Soprano, multi-instrumentalist and composer Anna Tam (b.1983 London) leads an eclectic career performing as lyric soprano and on cello, viola da gamba and nyckelharpa.
During her early studies she performed at the Wigmore Hall, London and sang at St Mark’s Basilica, Venice. Whilst at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama she performed several times on BBC Radio 3, including for a festival of the works of Elliot Carter, developing her long standing interest in contemporary music, furthered by performing works by Frank Martin with the LPO Future Firsts at the Purcell Room, London. She continues to explore the 20th century and contemporary repertoire of the cello alongside a passion for the early repertoire of this instrument and the voice.
‘my journey into early music performance practice – on baroque cello, viola da gamba and nyckelharpa – offers me as much an opportunity to explore new sound worlds from a contemporary perspective as a discovery of the historical sounds so important to a fuller appreciation of this music.’
It was her extensive exploration of Bach’s cello suites during performances throughout the UK and Europe that led her to investigate historical performance practices on baroque cello and later viola da gamba and nyckelharpa. This specialism gave her in 2012 the opportunity to perform the premiere of two previously unknown arias by Vivaldi recently discovered at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire on BBC1’s ‘Britain’s Hidden Heritage’. She currently performs with early choral ensemble, the Mediaeval Baebes.
‘improvising and composing enrich and refresh my interpretation of the classical repertoire and likewise, my extensive experience in the performance world is vital to my work as a composer’
Her setting of James Joyce’s early poem cycle ‘Chamber Music’ for soprano, tenor and renaissance ensemble premiered at the Brighton Fringe Festival in 2013 and has since had several performances in the UK. She also writes and arranges for theatre and for her own performances.
In 2014 Anna released her first album ‘With love…’ with pianist Jonathan Musgrave featuring some of the most loved works in the repertoire for soprano and cello.
Anna lives on her beautiful boat just outside London gaining inspiration from the woods and the river.
