Jennifer Larmore Opera singer, mezzo-soprano Date of Birth: 21.06.1958 Country: USA

1. Biography of Jennifer Larmore
2. Early Career
3. Notable Performances
4. Expansion of Repertoire
5. Awards and Recognition
6. Recordings and Discography

Biography of Jennifer Larmore

Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer, renowned for her coloratura and bel canto performances in major opera houses worldwide. She is currently a professor at the Music College of Seoul National University since March 2021. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Larmore studied at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey and trained under Robert McIver, John Bullock, and Regina Resnik.

Early Career

In 1982, Larmore attended the summer conservatory program at the Music Academy of the West. Her professional debut took place in 1986 at the Opera of Nice in Mozart's opera "La clemenza di Tito." In 1988, she performed the role of Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" (Jerome Savary's production in Strasbourg).

Notable Performances

Larmore made her Carnegie Hall debut as Romeo in Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" in 1994 and debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" in 1995. She continued to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in various roles, including Angelina in "Cinderella," Hansel in "Hansel and Gretel," Juliette in "Les Contes d'Hoffmann," the title role in "Julius Caesar," Isabella in "L'Italiana in Algeri," Prince Orlofsky in "Die Fledermaus," the world premiere of Tobias Picker's "An American Tragedy" (Elizabeth Griffiths), and Gertrude in "Hamlet."

Expansion of Repertoire

In 2012, Larmore began adding dramatic soprano roles to her repertoire, performing Lady Macbeth in Verdi's "Macbeth" at the Grand Theatre de Geneve and Kostelnicka in Janacek's "Jenufa" at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 2013, she portrayed Lady Macbeth during the bicentennial celebration of Verdi at Teatro Comunale in Bologna and Reggio Emilia. In the same year, she also appeared in the world premiere of Gregory Hettzel and Camilla de Toledo's opera "The Fall of Fukuyama."

Awards and Recognition

Larmore received the Richard Tucker Award in 1994, the Gramophone Award in 1992 for her performance in "Giulio Cesare" on Harmonia Mundi, and a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Opera Recording for "Hansel and Gretel." She performed at the closing ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and hosted a satellite radio show called "Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Larmore." In 2002, she was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government.

Recordings and Discography

Larmore's recordings include the leading roles in "Carmen," "Elisabetta," "Queen Ingrith," "Cinderella," "L'Italiana in Algeri," "Bianca e Falliero," "Giulio Cesare," "Sofonisba," "Orfeo ed Euridice," "Zanetto," "Hansel and Gretel," and "I Capuleti e i Montecchi." She has also appeared in supporting roles in "L'Incoronazione di Poppea," "Maria Stuarda," "Francesca di Foix," "Elvida," "Adelaide di Borgogna," "Signor Bruschino," "Semiramide," "Rigoletto," "Carlo di Borgogna," "Alessandro nelle Indie," and Offenbach's "Vert-Vert." Larmore has released several solo albums and appears on various DVDs, including performances of "The Barber of Seville" (Netherlands Opera), "L'Italiana in Algeri" (Paris Opera), "Lulu" (Royal Opera House), and "Jennifer Larmore in Concert" (recorded live at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center, New York).