Battle lines

The legendary American soprano, Kathleen Battle, is giving one recital only in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne this month.

The recital will feature works by Handel, Mendelssohn, Richard Strauss, Liszt and Donizetti, as well as a selection of the traditional and gospel songs that have endeared her to audiences in many countries.

Kathleen Battle was born in 1948 into a musical family. Her father, who was a steelworker, and mother involved them in the gospel music of their African Methodist Episcopal church.

She studied music education at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory. WHile at the conservatory, she was encouraged towards a vocal career; but Battle initially took a teaching position at a Cincinnati inner-city public school.

She never lost her love for singing though, and occasionally competed in auditions.

She landed the soprano solo in Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem performed at the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds in 1972. But her real breakthrough came when conductor James Levine selected her to sing the "Mater Glorioso" in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 at the Cincinnati Symphony's 1974 May Festival.

For the next three years, Battle's star was on the ascendancy, thanks in no small measure to Levine. In 1977 she achieved the pinnacle of American singing when she made her debut at the Met - New York's famed Metropolitan Opera.

Battle has become renowned for her interpretations of the light lyric repertoire, especially the soubrette roles of Mozart and Richard Strauss, and for her recitals of German Lieder and Negro spirituals. She also has recorded extensively operatic and concert works, as well as jazz and popular music.

Kathleen Battle's Australian tour will consist of three concerts in each of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. She will be accompanied by pianist Cliff Jackson. Battle's legendary pitch-perfect voice will ensure lovers of opera and voice in general an evening of genuine class and style.