Praised by critics for “an outstanding level of vocal agility” and “an effortless yet vibrant theatricality,” coloratura soprano Kristi Bryson is an accomplished performer on both the opera and concert stage. She is a versatile actress known for her stratospheric coloratura and sensitive musicality. Her operatic roles include Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Beth in Little Women.

 

Kristi appears regularly as a soloist in concert and has performed with leading ensembles including the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, I Fagiolini, Orchestre symphonique de Montreal, and Symphony Nova Scotia. In 2022/23, Kristi performed Schubert’s Mass in B-flat Major and Mozart’s Spatzenmesse with the Vokalkapelle of the Theatinerkirche in Munich, Germany, a song recital for the University of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary and was heard on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ideas program in a rendition of Sir Roger Scruton’s Lorca Songs. Kristi also performed Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate with Ensemble Chameleon in the United Kingdom and toured in recital with Douglas Hollick, specialist in early keyboard instruments. They performed a programme of Haydn's English Canzonettas featuring a rare 1809 Broadwood pianoforte.  

 

In recent seasons, Kristi performed excerpts from Bach’s St John Passion and St Matthew Passion with L’Academie de musique ancienne de St-Camille, Buxtehude’s cantata Singet dem Herrn with the Church of St Andrew & St Paul, and Handel’s Messiah with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra. Other recent concert highlights include Bach’s cantata Jauchzet Gott with Ensemble Caprice, Charpentier’s Oratorio Noël with Choeur St-Laurent, Schütz’ Musikalische Exequien with One Equall Musick and Charpentier’s Messe à 8 voix with Tafelmusik. 

 

Kristi has received generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts, as an indigenous artist, and from Arts Nova Scotia for her forthcoming solo song album with Toccata Next. This album will feature a newly commissioned song cycle for Kristi’s voice by composer Oliver Markson, entitled Be Attitudes, as well as music by Sir Roger Scruton and David Matthews. 

 

Kristi attended the Royal College of Music in the UK and graduated with a master of music in advanced vocal performance (opera). She holds a Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours degree from the University of King’s College where she was a choral and organ scholar. Kristi is featured as a soloist on the University of King’s College Chapel Choir’s albums Benedicimus Te & Glorificamus Te, in Allegri’s Miserere and Mozart’s Mass in D Major & Mass in G Major. She also appears on the Opus nominated ATMA Classique album LUX with the Choir of St Andrew & St Paul. Kristi is the recipient of awards from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil de la culture de L’Estrie, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Canada Council for the Arts.