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Born: July 30, 1940 - Dublin, Ireland
Died: September 26, 2008 - Dublin, Ireland |
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The Irish mezzo-soprano, Bernadette Greevy, had concert appearances with with many of the world's great orchestras and numerous recitals in all the major capitals of the world. At the beginning of her illustrious career, a USA recital given by her, evoked the remark by the music critic of the Washington Post “that she would undoubtedly become one of the noble and beloved artists of our time”. She was recognised as one of the finest mezzo-sopranos of her time. The possessor of a voice of unique richness, she performed on all five continents with considerable success.
Bernadette Greevy's operatic roles included: Carmen in Georges Bizet’s popular opera, Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlos, Azucena in Verdi'a Il Trovatore, Delilah in Camille Saint-Saëns Samson et Dalila, Orfeo in Gluck’s opera Orfeo e Euridice, Lucretia in Benjamin Britten’s Rape of Lucretia, Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Werther by Massenet, Hérodiade in the opera by Massenet, and Ariodante by George Frideric Handel.
Bernadette Greevy was particularly renowned as a Gustav Mahler singer and performed all his vocal works with orchestra in the 1990's over a four year period in the famous Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She made a tour of the People's Republic of China 1985, giving recitals and holding master-classes. She gave Recital series at the National Concert Hall in Dublin and on RTE Radio and Television. She sang G. Mahler's Ruckert Lieder and the Choral Symphony with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra; the Johannes Brahms Alto Rhapsody and Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures in Ottawa. In the late 1980's and early 1990's she gave concerts in Denmark, Italy, Spain, USA, France. Finland and Norway; G. Mahler series in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Charles Dutoit in 1989.
In 2000 Bernadette Greevy became Founder/Artistic Director of the Anna Livia International Opera Festival, a Dublin-based Summer Festival. She appeared in two of the seasons, first in the name part of Hérodiade in 2000 and as Azucena in Il Trovatore in 2002. Her annual master-classes in the Museum of Modern Art, Dublin became notable events in the musical life of Dublin. She was the first Artist in Residence of the Dublin Institute of Technology & Faculty of Applied Arts.
Bernadette Greevy made many fine recordings, including: G.F. Handel Arias, Orlando, Ariodante; J. Brahms Lieder; Nuits d'Ete by Berlioz and songs by Henri Duparc, with the Ulster Orchestra (Chandos); Bach Arias; E. Elgar's Sea Pictures (w/ London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley); G. Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Kindertotenlieder, with the RTE Orchestra; Haydn.
Among the awards with which Bernadette Greevy was honoured, were the Harriet Cohen International Music Award for Outstanding Artistry and the Order of Merit of Malta. She held honorary Doctorates of Music from the National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. The honour “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” was conferred on her by the Holy See. |
