Jennifer Larmore discusses solidifying technique through emotion

Jennifer Larmore was one of my first opera idols, and I am so privileged to sit down with her for this episode of Technique Talks. She is so intelligent, talented, funny, and full of incredible technical advice! I hope you enjoy this conversation where we discuss breathing optimization, clear vowels, coloratura, and more!

Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano, with a wide-ranging repertoire, having begun with coloratura roles from the Baroque and bel canto then adding music from the Romantic and Contemporary periods. She began her career at Opera de Nice in 1986 with Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito and went on to sing at virtually every major opera house in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, Tokyo, Berlin Deutsche Oper, and Covent Garden.

Hear Jennifer sing live here: https://youtu.be/ByPRpeI64Ic

She is a two-time Grammy Award winner who has recorded widely for the Teldec, RCA, Harmonia Mundi, Deutsche Grammophon, Arabesque, Opera Rara, Bayer, Naive, Chandos, VAI and Cedille labels in over one hundred CDs to date as well as numerous DVDs

With her frequent collaborator Antoine Palloc, she has made many International recital tours at major cities throughout the world, as well as all the major American venues. Symphonic repertoire plays a large role in this mezzo’s career and she has enjoyed great collaborations with world orchestras under the direction of Muti, Bernstein, Runnicles, Masur, Barenboim, Bonynge, Maazel, and Osawa, to name a few.

Miss Larmore is widely known for teaching and giving master classes at the most prestigious conservatories and major cities throughout the world. Miss Larmore lives in Paris with her husband and little Opera dog Buffy.

Her book "Una Voce" is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Lulu.com and explores the world and psychology of the performer.

Show Notes:

00:00 Jennifer Larmore's Bio

8:00 How to find individual technique success

14:20 How to have a margin of error in practice and performance

18:13 How to breathe when singing

24:14 How shoulder blades assist in a singing breath

28:05 How to develop coloratura

33:27 How to manage coloratura in the passaggio

35:21 How to balance a singers registration

37:54 How to develop your voice overtime

42:12 How to manipulate your individual physiology

46:56 How to sing low notes

49:04 How to sing high notes

51:21 How to modify vowels

54:04 How to sing when you have a natural accent

57:26 What is your desert island vocalise

❤️  JOIN my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/techniquetalksforsingers/

❤️  Subscribe to never miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGibxkvaN8KVff0ztzYznMg

❤️  More at https://www.voicewithjulia.com

❤️  To stay in the know, and gain behind-the-scenes access to upcoming guests: https://www.voicewithjulia.com/techniquetalks/

❤️  Instagram: @voicewithjulia 

❤️  Facebook: Voice With Julia