Sophie Bruno Labiner's biography and reviews from 2009
Harpist Sophie Bruno Labiner is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where studied with Marilyn Costello. Ms. Bruno has appeared with major orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony and the English Chamber Orchestra. She has performed both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles in the Philadelphia area, including broadcasts on National Public Radio. Among other groups with which she has performed are the American Ballet Theater, American Boy Choir, Kirov Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Royal Ballet and Opera Festival of New Jersey. Bruno is currently principal harpist with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and Orchestra 2001 and is a faculty member at Temple University.
"Philadelphia Singers' Maestro David Hayes conducts a good ensemble blessed by Sophie Bruno's harp."
- Lesley Valdes, WRTI's critic-at-large, Opera Review: The Rape of Lucretia at the Kimmel Center, June 9, 2009.
"The 14-member orchestra assembled for this chamber piece under the director of conductor David Hayes, details all of Britten's dark interiors mid-volume... Sophie Bruno's harp provides a mysterious cathartic oasis."
- Lewis Whittington, EDGE Contributor, The Rape of Lucretia, Tuesday June 9, 2009
"the piccolo and harp contributions by Lois Bliss Herbine and Sophie Bruno Labiner are models of color-driven expression."
- David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, (DTR) record review, Sunday, May 3, 2009 (3.5 out of 4 stars)
"The composer describes his song cycle as 'a series of musical tableaux suggesting the lavish illustrations of medieval manuscripts' and the harp part, neatly executed by Sophie Bruno Labiner, creates an apt lute-like sonority".
- Andrew Quint, Philadelphia Music Makers Magazine, summer, 2009
"Harpist Sophie Bruno makes a luminous contribution"(to Lois Herbine's solo CD on the Crystal Label)
- Laurence Vittes, Gramophone North American Reviews, January, 2005