Linda Brava
Linda Brava, real name Linda Lampenius (born on February 26, 1970) is a Finnish violinist.
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. Brava was guided in the frames of Colour Strings Method, invented by Szilvay, and as a child prodigy on the violin Brava appeared on Finnish TV presenting the method.
Musical career
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. Brava was also a leader of the Jorma Panula Orchestra (Sibelius Academy's conductor class orchestra) and Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra. At the same time, Brava also gave solo concerts and, for example, opened Sibeliuspäivät (The Sibelius Days) in Finland in 1995. Brava has also done some first broadcast performances for Finnish Broadcasting Company during her years at the Academy.
In 1996, Brava decided to start a career as a full-time soloist, quit her job at the Opera, 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 when performing to the Prince of Monaco Brava was accompanied by Milan's La Scala Orchestra. Brava's acclaimed debut classical album was released worldwide in 1999 by EMI Classics, and with the release Brava toured Far East. Brava has also done some head-of-state and royal concert appearances by playing classical music, for example, to the president Martti Ahtisaari, the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, King of Sweden and the president of Kazakhstan.
Brava's instrument is 1781 Galliano violin.
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, and was playing the tunes of the album while modelling Björn Borg on the catwalks
In 1997, Brava was invited by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to play a solo part on the violin at his new piece Metal Philharmonic at Sydmonton Festival. Brava also gave a concert of her own at the festival, and The Times dedicated its cultural enclosure to her.
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. Brava has also played her pop material in Monaco's Sporting Club, Helsinki's Hartwall Arena and Stokholm's Globen, to name a few.
Folk music
Brava started to play folk music with Swedish folk musicians – above all with Kalle Moraeus – in 2003. In the year 2004, she made two concert tours across Sweden, and the 2005 album Nordic Light presents songs from Nordic folk tradition.
Discography
- Linda Lampenius - Audiovox Records - 1997
- Linda Brava - EMI Classics - 1999
- Nordic Light - Ladybird - 2005
- Classic FM [2003] DVD - BMG Music Programming - 2003
Other careers
Acting
Brava has been a guest actress for one episode each of American television series Fame L.A. and Baywatch. Brava has also done some acting parts in the North.
Modelling
Brava was the model and face for Björn Borg's range of underwear and bathing suits from 1996 to 1999. 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.
Because of her status as a blonde violin sensation in Europe, Brava was offered a contract to become the celebrity-covergirl of the world's greatest men's magazine Playboy. Brava agreeded, and was featured in and on the cover of Playboy'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, Maxim and Hello! magazines.
Linda cider
Brava lent her name and image to a brand of Finnish cider, which sold millions of litres between 1997 and 2000.
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.
Rally Racing
Brava has also been keen on rallying, and has worked as a co-driver in Finland.