Grace Davidson is a renowned soprano and international soloist specialising in the Baroque period. As a prizewinner she has recorded multiple times with groups such as the Sixteen and worked with such eminent conductors as Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Nigel Short and Philippe Herreweghe. Grace’s purity of tone has attracted many leading composers to write for her, most notably Max Richter, who chose her as the solo singer for many of his works, such as Sleep. This piece – lasting all night – has now been performed all over the world, including a performance in 2019 on the Great Wall of China. She is also features on many film soundtracks most recently on Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Music in Action caught up with Grace to find out what inspires her.
At what age did you start making music?
Although I am not from a musical family, I began making music aged 3, endlessly singing at home, but it wasn’t until I was 6 when I joined the church choir, local children’s choir Finchley Children’s Music Group, violin & piano lessons that it really began to take shape for me.
What do you love most about music?
Everyone has at least one piece of music in their lives that means something special to them, moves them, or makes them happy or sad, be it a simple Hymn tune of a even piece of Heavy Metal, its all valid as to why it might be special to them, and there’s a lovey quote by Leonard Bernstein that I feel sums up the power of music and why I love it so much. “Music can name the unnamable and Communicate the unknowable”
Why does music matter to you?
I am very lucky that music is my career, my passion and it enabled me to find my tribe so to speak. Music has taken me all over the world with performing, often working alongside friends and colleagues doing what I love, repeating favourite repertoire, and learning new works. Being without music and everything it gives me is unthinkable.
Which works really matter to you?
I enjoy a versatile career singing a wide variety of repertoire, so its difficult to choose one work. Renaissance and Baroque music is very much my passion and I will never tire of singing a Bach Passion or Handel Messiah, always delighted when these seasonal works pop up in the calendar, taking me on tour with specialist period instrument orchestras and conductors, but I also love recording for contemporary composers in the studio, providing vocals for film soundtracks and albums, so ‘Sleep’ by Max Richter is very special to me, because he chose me to be the sole singer for this project and its been lovely to mould it as my own, recording it for Deutsche Grammophon and performing it all over the world.
Where are you from originally & what inspiration do you take from your current home?
I was born in London and lived there all my life until 5 years ago when I moved to Cambridgeshire to school my kids. It took a while to adapt and come to terms with leaving behind what felt like my home, but I still work in London regularly and feel very fortunate to be based in the countryside. On days when I’m not working I walk miles with my beloved Golden retriever and this has become a very important time for thinking and planning, I often listen to music and use the time to memorise upcoming repertoire.
What is your favourite place on earth?
My favourite place on earth is a small fishing village in North Devon called Appledore. It is a very special to me and my family, as I grew up spending all my summer holidays there, and we still do 35 years later. The coastline is stunning and I think of it as my second home.
Who is your favourite composer ?
I don’t have one favourite composer, it’s too difficult to single one out. Having worked extensively with many of the leading early music groups in the uk and Europe, I have performed and recorded over 100 albums of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, so its this whole genre that I love. I am in heaven when singing Bach, Purcell, Handel Monteverdi in particular, but I also love my contemporary work, regularly singing and collaborating with current composers and arrangers, in particular Max Richter whom I will be on tour with this autumn.
Which historical figure would you choose to have dinner with and why?
My Historical figure to have dinner with would have to be George Frederic Handel, and funnily enough I was on radio 3 in tune, only last week at Broadcasting house performing a Handel aria by and discussing/promoting my new album titled ‘Historical Fiction’ in which I reimagined famous Baroque works with Soprano, Saxophone and Organ. After the interview I walked back down Oxford Street, and went past St Georges Hanover Square where Handel was organist and down Brook Street in Mayfair where he lived for a period of time. Handel features in my life on an almost weekly basis, so the idea of having dinner and a conversation with him is wonderful.
What can we look forward to next from you?
As we know, the pandemic has caused havoc with musicians work schedules, performances, touring and general mental health. The past 18 months were extremely challenging for so many musicians, but things are starting to come back and I have been very lucky to have made a few recording projects during lockdown which are now coming to fruition. A few highlights in my calendar this autumn begin by touring Germany with composer Max Richter, and on my return I perform Mozart’s Mass in C Minor at St Albans Abbey, in December I tour with the Academy of Ancient Music performing Handel’s Messiah, and at the start of next year in early January I’ll be recording a new song cycle with pianist Joseph Middleton. Next Easter I am delighted to be singing the Bach Matthew Passion for conductor Philippe Herreweghe with 15 performances in Europe and this is always a highlight. I also have several recordings being released, some of which were recorded during the lockdown. It has been wonderful to be back live on stage and I very much hope this will continue.
Music in Action is very grateful for Grace’s time. For more information about concerts and her recording projects please visit: www.gracedavidsonsoprano.com