Grammy winner Julia Bullock and Auckland Philharmonia – William Dart

American soprano Julia Bullock played with the Auckland Philharmonia.

Charismatic American soprano Julia Bullock is celebrated for the fearless repertoire, winning a Grammy two years ago for an album that placed contemporary composer John Adams alongside traditional spirituals.

On Saturday night, with the Auckland Philharmonia and conductor Christian Reif, Bullock focused on American music, from Gershwin and Bernstein to Margaret Bonds and Josephine Baker, all eloquently introduced in her own programme essay, with telling reflections on deeper political issues.

The evening’s overture was Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s 1953 Theme and Variations, dashingly delivered by the orchestra and maestro Reif. This, the composer’s final concert work, was a sumptuous scored piece that looked back, perhaps wistfully, to Korngold’s classic film career.

Bullock’s opening set of Gershwin and Margaret Bonds songs revealed her consummate artistry, exquisite phrasing complemented by the thrilling burnish of her lower register.

It was disappointing, however, that Bonds’ three fine settings of Langston Hughes had none of the trenchant politics of another song by the pair, quoted in Bullock’s essay. The two Gershwin numbers were a languid delight and, in Somebody From Somewhere, the orchestral strings relished Nelson Riddle’s swooning cascades.

Reif and his players cut into the applause for their rollicking take on Bernstein’s Candide Overture, followed by Bullock introducing two of that composer’s songs.

Somewhere became achingly relevant for our times, A Julia de Burgos a fiery outburst, triumphantly afloat on a sea of volatile time signatures.

After the interval, Bullock spoke to two of Josephine Baker’s songs, catching the poignant mixed loyalties of J’ai Deux Amours and hosting a wild, exhilarating party with La Conga Blicoti.

A moving encore of Billy Taylor’s I wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, channelling for some the spirit of Nina Simone, highlighted the unique beauty and power of Bullock’s unaccompanied voice.

Reif provided a well-turned introduction to Kurt Weill’s colourful Symphony No 2 from the podium, alerting us to its mix of the sardonic and nostalgic. The orchestra then made a musical showcase of it, with enviable rhythmic verve and attack, dispensing many memorable solos along the way.

Next Friday and Saturday, the Auckland Philharmonia is in the Town Hall again, together with soprano Susan Bullock (no relation) and Lester Lynch, for Bartok’s 1911 one-act opera, Bluebeard’s Castle, a radical production that replaces gothic castles with the issues of today.