Linda Brava
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linda Brava, real name Linda Lampenius (born on February 26, 1970) is a Finnish violinist.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Brava was born into a family and culture in which music forms a vital part of life. Her father is a theatre director, singer and also a composer of musicals and operetta. Her mother is a singer and actress. Brava grew up at the backstage of Svenska Teatern, and did her theatre debut at the age of three. When she was four, she was on Svenska Teatern's tour in Sweden and Norway and was attending the musical kindergarten. A year later, Brava was playing the violin instead of the piano under the Hungarian Géza Szilvay.
[edit] Musical career
[edit] Classical music
At the age of eight, Brava beacame a member and soloist – later also a concertmaster – of the Helsinki Juniorstrings. The orchestra toured all over the world visiting the U.S., Canada and Japan – among many other countries. Brava's personal debut was when she was playing as a soloist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra as an eleven-year-old.
Brava studied at the Sibelius Academy with Nachum Erlich and in Bloomington under Maurizio Fuks, successor to Josef Gingold.
First, Brava embarked on a solid career as an orchestral violinist playing with some of the best orchestras in Finland: Tapiola Sinfonietta, Helsinki Philharmonic and finally Finnish National Opera's Orchestra. At the same time, Brava was also a leader of the Sibelius Academy's conductor class and symphony orchestras.
In 1996, Brava decided to start a career as a full-time soloist, and has ever since played chamber music and made solo orchestral appearances worldwide. She has played with many respected pianists such as Laura Mikkola and John Lenehan, and with many Finnish city orchestras, Stockholm Sinfonietta, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and La Scala Orchestra. Brava's acclaimed debut classical album was released worldwide in 1999 by EMI Classics.
Brava's instrument is 1781 Galliano violin.
[edit] Pop and rock music
Brava had played classical music for 21 years before she was asked to play something similar to Vanessa-Mae's Toccata and Fugue, and so she did. In 1997, Brava released the self-titled pop album Linda Lampenius.
In 1997, Brava played a solo part in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's Metal Philharmonic at Sydmonton Festival. Brava also gave a concert of her own at the festival.
Brava's song "Aquamarine" was featured in an episode of the tv-series Baywatch and "Violator" appears in an episode of Fame L.A.. Both these songs also had music videos made for them.
Brava moved to Stockholm in 2002, to spend a year performing in the Fantastix show, where she had a lead role. In 2003, Brava was also seen on the Rhapsody in Rock show, performing in Sweden, Finland and in London's Royal Albert Hall.
[edit] Folk music
Brava started to play folk music with Swedish folk musicians – above all with Kalle Moraeus – in 2003. The 2005 album Nordic Light presents songs from Nordic folk tradition.
[edit] Discography
- Linda Lampenius - Audiovox Records - 1997
- Linda Brava - EMI Classics - 1999
- Nordic Light - Ladybird - 2005
- Classic FM [2003] DVD - BMG Music Programming - 2003
[edit] Other careers
[edit] Acting
Brava has been a guest actor for one episode each of American television series Fame L.A. and Baywatch.
[edit] Modelling
Brava was the model and face for Björn Borg's range of underwear and bathing suits from 1996 to 1998. She was seen in printed ads and on the catwalks playing music from her first CD. Brava has also been a model for Lacroix watches in England performing in their PR events and being seen in their print ads.
One of the most notable modeling jobs for Brava was her appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine. Brava was Playboy's celebrity-covergirl in the magazine's Sex & Music issue of 1998. She was also one of the Sex Stars of 1998 chosen by Playboy.
Brava has also modelled for GQ and Hello! magazines.
[edit] Linda cider
Brava lent her name and image to a brand of Finnish cider, which sold millions of litres between 1997 and 2000.
[edit] Politics
Brava represented the Swedish People's Party and was elected to the Helsinki City Council in 1996 for a four-year term. Some years later she was chosen to be Finland's Tourist Envoy in Sweden.
