This Mother’s Day, the Lafayette and Easton community members have the opportunity to share a special gift with their mothers. As the final performance of the Williams Center Performing Arts Series for the 2015-2016 season, French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky will be singing on Lafayette’s campus.
The concert will feature Jaroussky’s rare vocal quality in musical pieces by 19th and 20th century art songs of Fauré, Debussy, Hahn, and Chabrier, who set fin de siècle poet and countryman Paul Verlaine’s verse to music. Pianist Jérôme Ducros will accompany Jaroussky’s songs.
Neuroscience and French major Sammy Chavin ‘16, who works as a Williams Center for the Arts Fellow, said, “This year has been an expansive year for the Williams center full of visionary talents. Philippe will be a strong conclusion to a year of inspiring artists and performances.”
Jaroussky’s visit is only one of the three stops he will be making during his USA visit.
His musical career began with the violin, for which he won an award at the Versailles conservatory. Next he conquered piano, before truly fine-tuning his amazing voice. Jaroussky is noted for a “virtuosic coloratura technique and for compelling and enlivened interpretations of baroque cantatas and operas.”
In 2007, Jaroussky was named best French lyrical artist award. One year later, he was awarded “The Best Singer of the Year” at the Echo Classic Awards. Four years following, he received an Echo Classic Award in 2012 for the album “Duetti,” which he recorded with Max Emanuel Cencic.
Jaroussky was inspired to sing by the Martinique-born countertenor Fabrice di Falco. He earned his diploma from the Early Music Faculty of the Conservatoire de Paris. Jaroussky went on to form his own ensemble by the name of Artaserse. He performs with other noteworthy artists in his field such as Ensemble Matheus and L’Arpeggiata.
The concert will be held at Sunday, May 8 at 3 p.m. in the Williams Center for the Arts. Tickets are free for students and available for public purchase at $29. Tickets are still available at the box office and online.