elizabeth COTTEN and ODETTA, Kurt WEILL, Francis POULENC, Samuel BARBER, H.T. BURLEIGH, Bob DYLAN, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN, Mary RODGERS (Richard Rodgers’ daughter!) And debuting some gorgeous new arrangements of beloved Connie CONVERSE by Bretton himself!
Dates/Locations/Presenters:
Jan 7 (tomorrow!) Capital Region Classical
Jan 11 Philadelphia Chamber Music Society
Jan 14 Shriver Hall Concert Series
Jan 17 Brown Arts Institute
Jan 19 Carnegie Hall
Ticket info via my website: https://juliabullock.com/schedule/
“At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky.” 🎶
Can’t BELIEVE Tituss Burgess and I didn’t get a photo together when we finally met for the first time
In person, but… it delighted me to no end when we saw each other backstage at rehearsal, and before I could utter a word [and leap for a hug] you said, “OH-MY… It’s happening.” 😅😂🥹🥲 oh Titus… it’s all luv here for you too. [obvi!] All love and respect eternal.
So glad we finally met this year — and celebrating Renée Fleming, a fellow artist we both adore, at the Kennedy Center Honors, no less!!!!
#2023
Special pre- moment with the stunning Herbie Hancock and the stunners of my universe, John Lukas and Christian Reif.
I also adore that Gigi [Herbie’s wife] has not only video capture of this moment, but several minutes of JL walking around greeting people at the hotel on her phone. 😆
Herbie, it was so nice hearing you, a 2013 Kennedy Center recipient yourself, honoring beloved Dionne Warwick at this year’s …
27/12/2023
is one of the most joyous events to attend and watch when it comes to cultural events in the United States. Why? Because it doesn’t just celebrate artists for their “greatest hit” or the one thing that made them the most famous. It’s a celebration of a life practice in the arts and how that led to an artist’s contributions to society.
Congratulations to all of the 2023 honorees! And a special congratulations to Renée Fleming, whose life, work and example resound in astounding ways BECAUSE of her generosity.
Renée has been a vocal inspiration, because she came to find an ease within herself and it radiates as a true sense of self. 🎶🎼
While she educates others, she is also in a perpetual state of learning, and endlessly seeks to share what she finds to better us all. and the initiatives, HELLO!!!! 🎵🤯👏🏽
And wow, I just deeply respect the standards she upholds from the most private aspects of her life to the most public. 🥰 🤗
Renée has also given the best professional advice of my life (and at times when I felt in a state of personal crossroads or crisis…) 🥹🙏🏽
Singing alongside AILYN PÉREZ and Nadine Sierra my fellow American Soprano/Divas (and I can now say friends and constant sources of inspiration 😘) for this event was a sort of dream-to-reality scenario. The mutual support, the mutual love, the mutual respect. These are extraordinary people and times to cherish!
Looking forward to experiencing the event again! It airs tonight December 27 at 8/7c on CBS TV!
Kennedy Center Honors
WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES “WalkingInTheDark”
This is one of my favorites songs of all time. Although oddly, it’s the only song on this album I have never sung publicly. It defines so much about my sentiments and reflections on life, or maybe it’s the song itself that has influenced my perspective so profoundly…. “Who knows…” 😌
I grew up with these words and this tune — first hearing Sandy Denny’s song on a Judy Collins album. Years later, when I heard Nina Simone’s version, I just thought: Well, a classic song is a classic song.
So it’s no surprise that many singers I love have recorded or performed this tune in concert, because artists/singers are always drawn to classics. And classics I’d simply define as material that carries resonance beyond genre – it’s just material we return to over and over again.
Additional & Fun Note:
The fact that English songwriter Sandy Denny composed “Who Knows Where the Time Goes”makes me love the fact that we recorded the album WALKING IN THE DARK in England even more. All of the piano/vocal music in the countryside on Benjamin Brittan’s piano in Snape Maltings; and the orchestral pieces with the London Philharmonia Orchestra at Henry Wood Hall.
Nonesuch Records Jeremy Siskind Christian Reif
I WISH I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE “Walking In The Dark”
“I wish I knew…” was written in the 1960’s by Billy Taylor as a Civil Rights song — but I’d also characterize it as a 20th century spiritual.
Leontyne Price recorded a beautiful rendition of it with a gospel choir, which I only heard years later after having already fallen in love with Nina Simone’s uplifting rendition. Love that connection between those two brilliant musicians.
This song I’ve sung for almost 10 years (thanks to my collaboration with Jeremy Siskind so it was quite cool to lay it down for my debut album; and with my partner in life and love and music-making, Christian Reif
Nonesuch Records
CITY CALLED HEAVEN “Walking In The Dark”
Why do I love singing spirituals? Besides the legacy and heritage of the material, and the fact that the traditional Negro or Black American spiritual is one of the greatest evolutions of art that has been recorded — I love spirituals because they are all about acknowledging the reality that currently exists, but not succumbing to intolerable circumstances. There’s always a bold statement of resistance that’s expressed clearly, fiercely and in a focused way. Whether it’s in a hushed tone, or erupting out of deep torment, pain, or joy!
Spirituals are about engaging the imagination. They articulate how we yearn and strive for liberation as human beings – even if we have to fight for it.
[a live capture from our of Hall Johnson’s arrangement the night before the recording session in spring 2021 at Snape Maltings on Benjamin Britten’s piano and studio… with Christian Reif on piano. Listen to the final Nonesuch Records at the link in comments below, or from your favorite streaming service!]
to
“Walking In The Dark”
Hopes, care for and taking responsibility to consider future generations is what this song is all about for me.
My initial exposure to Oscar Brown Jr.’s “Brown Baby” was in high school from a live recording by Nina Simone – who remains one of the greatest interpreters of song literature that I know.
In 2013, I commissioned an arrangement by Jeremy Siskind for my first recital tour. Then in the spring of 2014, when Michael Brown was murdered in Ferguson, MO (a neighborhood of my hometown St. Louis), and the consciousness of the Black Lives Matter movement erupted onto the international news circuit, I thought: ok… I may never need to sing this song again… what an amazing thing that would be… But of course, even when the cultural landscape shifted by degrees, changes to and implementations of social/political policy remained slow moving – which is a disappointing reality we somehow collectively seem to except. And that’s why this song from decades ago is still so achingly relevant.
Although I’ve made adjustments to the arrangement a bit over the years (like putting one of the last lyrics from the original song, first and acapella) I’ve been singing this song in a context about liberation, acknowledgment of history, and also exploitation and demoralization of fellow human beings for a decade. And I guess I’ll keep sharing and feeling called to sing “Brown Baby” until lasting adjustments are made to care for each other — especially those among us who are routinely targeted and oppressed.
Special note: decided to put this track first on my debut album just a day before finding out I was pregnant… ☺️
Picture by Grant Legan Photography (shared courtesy of Nonesuch Records)
20/12/2023
MEMORIAL DE TLATELOLCO from “El Niño”
”I remember, we remember until justice is felt by us all.”
Christmas time is here! The nativity story focuses on transformation and transfiguration, the unique relationship between birthing parent and child, miracles, and gift giving — it also ruminates on genocide, forced displacement, and how with the promise of new (or liberated) life, there is the equal risk of inexplicable violence and sacrifice.
The aria MEMORIAL DE TLATELOLCO from John Adams’ and Peter Sellars’ Christmas oratorio “El Niño” catapults us from a centuries old story into the more present day.
Rosario Castellanos (1925 – 1974) wrote “MEMORIAL…” after the military and police massacred students and civilians protesting the government in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas on October 2, 1968, in the Tlatelolco section of Mexico City.
Her poem offers and demands an unabridged account of history. The act of suppressing or attempting to erase parts of our history — especially those events about which we carry shame — has a chilling effect, and impedes our ability to move towards a restorative future.
These words have been immortalized through music by John Adams in EL NIÑO. And I hope, if not justice, it has secured the lives of those lost in our collective, conscious memory.
Additional note: John decided to not set the last line of Castellanos’ poem to music — he asks us to contemplate remembrance and take responsibility for ourselves. However, in devising “EL NIÑO: Nativity Reconsidered” i felt compelled for those present to hear the final line of the poem spoken aloud after the last notes stop ringing in the air…
”I remember, we remember until justice is felt by each and every one of us.”
Nonesuch Records Christian Reif Philharmonia Orchestra
EL NIÑO: Nativity Reconsidered” remains timely and timeless — we celebrate the miraculous while we meditate on the most challenging aspects of our humanity.
Returning to Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC again this Dec 21 now makes this feel like an annual holiday tradition. And what a joyous thing!
Tickets are pay what you can! Hope all in NYC feel welcome to join us Thursday night!
American Modern Opera Company, John Adams (Composer), Christian Reif, Nonesuch Records Boosey & Hawkes
Tickets: https://bit.ly/41s9SH6
16/12/2023
‘twas a beautiful poster and program cover… 😌 Thanks Yale Schwarzman Center for having us to your amazing new space for “El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered” Now looking forward to our last performance on tour at Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC Dec 21!
was free and open to the public [packed house and sadly has to turn people away at the door…]
St. John the Divine is pay what you can! Love this generous model for sharing musical experiences, ESPECIALLY this time of year! 🎁✨
EL NIÑO: NATIVITY RECONSIDERED
Music by John Adams
Libretto compilation by Peter Sellars & John Adams
Musical Selections and Project Conception by Julia Bullock
Musical Arrangement by Christian Reif
An American Modern Opera Company Production
09/12/2023
El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered
Music by JOHN ADAMS
Libretto compilation by PETER SELLARS
Musical selections by JULIA BULLOCK
Musical arrangement by CHRISTIAN REIF
Opera Omaha
December 11, 7:30 pm * Omaha, NE
Stanford Live
December 13, 7:30 pm * Stanford, CA
Yale Schwarzman Center
December 15, 7:30 pm * New Haven, CT
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
December 21, 7:30 * New York, NY
08/12/2023
As we prepare to take “El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered” on tour this holiday season, I’d like to share this note on the program with you. ✨ Hope you can attend one of our performances listed above!
“Traditions develop out of passionate reactions to events. The nativity story and themes that surround it have preoccupied us for centuries –– the unique relationship between birthing parent and child, acts of generosity, and how the promise of new life (or evolution) is often accompanied by a threat and enactment of violence. That’s part of why at the end of each calendar year we seek out opportunities to consider the past cycles we find inescapable.
While the Christian doctrine is steeped in patriarchal structures and often shared through the lens of Western-European perspectives, “El Niño” brings the voices of women and Latin American poets to the forefront. Contrasting moments of intimate immediacy and ferocious power are what struck me when I first heard the original work by John Adams and Peter Sellars, and they’re what inspired me to find a way to share this piece with as many people and communities as possible.
It’s meaningful to present “El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered” in this distilled version — whether in the concert hall or a place of spiritual worship — because anywhere we choose to congregate can be considered sacred when we hear stories, reflect on lessons from those narratives, and witness each other in the process.
Thank you for joining us for this offering, which I do hope will become a tradition.
With warmth and respect,
Julia Bullock"
29/11/2023
Always great to sing American music, and how fun to share it with London audiences at the opening week of my residency last week. Onstage I closed saying:
“For anyone who loves historic music, like me, I hope you also want to take on the responsibly and joy of reflecting on history, and not dismissing any part of it. Because as challenging and complicated as it may be, it’s ours to share, isn’t it?”
brought forward in a song… “come, my life’s delight” was written and recorded in 2020, and is about what remains when loss becomes a central reality in a loving relationship… it’s a plea to process grief and a call for eternal grace.
This song was composed in honor of Mary Lou Falcone and her late husband, Nicholas (Nicky) Zann. Mary Lou was one of the most supportive and encouraging people while I studied music at Juilliard, and remains one of the smartest and most astute women in the field of music.
Christian and I asked permission to publicly share this song. It serves as an offering, memorial and personal dedication to my beloved Aunt Arnette D. Peterson (1946—Nov. 8, 2023) who died suddenly, and to my Uncle Albert Peterson (1946—December 2020) who died of Covid-19 at the beginning of the pandemic, when the death tolls were at their height and vaccinations were still not available.
What’s the unexpected connection between these two couples? When I was 5 or 6 years old, I sang a show tune in my aunt and uncle’s living room on a visit. Afterwards, my late-father Johnny told his sister Arnette, “One of my daughter’s will be going to Juilliard…” and my Aunt Arnette said, “I don’t doubt it Johnny. I don’t doubt it.” Arnette loved to tell me that story each time I saw her when she came to hear me sing these recent years.
Love and light to all and each.
Words by Thomas Campion (1567 – 1620)
Music by David Lang (b. 1957)
–– Dedicated to Mary Lou Falcone,
in memory of Nicholas Zann (1943 – 2020)
COME, MY LIFE’S DELIGHT (2020)
Come, O come, my life’s delight,
Let me not in languor pine!
Love loves no delay; thy sight,
The more enjoyed, the more divine:
O come, and take from me
The pain of being deprived of thee!
Thou all sweetness dost enclose,
Like a little world of bliss.
Beauty guards thy looks: the rose
In them pure and eternal is.
Come, then, and make thy flight
As swift to me, as heavenly light.
sharing again, because…
1) missing my partner in life
and in music… Christian Reif
2) because it saddens to the core how this message remains relevant in more and more contexts
Nonesuch Records
10/11/2023
Delightful/delighted!
Congrats to Christian Reif and Philharmonia Orchestra and Jeremy Siskind and John Adams!
Congratulations to all of the Nonesuch nominees for the 66th Grammy Awards: Thomas Adès, 'Dante,' performed by LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel, for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Contemporary Classical Composition, and the album's producer, Dmitriy Lipay, for Producer of the Year, Classical; Darcy James Argue's Secret Society for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for 'Dynamic Maximum Tension'; Julia Bullock for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album for 'Walking in the Dark'; Rhiannon Giddens for Best Americana Album for 'You're the One' and Best American Roots Performance for the album track "You Louisiana Man"; Cecile McLorin Salvant for Best Jazz Vocal Album for 'Mélusine' and Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for the album track "Fenestra," arranged by Godwin Louis; Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway for Best Bluegrass Album for 'City of Gold'; and 'The Blue Hour' for Best Engineered Album, Classical!
04/11/2023
What sobering, sad, magnificence…
Sent from a dear friend (New Yorker to the core, but current Californian), Jon Rupp.
Bayard Rustin sings "Flow my tears" The tenor sings a song by John Dowland from his "Second Book of Songs" (1600). Recorded in 1952 with Margaret Davison on the harpischord.Here's a link to my ...
28/10/2023
There’s so much sadness & fear amongst us, so finding it difficult to celebrate anything, but I do want to share some of what has been preoccupying my time & energy these past weeks, as tonight our collective work opens for the public to see and experience.
Read the full statement at the link to my website.
Gran Teatre del Liceu Oct 28 — Nov 8
Libretto adapted by John Adams, Elkhanah Pulitzer and Lucia Scheckner from Shakespeare, Plutarch, Virgil and Dryden. Music by John Adams.
Nonesuch Records
Considerations of Cleopatra and the opera (or “sung drama”) Antony & Cleopatra – Julia Bullock | OFFICIAL Website Libretto adapted by John Adams, Elkhanah Pulitzer and Lucia Scheckner from Shakespeare, Plutarch, Virgil and Dryden. Music by John Adams.“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety” — William Shakespeare (1564–1616), describing Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra”Cleopatra VI...
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