As Penelope in Il ritorno
d'Ulisse in patria at
Wolf Trap Opera
All
photos by Carol Pratt except
first, by Eric Melear
Road Trip!recital
with Steven Blier
With
baritone Daniel Billings and
tenor Dominic Armstrong.. Photos
by Kim Witman
Vocal Colors
recital at Wolf Trap Opera
With
Jeremy Frank is the pianist.
Photos by Kim Witman
Hansel and Gretel (Indiana University Opera
Theatre)
La Cenerentola (Indiana
University Opera Theatre)
HMS Pinafore (Indiana
University Opera Theatre)
Our Town [world premiere
performance, composer - Ned
Rorem] (Indiana University Opera
Theatre)
With Frederica von Stade at the
premiere of Jake Heggie's LAST
ACTS
With Evelyn Lear
With
Mary Ann Hart/Maestro Marco
Armiliato after the Met Opera National
Council Awards Competition
With James Levine
Recent Press
The Stars of Lyric Opera of Chicago at Millennium Park
"During such a concert with manifold talents in evidence it would seem difficult to single out individual vocalists for their memorable efforts. Yet the performance given by mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton of Léonor’s aria “Ô mon Fernand” from Donizetti’s La favorite deserves particular recognition. Here was a voice that showed remarkable color and depth from the first notes of her aria. One admired the security of range as Ms. Barton’s voice lamented the fate of her love, the vocal line descending to heartfelt emotional depths at “Hélas! est condamné!” (“Alas! My love is condemned!). Her ascent to top notes on “tout” (“everything”) and “justice” and the cry of despair, which she took forte without a trace of harshness, prepared a transition to the middle section of the piece. At this point Léonor appeals to God for death. Her line, “fais-moi mourir” (“make me die”), performed by Ms. Barton with a fully rounded expressiveness, made the character’s entreaty all the more credible. In the last segment of the aria, taken at a brisker tempo, Ms. Barton’s melodic agility and dramatic high notes concluding on “sera morte avant ce soir” (“will be dead before tonight”) gave an exciting finish to this accomplished performance. As a whole, Ms. Barton’s aria was yet another example of the passion in which both singers and audience participate and about which Mr. [Anthony] Freud spoke as being an integral part of great operatic performances."
- Opera Today
"American mezzo Jamie Barton was the discovery of the evening. A grand finalist in the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions in 2007, she was riveting as the mournful young Leonor in "O mon Fernand…Mon arret descend du ciel" from Donizetti’s La favorite. Her voice was rich with myriad colors, full of velvety smoke in its lowest register and ringing with clarion strength at its upper reaches. Standing quietly, she conveyed a depth of regret and loss that was profoundly moving."
- Chicago Classical Review
"On the up-and-coming side, mezzo Jamie Barton, debuting here this season, was a rich-voiced showstopper, both in “O mon Fernand” from Donizetti’s 'La favorite' and in the added duet from Delibes’ 'Lakme' with dependable returning soprano Anna Christy."
- Chicago Sun Times
"Jamie Barton, a highly gifted young American mezzo whom Lyric has tapped to take on three supporting roles this year, showed why she's on opera's fast track with stunning readings of an aria from Donizetti's 'La Favorite' and her part of the 'Lakme' duet."
- Chicago Tribune
"The audience was treated to a tour-de-force with Jamie Barton’s performance of “Mon arrêt descend du ciel” from Donizetti’s La favorite, a piece that showed the range of the singer’s intensity and expression. Barton’s performance in the famous duet from Lakmé “Dôme épais” was similarly nuanced, as she shared the stage with soprano Anna Christy."
- www.seenandheard-international.com
Marthe in Faust and The Maharanee in The Last Savage
The Santa Fe Opera
"Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, featured in recent seasons by Wolf Trap Opera, displayed a full-throated tone and agile comic timing as the elephantine Maharanee in 'The Last Savage' and the randy Marthe in 'Faust.'"
- Washington Post
"Versatile and funny mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton stole the show as the enormous Maharanee, ferried around on a pink carriage."
"Potent mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton had a witty turn in the minor role of Marthe, and she could have stolen the show with a larger role."
- Ionarts
"Jamie Barton brought some welcome vocal heft to the brief role of Marthe."
- Wall Street Journal
"Jamie Barton's amusingly available, ample-figured widow Marthe gave Méphistophélès a run for his conniving money."
- Huffington Post
"Mezzo Jamie Barton (assorted OTSL roles since 2007) was simply all-around wonderful as the Maharani..."
- tawed.wordpress.com
"Marguerite's companion/nurse/housekeeper is so often sung by an over-the-hill mezzo, but here we get Jamie Barton, one voice I would definitely like to relish in some larger role."
- Opera West
"Jamie Barton brought a refined alto and a good sense of comedy to a successful, non-sterotypical take on Marthe."
"As the corpulent, sedan bound, Maharanee, Jamie Barton had a field day, and her full-throated mezzo rang out in the house. When she did alight from her perch and revealed her full measure (the well padded costume recalled Jane Eaglen in a biiiiiiiiiiig hoop skirt) , she struck real comedic sparks with Mr. Burdette."
- operatoday.com
The Song Continues...
Carnegie Hall, NYC
"The star of the evening was the mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, who sang five Sibelius songs with focus and passion. She rode the arching phrases of the beloved “Black Roses” and cooled her big, exciting voice for the dramatic switch from coy humor to stark disappointment in 'A Girl Came Home From Meeting Her Sweetheart.' It will be a pleasure to watch as Ms. Barton’s voice continues to settle and mature."
- The New York Times
