Jamie Barton
Jamie Barton (born 1980/1981 (age 32–33))[1] is an American operatic mezzo-soprano.
Early life and education
Barton was born in Rome, Georgia.[2] Her parents were Jim Barton and Robin Fox. She first performed when she was six years old, singing "Tender Shepherd" from the 1954 musical Peter Pan at a talent show at the Armuchee Elementary School.[3]
She attended Armuchee High School, obtained a bachelor's degree from Shorter University and a master's degree from Indiana University, both degrees in voice performance.[4]
In the summers 2006 and 2007, Barton was a Fellow in Vocal Studies at the Tanglewood Music Center.[5] In April 2007, Barton, along with five other singers, won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.[6][4]
Career
In summer 2007, Barton made her professional operatic debut singing the role of Anina, the lead character's maid, in Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis.[2][7][8]
In July 2008, Barton sang in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel at the Aspen Music Festival; one critic described Barton's performance as coming "close to stealing the show with her over-the-top witch."[9]
In 2008-2009 season, Barton, a former graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, sang three times with the Houston Opera, as Ursula in Hector Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict, as Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto, and as Mrs. Ronaldson in the world premiere of André Previn's Brief Encounter.[10]
In the 2009-2010 season, she debuted at The Metropolitan Opera in the role of the Second Lady in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute. She also sang for the first time with the Canadian Opera Company as Emilia, Desdemona's maid, in Verdi's Otello.[10]
In 2011, Barton performed the role of Mère Marie in Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.[11] Also in 2011, Barton debuted with the Chicago Lyric Opera. She sang three roles: the Voice of the Mother in Jacques Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman, the Nurse in Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Gudunov, and the Dryade in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos.[12][11]
In summer 2012, she sang again with the Bavarian State Opera at the Munich Opera Festival, singing the role of the Second Norn in Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung.[13]
Critical reception
Opera News has described Barton as a "rising star" with a "sumptuous voice".[14]
In a review of a recital at the Kennedy Center in 2009, Anne Midgette said she that Barton had a "big voice" and "sang very well" but "showed [a] penchant for mugging".[15]
References
- ^ "Richard Tucker Music Foundation Names Winner of 2012 Richard Tucker Award". Operagasm. April 12, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Guest Artist Series". Shorter University. March 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Fairytales Can Come True" (PDF). Enjoy! The Magazine. Summer 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ a b Avila, Severo (January 2011). "A Diva Comes Home: Opera singer Jamie Barton to sing at First Baptist Church Sunday". Rome News-Tribune. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Jamie Barton". Aspen Music Festival. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "National Council Audition Winners Named!". Metropolitan Opera. April 2, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Eric (November 8, 2006). "Once upon an Opera". Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "Brahms' Double Concerto". San Diego Symphony. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ Steiman, Harvey (July 30, 2008). "Shaham, Wolff deliver thrills despite difficulties, thunder". The Aspen Times. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ a b "Jamie Barton, Mezzo-Soprano: Marthe" (pdf). Santa Fe Opera. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ a b "Soprano Ailyn Pérez Winner of 2012 Richard Tucker Award; Recipients of Career and Study Grants Also Announced". Richard Tucker Music Foundation. April 14, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "2011-12 Season Announced". Chicago Lyric Opera. February 1, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ "Götterdämmerung". Bayerische Staatsoper. July 15, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ "Guest Artist: Jamie Barton, February 1-2". San Jacinto College. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ Midgette, Anne (December 12, 2009). "Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton sings at Kennedy Center". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
