Famed Mezzo Jennifer Larmore Joins With
'Apollo's Fire' for Kansas City Concert

WHAT: JENNIFER LARMORE, mezzo-soprano,
with APOLLO'S FIRE, period-instrument ensemble

PRESENTED BY: HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES

WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: MUSIC HALL, downtown Kansas City, Mo. (13th and Central Sts.)

TICKETS: $20, $25, $40 or $55 | call 816-415-5025 or visit www.harriman-jewell.org

PROGRAM: Larmore and Apollo's Fire will perform selections from Vivaldi's Orlando Furioso and arias from Handel's operas Hercules and Semele; Apollo's Fire will also play Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
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HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES: visit www.imgartists.com

EDUCATIONAL EVENT: Jennifer Larmore will also lead a free vocal master class for preselected students from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17. The location is to be determined—for updated information, visit harriman-jewell.org or contact Heather Forbis at 816-415-5025. The public is invited to observe the class at no charge; reservations are not necessary.

Join the dazzling mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore and Apollo’s Fire, the dynamic period-instrument ensemble, for an evening of Baroque fare at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Music Hall (13th and Central Sts.). The Harriman-Jewell Series previously presented Jennifer Larmore in 1996; the upcoming concert marks the Kansas City debut of Apollo's Fire.

Celebrated artists in their own right, Larmore and Apollo's Fire join to explore the passion and pathos of early masters. Larmore and Apollo's Fire will perform selections from Vivaldi's Orlando Furioso and arias from Handel's operas Hercules and Semele; Apollo's Fire will also play Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

Jennifer Larmore
Jennifer Larmore is an outstanding American mezzo-soprano who has parlayed operatic success in Europe into international stardom. Known for excelling in the coloratura roles of the Baroque and bel canto, she has also moved into the Romantic and Contemporary repertoire. Throughout her career, Larmore has recorded on multiple labels totaling more than 70 CDs—distinguishing herself as the most recorded mezzo ever.

Originally from Atlanta, Larmore made her professional debut at the Opera de Nice production of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito. During the same period, Larmore sang her first Rosina from the Barber of Seville in the Savary production in Strasbourg. Rosina became her signature role—one that she has performed more than 500 times. The Chicago Sun Times has praised Larmore as "a fearless singer with a voice of astonishing flexibility, range and color."

Apollo's Fire
Taking its name from the classical god of music and the sun, Apollo’s Fire is dedicated to the performance of 17th- and 18th-century music on the period instruments for which it was written. The ensemble unites a select pool of early-music specialists from throughout North America and Europe, and has been praised internationally for stylistic freshness and buoyancy, technical excellence, and creative programming.

Apollo’s Fire was founded in 1992 by Jeannette Sorrell, with the assistance of Roger Wright, then Artistic Administrator of the Cleveland Orchestra (now with the BBC), and with start-up funding from the Cleveland Foundation. Apollo’s Fire has been broadcast across the country in many holiday specials on National Public Radio. In addition, the orchestra has been featured on NPR’s World of Opera and SymphonyCast, as well as many broadcasts and two live studio interview-performances on NPR’s Performance Today. The orchestra can also be heard on Britain’s BBC Radio, Canada’s CBC, and European Community Radio.

Tickets to hear Jennifer Larmore with Apollo's Fire are $20, $25, $40, or $55; please call the Harriman-Jewell Series at 816-415-5025 (or toll free at 888-528-5521). Tickets and event information are also available at www.harriman-jewell.org. The Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts (Commerce Bank, trustee) sponsors this Harriman-Jewell Series event.

This presentation is supported by Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, Missouri Arts Council, and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Now in its 43rd season, the nationally recognized Harriman-Jewell Series brings acclaimed performers from the worlds of music, dance, and theatre to Kansas City’s downtown venues. In addition to the performances, educational events offer free master classes and lectures to allow area community members and students to view artists in an informal setting.

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