Lawrence Zazzo

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Lawrence Zazzo
Zazzo in 2014
Born (1970-12-15) December 15, 1970 (age 53)
Philadelphia, US
Education
Occupationcountertenor
OrganizationsNewcastle University
Websitewww.lawrencezazzo.com

Lawrence Zazzo (born December 15, 1970) is an American countertenor who has performed at major opera houses in Europe and the US. His repertoire includes Baroque opera and oratorios as well as works of the 20th century.

Education and background

Born in Philadelphia, Zazzo took part in school drama productions and choirs, including the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, and also performed as the magician "The Great Zazzini"[1] for smaller children in the neighbourhood. After his voice had broken, he noticed that he had kept his alto voice in the falsetto register and began to develop it. He sang in numerous barbershop ensembles, high school madrigal and a cappella choirs. This led to his decision to study English and Music at Yale University (1989–93) and at King's College, Cambridge, England, (1993–95).

Zazzo envisaged a career as a conductor, a concert singer or as an academic (and in fact, Zazzo completed a PhD in Musicology at Queen's University (2015) on Handel's oratorios, which he researched for six years in between singing engagements).[2] While he was completing his vocal studies at the Royal College of Music in London (1995–97), he made his debut as Oberon in Britten'sA Midsummer Night's Dream. The same year he sang the title role in Handel's Arminio at the London Handel Festival.

In 2017, Zazzo joined Newcastle University as Head of Performance and Lecturer in Music.[3]

Performance

Zazzo has worked with numerous conductors including René Jacobs, William Christie, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Ivor Bolton, Christopher Hogwood, Trevor Pinnock, Christophe Rousset, Harry Bicket, Emmanuelle Haïm, Harry Christophers, Paul Goodwin, Péter Eötvös, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Hervé Niquet, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Jordi Savall, James Conlon and others for many opera houses and concert halls.

His major operatic roles include Giulio Cesare in Handel's

Radamisto (English National Opera London), and Gualtiero in Scarlatti's Griselda (Berlin State Opera). He performed the title roles in Sosarme (Teatro Nacional de São Carlos), in Alessandro (Karlsruhe), in Orlando (Cardiff, Bristol, London) and in Solomon (Royal Opera House
London).

He also appeared as Ottone in Handel's

Orlando furioso (Oper Frankfurt). He was Cardenio in Francesco Bartolomeo Conti's Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena (Theater an der Wien). He sang the alto part in Purcell's semi-opera The Fairy-Queen (Berliner Philharmonie) and the role of Arsace in Partenope (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Paris, Ferrol, Amsterdam, Pamplona, Essen and Madrid). In the German premiere of Francesco Cavalli's Veremonda, he appeared as Delio (Schlosstheater Schwetzingen, Staatstheater Mainz). He performed the role of Arsamene in Handel's Serse (Oper Frankfurt) Unulfo in Handel's Rodelinda (Teatro Real Madrid) and Bertarido in Rodelinda Opéra National de Lyon
.

His repertoire includes numerous

Notre Dame Cathedral, Konzerthaus, Vienna, Winchester Cathedral, Munich Residenz), Semele (Kölner Philharmonie, Concertgebouw, Concertzaal Gent), Theodora (Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Vancouver, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Theater an der Wien), Jephtha (Stefaniensaal Graz), Acis and Galatea (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Theater an der Wien), Samson (Beaune, Namur), Saul (Beaune, Namur) – He performed the alto parts in Bach's St Matthew Passion (Harris Theater (Chicago), Ambronay, De Doelen Rotterdam) and St John Passion
(Chicago, Kölner Philharmonie, Leeds).

He has also appeared in several roles in contemporary works, among others as Oberon in Britten's

Glyndebourne Festival) and as Masha in Tri sestry (Three Sisters) (Opéra National de Lyon, La Monnaie, Theater an der Wien). He sang the role of Odysseus in the world premiere of Rolf Riehm's Sirenen (Oper Frankfurt). Furthermore he sang in the world premiere performance of Riehm's The Deaths of Orpheus and of Geoff Page's monodrama Paradise Lost based on John Milton's Paradise Lost
.

Discography

References

  1. ^ "The Great Zazzini". southjersey.com. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  2. ^ "PhD in Musicology at Queen's University". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  3. ^ "Staff Profile - School of Arts and Cultures - Newcastle University".
  4. ^ "Radamisto at ENO". musicalcriticism.com. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  5. ^ "The making of Mitridate, re di Ponto". classicalopera.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "Presto interview – Lawrence Zazzo on A Royal Trio". prestoclassical.co.uk. Retrieved October 21, 2014.

External links

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