CAROLINE BRUKER

Caroline received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina USA. In 2008 she moved to the Netherlands, where she continued her operatic and early music studies at the Royal Conservatoire in the The Hague. After graduating from the Conservatoire, Caroline studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia Opera Studio in Rome under the instruction of Renata Scotto and Anna Vandi. Throughout her studies she participated in masterclasses and private lessons with Cheryl Studer, Montserrat Caballé, Helen Donath, Laura Claycomb and Helen Kwon. In 2016 Caroline received her Masters Degree in Opera from the Hochschüle für Musik Detmold, where she sang the roles of Blondchen from Mozart’s Die Entführung aus Serail, Zerbinetta from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and Miss Havisham from Argento’s Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night.

Her career is distinguished by collaborations with esteemed conductors and orchestras, showcasing her versatility and artistry. She continues to collaborate with the Bundesjugendballett, presenting an eclectic repertoire that includes Bach’s “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben” from the St. Matthew Passion, Mahler’s “Ich bin an der Welt abhanden gekommen” from the Rückert-Lieder, Verdi’s “Addio del passato” from La Traviata, and Gershwin’s “Has one of you seen Joe?” from the jazz opera Blue Monday. Performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Konzerthaus Berlin, Linbury Theatre at Covent Garden, Meininger Staatstheater, Staatsoper Hamburg, Staatstheater Wiesbaden, and the Tianqiao Theater (Beijing).

Caroline’s wide-ranging repertoire spans from early to contemporary music, showcasing her versatility and mastery of classical works. She is particularly celebrated for her recurring performances in choral and orchestral masterpieces. Among these, her soul-stirring renditions of Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium and her compelling interpretations of Handel’s Messiah stand out, with critics praising her vocal precision and emotive power. Her performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C Minor reveal a profound connection to Mozart’s complex yet transcendent harmonies, while her portrayal of Fauré’s Requiem captures its ethereal beauty. Caroline’s dynamic approach to Orff’s Carmina Burana has earned widespread acclaim for its raw intensity and rhythmic energy.

In addition to these well known works, Caroline has captivated audiences with pieces such as Schütz’s Musikalische Exequien at the Konzerthalle Bamberg and Steve Reich’s Desert Music at De Doelen in Rotterdam. She performs regularly across Germany with renowned early music ensembles and orchestras, including Los Temperamentos, Bremer Barockorchester, Merlini, and The Muses’ Fellows. In 2022, she appeared with Los Temperamentos at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie in Festejo Peruana, a program highlighting Peruvian baroque music in collaboration with the Ballet Folclórico Nacional del Perú.

In addition to her work in traditional repertoire, Caroline is acclaimed for her contributions to contemporary classical music. She has premiered several new compositions, including Michael Wertmüller’s Palimpsest at the stARTfestival from Bayer Kultur and Christopher Muscat’s Stabat Mater with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra at St John Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta.

Her operatic roles include The Vixen from Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen with the Trentino Music Festival, Woglinde in Wagner’s Das Rheingold with the Hamburg Kammeroper’s Theater für Kinder and Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at Theater Osnabrück. In 2019 she recorded the leading role Bätely in Jery und Bätely an unknown opera by Finnish-German composer Ingeborg von Bronsart with the Malmö Opera Orchestra for The Naxos Music Group.

Upcoming performances include Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Neue Philharmonie Hamburg in Laeiszhalle and Berlin Philharmonie this winter and Carmina Burana in Hamburg and Prague in the summer.

“the role of Miss Aurelia Havisham, in addition to an expressive soprano voice, also requires a tremendous performance.

Caroline Bruker has both to offer.”

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