Bárbara Barradas  a young Lyric-coloratura Soprano, described as a “pure talent” and “an outstanding artist, a born singer (…) with a round and beautiful voice, an exceptional stage presence, and a messa di voce that after Caballe was barely to find”. Born in Lisbon, she began her musical career when she was 8, as a solo singer, in the Children’s Choir of Lisbon. At 9 years old, she entered in the National Conservatoire of Music in Lisbon where she studied for 12 years, including 3 years of singing with José Carlos Xavier. At the age of 20 she won a scholarship by Gulbenkian Foundation to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Susan Waters, where she finished her Bmus and Mmus with Distinction. She was part of the Flandres Operastudio 2010-11. She integrated the Walles International Academy of Voice in 2011-12, directed by Dennis O’Neill and sponsored by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. She has vocal coaching with professor Lúcia Lemos and Paula Anglin. She participated in Masterclasses with Mara Zampiere, Ann Murray, Graham Johnson, Yvonne Minton, Sarah Walker, Dennis O’Neill, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Nelly Miricioui, Tom Krause, amongst others..

She won the Bocage Prize (sponsored by Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian) in Concurso de Canto Lírico Luísa Todi (2005); the 2nd Prize in Guildhall Aria Award Competition (2009); the Audience Award in Concurso Lírico da Fundação Rotária Portuguesa (2010); the 3rd Prize in International Rotary Opera Contest. In 2011 she won the 3^rd Prize, the Lieder Prize and the Audience Prize in 5º Concurso Lírico da Fundação Rotária Portuguesa. In 2013, she won the 1^st Prize and the Audience Prize at the 7ºConcurso Lírico da Fundação Rotária Portuguesa; and the Donizetti Prize (Performance as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor in 2014) at Grandi Voci competition in Salzburg.

 

Roles performed: Lucia , Lucia di Lammermoor – Donizetti – De Nederlands Opera (ENOA workshop) – Amsterdam (2014); Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart at Fundação C. Gulbenkian – Paul McCreesh (conductor) – (2013); Delia, Il Viaggio a Reims – Rossini – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos – Lisbon (2014); Frasquita, Carmen – Bizet – Woodhouse Summer Opera Festival– UK (2013); Princesa, O Gato das Botas (Puss in boots) – Montsalvatge at TNSC (2012); Donna Anna, Don Giovanni – Mozart at Zêzere Arts Festival (2012); Lucia (as cover) in Lucia di Lammermoor – Donizetti, Opera Holland Park (2012); Gilda, Victor Hugo Project – Flandres Operastudio – director Vicent Van den Elshout (2010); Queen of the Night – Mozart Project – Flandres Operastudio – director Helen Suyderhoud (2010); Emmie (as cover) in Albert Herring by Britten, G.S.M.D. (2010); Gilda in Rigoletto – Verdi at Óbidos Opera Festival 2009 and in 2010 at Flandres Operastudio; Maria (2008/09) in West Side Story, Bernstein at Teatro Politeama – Lisbon; Belinda, Dido and Aeneas by Purcel, G.S.M.D (2006).; Zerlina, project Ma guarda il Catalogo! Allora capirai!- music by Mozart, with E.M.C.N. (2006).
Past engagements include Solist at Opera Gala with Orquestra do Centro – Portugal – David Loyd (conductor) – (July, 2014); Concert at Dias da Musica in CCB – “De Gounod a Messiaen-100 anos de Mélodie” – with the Pianist Maestro João Paulo Santos in Lisbon (May, 2014); New Year’s Opera Gala – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos – Lisbon (January, 2014); Soloist Soprano at Verdi Gala – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos – Lisbon (2013); Inauguration of the Concert Hall of Palácio da Pena in Sintra (January, 2014) – Lisbon; Soprano I at C minor Mass– Mozart in Christchurch (UK); Opera Holland Park Chorus 2012; Concerts with Maestro João Paulo Santos at Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon (TNSC) – 2012; Classical Kiks – 1st Classical Night ever at the world famous Jazz Club – Ronnie Scott’s; Glyndebourne Chorus Opera Festival 2011; Lieder Concert with Graham Jonhson (Piano) at Flandres Operastudio; Mozart Project as Queen of the Night, at Flandres Operastudio directed by Helen Suyderhoud; Opera Gala at Clonter Opera Farm Music Trust; Opera Gala at De Singel in Antwerp with Orchestra Jeugd en Muziek Orchestra, where she sang arias and parts of Queen of the night, Fiordiligi, Konstanze and Nanetta; Final Concert of Óbidos Opera Festival with Algarve Orchestra, conducter Osvaldo Ferreira.
Her future engagements will be Lucia – Lucia di Lammermoor – Donizetti, at Oper im Berg Festival in Salzburg, (August, 2015); Opera Gala with Carlos Cardoso (tenor) and Maestro João Paulo Santos – Teatro Luísa Todì – Portugal (November, 2014); Christmas Gala with Lisbon Film Orchestra – Lisbon (December, 2014); Solist at Christmas Opera Galas with Orquestra do Centro – Portugal – (December, 2014) – David Loyd (conductor); Barbarina – Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart – Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation 2014-15 Season – Lisbon – Paul McCreesh (conductor) – (January , 2015); Dama di Lady Macbeth – Macbeth – Verdi – Teatro Nacional de São Carlos – Lisbon (February 2015); Opera Gala Classical Kick’s  – St. James Theatre – London.