There are plenty of exciting young Australian artists dreaming of making it big, so reducing our long list to 30 was far from easy. After much discussion, we have identified the instrumentalists, composers, conductors and singers who are not only seriously talented but also have that special “x” factor. How will their careers develop? Only time will tell, but this is our pick of the stars of tomorrow.
As much as she protested, a career in music was the only option for this young singer. She tells us about competition success, the best piece of advice for she’s ever been given and her dream opera roles.
“It’s the young lovers who take this show and the company to a new level of excellence. Bronwyn Douglass as Rosina has a voice you could eat with a spoon.”
“Of course, everyone was interested in the two lovers. Bronwyn Douglass as Rosina and Shanul Sharma as Count Almaviva. Their wonderful voices more than did justice to the difficult pieces, both being comfortable with the upper register. A joy to listen to; with real connection between them.”
“Douglass, is a sensational Rosina, her voice equal to that of Sharma and, likewise, presenting a well-developed character.”
“Bronwyn Douglass – her rich, warm tone, clear at the top, subtle at the bottom, and backed by bags of personality – stood out.”
“Both soloists did themselves proud, Douglass especially so with her pinpoint diction and ripe sense of pathos. Drunken Alice swooped and swayed with skilful deployment of chest voice, while poor bereaved Jane’s distress rang out crystal clear, every note and word true as iron. Here is a voice well worth hearing more of.”
“[Tatyana’s] flighty sister Olga is given delicious life by the impressive Bronwyn Douglass.”
“Musically, the performance was exceptional.”
“Olga, sung with promise by Bronwyn Douglass, enjoyed the attention, and was happy for a bit of harmless flirtation.”
“a beautiful tone across her entire register, an expressive emotional connection to the arias, and a quietly radiant presence.”
“Our genial Master of Ceremonies Christopher Lawrence found an interesting descriptor for Bronwyn Douglass’s voice: “caramel”.
It was entirely appropriate too. Those who had heard her win the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Oratorio Aria competition at Deakin Edge in August had been immediately captivated by her unusual mezzo soprano, composed and beautiful throughout the range.
Singing O Mio Fernando from Donizetti’s La Favorita and the less familiar aria from Samson et Dalila with unforced ease on the final low notes, she won even more admirers”