Star Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer Larmore Performs in Recital at CCM Jan. 22

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music welcomes internationally

renowned mezzo-soprano

Jennifer Larmore

in recital,

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at 8 p.m.

in CCM's Corbett Auditorium. Pianist

Antoine Palloc

joins Larmore to perform songs by Vivaldi, Handel, Rossini, Debussy and others.

Known for her outstanding interpretations of Baroque and bel canto roles, Atlanta-born soprano Larmore brings her star power to CCM for this one-evening-only event. An energetic and handsome stage presence, Larmore is a frequent guest of the world's greatest opera houses, including Paris, London, Berlin, Barcelona and New York. She also has recorded over 70 CDs, earning her seven Grammy Award nominations and a Grammophon Award.

Tickets are $15, $10 for non-UC students and free to UC students. Parking is available in the CCM Garage (at the base of Corry Boulevard off of Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. For complete ticket and parking information, visit www.ccm.uc.edu or call the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.
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University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
EVENT DETAILS

JENNIFER LARMORE, MEZZO-SOPRANO
With Antoine Palloc, piano

Performing songs by Vivaldi, Handel, Rossini, Ravel, Debussy, Ives, Heggie and others.

Date and Time:
Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008; 8 p.m.

Location:
Corbett Auditorium
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Tickets:
$15, $10 non-UC students, UC students FREE
Order at www.ccm.uc.edu or 513-556-4183.

Supported by the Thomas W. Busse Trust
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

JENNIFER LARMORE mezzo-soprano
Jennifer Larmore is an outstanding American mezzo-soprano who has parlayed operatic success in Europe into international stardom. Known for excelling in the coloratura roles of the Baroque and bel canto, she has also moved into the Romantic and Contemporary repertoire. Since the beginning of her career, Larmore has recorded widely for the Teldec, RCA, Harmonia Mundi, Deutsch Grammophon, Arabesque, Opera Rara, Bayer, Naive, Chandos, VAI and Cedille labels in over 70 CDs to date, earning her the distinction of being the most recorded mezzo of all time.

Originally from Atlanta, Larmore studied at the Westminster Choir College of Princeton, New Jersey, and then privately with John Bullock and Regina Resnik. In 1986, she made her professional debut at the Opera de Nice production of Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito." During the same period, Larmore sang her first Rosina from "Barber of Seville" in the Savary production in Strasbourg. The role of Rosina would become her signature role-one that she has performed over five hundred times.

Her vocal talents, energetic acting, and natural beauty quickly established her as an emerging star, and during the next decade she performed dozens of leading roles with major European houses to include the prestigious theaters of Paris, Vienna, London, Edinburgh, Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan, Buenos Aires and Salzburg.

In 1994, Larmore returned to the United States in a triumphant Carnegie Hall appearance as Romeo in Bellini's "I Capuletti e I Montecchi." This success was followed by winning the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, and her Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosina in 1995. Since then, she has been a regular attraction at the Met, singing an array of roles including Handel's "Giulio Cesare," Rossini's "Barber of Seville," "La Cenerentola" and "L'Italiana in Algeri," Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann," Strauss' "Die Fledermaus," Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel," and the world premiere of Tobias Picker's "American Tragedy." She will be appearing in the upcoming "Hamlet of Thomas."

With her frequent collaborator Antoine Palloc, she has performed recitals in Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Vienna, London, San Juan, Prague, Melbourne, Brussels, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon, Sao Paolo, Athens and Copenhagen, as well as all the major American venues.

Symphonic repertoire plays a large role in Ms. Larmore's career. Most notable in her repertoire are the works of Mahler, Schoenberg, Mozart, de Falla, Debussy, Berlioz and Barber. World orchestras under the direction of Muti, Lopez-Cobos, Bernstein, Runnicles, Sinopoli, Masur, von Dohnanyi, Jacobs, Mackerras, Spinosi, Guidarini, Kalmar, Rudel, Barenboim, Queler, Bonynge, Maazel , Ozawa and many others have fallen under Ms. Larmore's spell.

Jennifer Larmore's Giulio Cesare on Harmonia Mundi received the Grammophon Award for "Best Baroque Opera" of the year. Among her seven Grammy nominations, titles include "L'Etoile," a collection of French opera arias; "Call Me Mister," a celebration of mezzo-soprano "trouser" roles; "Amore per Rossini," a trove of Rossini rarities, some never before recorded; "My Native Land," a gathering of songs by American composers; "Where Shall I Fly," featuring Handel and Mozart arias; "Bravura Diva," a marvelous collection of rare bel canto masterworks; "Jennifer Larmore in Performance," a companion CD to the popular DVD from Video Artists International (VAI); "Jennifer Larmore, A Portrait," a collection of early works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods; and "Born In Atlanta," a CD of varied operatic and concert selections released to commemorate Larmore's appearance at the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games.

Among the many operatic recordings Larmore has made are the title roles of "Carmen," "Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra," "La Cenerentola," "L'Italiana in Algeri," "Bianca e Falliero," "Orphée," "Giulio Cesare," "Sofanisba," and "I Capulet e I Montechhi."

In 2004, Jennifer Larmore was the honored guest soloist in Washington, DC, at the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. A particularly unique venture has been her satellite radio program, "Backstage With Jennifer Larmore," on which she has proven herself a witty and insightful interviewer and commentator. In addition to her hosting many international airline Classical Listening programs, Ms. Larmore is widely sought after to give master classes in prestigious national and international venues. She has appeared in numerous publications including Vogue, Dog Fancy with her miniature schnauzer Sophie, Opera News, the British publication Opera, Opéra International, German Vogue and Max, as well as on a variety of television programs around the world including, Good Morning America, Breakfast With the Arts, the Classical Arts Showcase, the German Klassisch!, the French Jacques Martin, A cote du Chez Fred, and the 30th Anniversary Star Trek celebration for the UPN Network.

In 2002, Larmore was endowed with Knighthood by the French Government carrying the title "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" in recognition of her contributions to the world of music.

In humanitarian efforts, Larmore's charity of choice has been the American Fund for UNICEF. Her focus is to raise awareness of the plight of underprivileged children, and she often speaks and sings for this worthy cause. In addition to her many activities, travels, performances and causes, Jennifer Larmore is working on books that will bring a wider public to opera.
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ANTOINE PALLOC piano
Antoine Palloc was born in 1969 in Nice, France, where he studied with Catherine Collard. From an early age, he specialized in vocal accompanying and studied with Dalton Baldwin and Martin Katz at the Westminster Choir College and the University of Michigan.

In his young career, he has already performed with such prestigious artists as Frederica Von Stade, Norah Amsellem, Elisabeth Vidal, Nathalie Manfrino, Paul Gay, Bruce Ford, Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Denis Sedov, Karine Deshayes, Patricia Petibon, Isabelle Cals, Alastair Miles, Patrizia Biccerè, David Daniels, Majella Cullagh, Brian Asawa, Anne-Sophie Duprels and Jennifer Larmore with whom he has recorded an album of American art songs ("My Native Land") for the Teldec label and a DVD, "Jennifer Larmore Live" (VAI Music).

His most recent engagements have taken him to the opera houses of Berlin, Nice, Toulouse, Lyon, Strasbourg, San Francisco, Rio,  as well as the Grand Théâtre de Quebec, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, Ford center for the performing arts, Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Salle Gaveau, Nagaoka Lyric Hall, Festival d'Aix en Provence, Edinburg Festival, Printemps des Arts de Monte Carlo, Kennedy Center, Hanoi Opera house, Beijing's Forbidden City, Théâtre de la Monnaie, Liceu, Wigmore Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus, Hong Kong's art center, Mariinsky Theatre, and Sao Paulo's Cultura Artistica.

Palloc devotes part of his time to teaching and regularly coaches master classes at the Opéra Studio Bastille in Paris, Jeunes Voix du Rhin (Strasbourg Opera House), the Nagaoka Lyric Hall in Japan, Tokyo Opera Studio, University of Michigan, Monte Carlo's academy of music and the international summer program in Nice.

Palloc also has recorded with mezzo-soprano Isabelle Cals (French melodies, Saphir Production), "Mélodies Françaises 'Antoinette'" with Mayuko Karasawa (Decca), a collection of Ives songs with Rayanne Dupuis (Abeille Music) and a collection of Italian songs with Jennifer Larmore, Bruce Ford, Patrizia Biccerè and Alastair Miles (Opera Rara).

For the 2007-08 season, Palloc is musical director of Jeunes voix du Rhin, a program for the training and professional advancement of young singers led by France's Opéra National du Rhin and the Atelier du Rhin.