Meet Kristina Bachrach
Guest Artist and Soprano
Program Three: July 17 & 19
What is your earliest memory of classical music?
I was lucky enough to grow up in a family that had a deep appreciation for classical music. In fact, I don’t recall a time when music was not a part of my life. My mother played many instruments, and my father was a composer with a special passion for music from the early and mid-20th century. I didn’t know any other preschoolers who listened to Berg, Stockhausen, and Boulez on their drive to school.
When did you start to focus on classical vocal training?
My first instrument was the cello, but I began voice lessons “on the side” through the NEC preparatory program at age 13. At age 15, when I started to sing repertoire by Schubert and Mozart, I knew that I had to devote my life to singing. I loved and still love the cello, but with my sluggish fingers and my love for words and poetry, singing felt like a much more natural fit.
What do you like most about performing?
I’ve always felt that performers can’t truly understand a piece of music until we perform it for a live audience. Music, at its core, is about communication, and I believe that listening ears are just as essential as performers for bringing a piece to life.
Who was your most influential mentor and why?
I have been lucky to have three wonderful mentors in my professional life: Amy Burton, Lucy Shelton, and Benita Valente. All three are beautiful examples of staying curious, humble, adventurous, and generous.
What is something that most people don’t know about being a professional singer?
I secretly have the world’s best job because there is nothing better than living at the intersection of great words and great music.
What do you do in your free time?
As the mother of two young kids, James who is 4 and Abby who was born in December, I look forward to one day having free time again! I hope to pass on to them my love of the outdoors, of reading, of cooking, and of hiking.