Hobart and William Smith Colleges

29 September 2011 Mezzo-Soprano Clara OBrien to Perform

Noted for her technical and expressive virtuosity, mezzo-soprano Clara OBrien will perform a song recital of varied repertoire at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in the Geneva Room of the Warren Hunting Smith Library. The following day, OBrien share her more than 30 years of combined performing and teaching experience when she teaches a masters class with select students from the Colleges Chorale on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Geneva Room.

OBriens international career began when she was awarded the Sonderpreis des Badischen Staatstheaters, a prize created specially for her at the 1st International Coloratura Competition, Sylvia Geszty in Stuttgart, Germany. She has appeared on stages throughout the U.S. and Germany. For many years, she was engaged as soloist at the State Theater of Baden. More recently, she has returned to the U.S. and combines her appearances on stages and in concert with teaching at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Critics praise OBriens effortless vocal perfection and warm mezzo timbre as well as her towering ability as a singing actress. Along with consistently positive reviews, her operatic performances received Opernwelts Best Performance citations in both the Emerging and Established Artist categories.

Also a recitalist, OBrien has won Grand Prix Paul Derenne, International Concours de chant de Paris for her interpretation of Impressionist and post-Impressionist French melodie. She is a noted interpreter of late-Romantic and Modernist German Lieder. Her repertoire in recital ranges from Medieval chanson to premieres from living composers. For additional information about OBrien visit http://www.claraobrien.com/.

This event is sponsored by the HWS Department of Music. For upcoming events and performances, check out the departments news page, http://www.hws.edu/academics/music/news.aspx.

The public is welcome for both events and admission is free.