JENNIFER LARMORE

LADY MACBETH

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Hi Everyone!

The long awaited Lady Macbeth has come, gone in a blaze of glory and I can truthfully say that I am ecstatic with the way it all went! At this time in my life and career, I am so happy to work with someone like Christof Loy! These days people don't want anyone to get to their prime and go one step over. We are told constantly that youth and beauty rule this day and I have seen it in practice time and time again. The days of a Mirella Freni singing an ingenue role over the age of 60 are gone. People barely get to their prime and they are set out to pasture before they get to do their best work. In Christof Loy I have found a champion that recognizes where I am in my development. Yes, my voice may not be as supple as it was in my youth, but I have so much more to give and he sees this and gives me the opportunity to show it. I loved every minute of the rehearsal process, working with Christof on the character and Ingo on the music. They were a dynamite team! The performances were a dream for me and the only time I was nervous was on opening night--in fact, they shouldn't let critics come on the first night--ever!! :+)) They should all come to the last performance when we've finally figured out how to sing the thing! Anyway, it was a pleasure to work with my wonderful colleagues, to sing in that theater and to do a role I never dreamed I'd ever have the chance to sing! My muse and I now go on to do MEDEA, again in Geneva and then all over the world in open air theaters galore! What fun!!!!

Thanks for your support everyone! I so appreciate your belief in a singer in her prime!! There aren't many of us!!

ALL the best!!

Jennifer

Evolution! JENUFA at the Deutsche Oper-March 2012

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:05:00 +0000

On March 6, 2012 I debuted a new role--"Kostelnička Buryjovka" in Janáček's Jenufa at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin. It's exciting to add new roles to my repertoire especially at this time in my life and career. This move into "meaty" acting/singing parts marks a real shift in my evolution as an artist. It actually happened rather gradually starting with "Carmen"which I sang in Vienna and Washington, "Charlotte" in Werther which I performed also in Washington and in Vienna and then "Countess Geshwitz" in Berg's Lulu at Covent Garden and Madrid and "Gertrude" in Thomas' Hamlet at the Metropolitan Opera. It continues with the addition of the "Kostelnicka" in Berlin and then "Lady Macbeth" in Verdi's Macbeth at the Grand Theatre of Geneva.

I'm having the time of my life in these roles and I believe it's because I'm more ready than I've ever been to just enjoy being onstage. I'm completely comfortable in my voice and in my skin. I'm in my vocal prime and know that when I open my mouth, I'm confident of what will come out of it! I always tell fans not to worry because whatever I sing, I can only sing it with the voice I have!

It's immensely satisfying that you support me the way you all do and I appreciate it enormously! It's always nice to see you after a performance or get your feedback.

So, onward and upward!!!!

ALL the best!!!!

Jennifer

NEW YEAR 2012!!!!

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Happy New Year everybody!

It's incredible to think back on 2011 and everything that has occured! I feel like it was spent in non stop travel, rehearsals and performances with a lot of good success! I will never complain about the work that comes my way! We all lament the time spent away from family and loved ones, especially at holidays or on special occassions, but when one is a performer, one knows the price to be paid.

I was lucky to spend quite a lot of time in Paris this past year! Singing "Alcina" in Vivaldi's ORLANDO FURIOSO at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées allowed me to come home every night to my own bed! Besides, Vivaldi is always fun to sing! And for something entirely different I sang "Countess Geschwitz" in Berg's LULU at the Bastille. So, I got spoiled working at home as much as I did in 2011!

I lived close to Washington, DC for 7 years in the early part of my career, so it was especially fun to return to sing with the Washington Concert Opera as "Charlotte" in Massenet's WERTHER with Giuseppe Filianotti and Antony Walker conducting.

Recitals have always been a favorite way to perform for me so singing in recital with my long time friend and accompanist, Antoine Palloc at the Frankfurt Opera was a highlight!

2011 saw a milestone for me- I celebrated 25 years of singing! In 1986 I made my European operatic debut as "Sesto" AND "Annio" (one only does that when they're young!) at the Nice Opera. Our production of ORLANDO FURIOSO went all over Europe, Nice being one of the venues, so after a matinee performance, we had a party to celebrate!

In the summer, I went back to a theater very close to my heart--Theater an der Wien--to sing Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW and had a wonderful time! It was the first time I had ever sung a role such as that. The character of "Miss Jessel" never developes--she's dead--she's done! She just appears and disappears! I loved being back in the beautiful city of Vienna!

ROYAL MEZZO is a CD I made for Cedille Records which has 4 big blockbuster symphonic/vocal pieces. I love the drama of pieces such as these. One is SHEHERAZADE of Ravel. I had the pleasure of singing it in Tenerife with the orchestra. In Hamburg, I ended the year singing POEME DE L'AMOUR ET DE LA MER and then went to spend the holidays with my family!

I'm hard at work on the book I've been writing about how we singers see the world around us and how we deal with it. People seem to be interested so we'll see!

2012 promises to be wonderful indeed! I know that this is a hard time for everyone and that is why certain contracts are still pending! No one knows if they are going to have the funding or not! But, I'm looking forward to 2 new dramatic roles this year --"Kostelnicka" in JENUFA and "Lady Macbeth" in Verdi's MACBETH--plus lots of good concerts with OpusFive around the world!

I wish you ALL the very best for this new year! Thanks so much for your wonderful support and loyalty! I hope 2012 brings you happiness, good health, prosperity and love.

Maybe we'll see each other at a performance sometime!

Love,

Jennifer

HAMLET AT THE MET

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:53:00 +0000

I am writing this from Brussels where I am full swing into rehearsals for the DON QUICHOTTE at La Monnaie theater! Just coming from New York last week and plunging into a different world is daunting to say the least! The HAMLET was a wonderful experience in every way! The rehearsals were intense and the performances a study in dramatic progression because every evening onstage we tried to bring it to an even better level. It was a wonderful challenge! Working with Simon Kennleyside was a pleasure and one I hope to repeat some time soon. He is a consummate singing/actor who is with you 100%. Natalie Dessay was ill so I didn't get the pleasure of working with her but Marliss Petersen cale in and saved the day! She is a lovely person/actress and singer and we were so happy to have her with us! Jane Archibald came in for the last two performances and had a huge, well deserved success! The whole cast was a joy and the staging of Leiser and Caurier real and terrifically sensible! Put the fantastic conductor Louis Langré into the mix and you have a winner!

"Gertrude" was such fun to play because I could sink my teeth into this character dramatically and musically. My voice loves it up in the higher reaches now and I finaly had a role in which I could revel!

I hope you had a chance to see the HD movie broadcast!

So from beautiful Brussels I say see you later!!

ALL my warmest regards,

Jennifer

2010!

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:41:00 +0000

I want to wish you all the best for this new year coming up! There are so many new and interesting things happening for me of which I am very thankful! There seems to be a future for me yet! 2009 was filled to the brim and besides being busy, it was also fun! New Cds were released and many performances given! 2010 promises to be even better!

In March/April I will be singing the role of "Gertrude" in Thomas' HAMLET at the Metropolitan Opera. They will be showing this opera at the movies on March 27th! It's a wonderful cast with Natalie Dessay, Simon Keensleyside and James Morris.

In April/May I am in Brussels at La Monnaie singing "Dulcinee" in Massenet's DON QUICHOTTE with Jose Van Dam and Marc Minkowski conducting.

Jennifer Larmore and OpusFive continues to thrive with concerts that entertain the public! hat fun to create a group like this and see it be so successful!

Antoine Palloc and I continue to give recitals and in 2010 our schedule takes us to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a master class the day following the recital; to Athens, GA. also with a master class and then to Lakeland, Florida!

Thanks for al your wonderful interest and support! If you come to a concert, please don't hesitate to stop by and say "hello!"

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jennifer

LULU-Berg--What an experience!!!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

My Berg LULU experience is over for now! It will be another two years before I have the opportunity of singing this again! I loved delving into the world of this incredible composer and had two very different but equally rewarding experiences--in London's Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and in the Teatro Real of Madrid.

It was the first time I had ever created the role "Geshwitz" and the experience was made all the more wonderful working with Christof Loy and Tony Pappano! My cast was stellar; fantastic colleagues, great acting/singers! In both London and Madrid I felt lucky to meet and work with such terrific people!

I look forward to singing this role again at the Bastille in Paris in 2012! Right now I'm learning the Berg "Seven Early Songs". Now that this world is open to me, I'm diving right in!

All the best!

Jennifer

Jennifer Larmore and OpusFive

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:03:00 +0000

This has been an exciting few weeks! I recenly gave a series of concerts in Spain with my new ensemble called OpusFive. We went to the International Music Festival in Menorca and performed at the oldest theater in Spain-- the Teatre Principal, which celebrated it's 180th birthday this year! Jennifer Larmore & OpusFive were happy to be a part of this music festival and to perform for such an appreciative crowd!

Our next concert took us to Mallorca and to a lovely 17th century cloister. Performing in an open-air venue brings with it a particular set of circumstances especially in summer! The heat was incredible but the atmosphere was electric! The evening was gorgeous, with a full moon and an audience ready to be entertained. It was magical!

The reviews have been stellar and we are thrilled to have started such an ensemble! Our next concert takes us to Santander for a concert on August 18th.

Please do visit the web site and see what's on the schedule for the future!

Thanks again to all of you for your wonderful, continued interest and support!

Kindest wishes,

Jennifer

School

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:16:54 +0000

Hi!
This is for the young singer who asked me about my experience at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. It was one of the hardest and best times of my life! Anyone could get in but it was extremely hard to STAY in because the level of competition and musical excellence were very high. I worked hard to be as good as I could be in the midst of trying to grow up and have a social life! I was so lucky to have wonderful teachers who encouraged me as much as possible and thankfully I had the presence of mind to put my nose to the grindstone and study while I was there! The atmosphere at Westminster makes one want to sing and learn. It's a fantastic university town and a small campus so you won't feel lost. The main thing to remember is that you're going there to learn as much as you can and so when you're in that sort of place, you don't want to squander the time you have. You want to use it and enjoy every minute of it. I'm in frequent contact with the current dean and some of the teachers so I can attest to the fact that these days, it's even better! Daniel Beckwith just joined the faculty and that is a HUGE plus! He's a scholar in so many areas and a real task master! You cannot go to that school and not learn! I am so proud to be a graduate from Westminster Choir College! All the best to you!!
JL

Response to Discourgement

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:59:53 +0000

To the young woman who is discouraged by what she's told in auditions:

If you have five people in a room, that's how many different opinions you'll have!
Follow your own good instincts and the advice of the people you trust. Most often we just ignore our instincts, but they're there for a reason and many times can lead us in the right direction if we'll just trust ourselves.

Singers are the most vulnerable people on the planet, putting it out there for people to either criticize or love! You have to develop a think skin and let most of what people tell you roll right off. Glean what you can, of constructive criticism, from these comments and throw out the rest.

Try to remember always why you started singing in the first place and enjoy your life and singing as much as possible. Also, remember that we have all been there and you are definitely not alone. I wish you all the very best!

JL

Guest Book

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:56:20 +0000

There's been so many wonderful entries in the Guest Book! Thanks so much for visiting the site and taking the time to write to me! Now to answer some of your questions:

I will not be singing "Octavian" any time soon although I would love to! It's such a terrific role and one that I have always dreamed of performing.

"Alcina" in ORLANDO FURIOSO is the next operatic role--in concert version--which takes place at the Edinburgh Festival on August 12th. I'm performing the "Sorceress" with my dear friend and magnificent conductor, Jean-Christophe Spinosi and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Next opera role is "Charlotte" in WERTHER happening at La Monnae in Brussels this December.

Thanks to all my old high school and college friends who signed the Guest Book! It's wonderful to hear how well you're doing and that you want to be in touch.

Off to Scottland! All the best!

JL