Jamie Barton (singer)

{{infobox person

|name = Jamie Barton

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|10|17}}

|birth_place = Rome, Georgia, U.S.

|occupation = Singer (mezzo-soprano)

|years_active = 2007–present

|alma_mater = {{ubl|Shorter College|Indiana University Jacobs School of Music}}

}}

Jamie Barton (born October 17, 1981){{cite web|url=http://www.jamiebartonmezzo.com/ataglance/ |title=At A Glance — Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano |website=Jamiebartonmezzo.com |accessdate=December 23, 2016}} is an American mezzo-soprano. She won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition (both Main and Song Prizes) in June 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/american-mezzo-soprano-jamie-barton-crowned-4702275 |title=American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton crowned BBC Cardiff Singer of the World |work=Wales Online |date=June 23, 2013 |accessdate=June 23, 2013}} She is also the winner of the 2015 Richard Tucker Award.{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/jamie-barton-mezzo-wins-richard-tucker-award/?_r=0|website=The New York Times|accessdate=February 6, 2016|title=Jamie Barton, Mezzo, Wins Richard Tucker Award|first=Michael|last=Cooper|date=April 26, 2015}}

Early life and education

Barton was born in Rome, Georgia.{{cite web |url=http://www.shorter.edu/academics/arts/guest_jamie_barton.htm |title=Guest Artist Series |work=Shorter University |date=March 2009 |accessdate=December 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124171748/http://www.shorter.edu/academics/arts/guest_jamie_barton.htm |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Her parents are Jim Barton and Robin Fox. She first performed when she was six years old, singing "Tender Shepherd" from the 1954 musical Peter Pan at a talent show at the Armuchee Elementary School.

{{cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/meet-jamie-barton-opera-rock-star/|accessdate=March 26, 2022|title=Meet Jamie Barton, "opera's nose-studded rock star"|date=September 11, 2019|website=Classic FM (UK)}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/arts/music/review-jamie-barton-carnegie-hall.html|accessdate=March 26, 2022|title=Review: A Singer Scales Back Her Grand-Opera Voice|first=James R.|last=Oestreich|date=December 19, 2017|website=The New York Times}}

She attended Armuchee High School, obtained a bachelor's degree from Shorter College and pursued a master's degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, both degrees in voice performance.{{cite news |url=http://www.romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/11088930/article-A-Diva-Comes-Home--Opera-singer-Jamie-Barton-to-sing-at-First-Baptist-Church-Sunday |title=A Diva Comes Home: Opera singer Jamie Barton to sing at First Baptist Church Sunday |work=Rome News-Tribune |last=Avila |first=Severo |date=January 2011 |accessdate=December 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012345/http://www.romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/11088930/article-A-Diva-Comes-Home--Opera-singer-Jamie-Barton-to-sing-at-First-Baptist-Church-Sunday |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Barton was a Gerdine Young Artist at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and a Fellow in Vocal Studies at the Tanglewood Music Center.{{cite web |url=http://www.aspenmusicfestival.com/index.cfm?method=c.bio&bioID=2020&swf_plugin=1,0,0 |title=Jamie Barton |work=Aspen Music Festival |accessdate=December 30, 2012}} In April 2007, Barton, along with five other singers, won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.{{cite web |url=http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/news_flash.aspx?id=12894 |title=National Council Audition Winners Named! |work=Metropolitan Opera |date=April 2, 2007 |accessdate=January 1, 2013}}

Career

In summer 2007, Barton made her professional operatic debut singing the role of Annina, the maid, in Verdi's La traviata at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.{{cite news |url=http://www.idsnews.com/news/NewStoryPrint.aspx?id=50835 |title=Once upon an Opera |work=Indiana Daily Student |first=Eric |last=Anderson |date=November 8, 2006 |accessdate=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220430/http://www.idsnews.com/news/NewStoryPrint.aspx?id=50835 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://sandiegosymphony.commercialmedia.com/calendar/view.aspx?id=1830 |title=Brahms' Double Concerto |work=San Diego Symphony |accessdate=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215183518/http://sandiegosymphony.commercialmedia.com/calendar/view.aspx?id=1830 |archive-date=February 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In July 2008, Barton sang as the Witch in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel at the Aspen Music Festival; one critic described Barton's performance as coming "close to stealing the show with her over-the-top witch."{{cite news |url=http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080730/NEWS/775491762 |title=Shaham, Wolff deliver thrills despite difficulties, thunder |work=The Aspen Times |first=Harvey |last=Steiman |date=July 30, 2008 |accessdate=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103182841/http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080730/NEWS/775491762 |url-status=dead }}

In the 2008/09 season, Barton, a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, sang three times with the Houston Grand Opera, as Ursula in Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict, as Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto, and as Mrs. Ronaldson in the world premiere of André Previn's Brief Encounter.{{cite web |url=https://www.santafeopera.org/uploadedFiles/Tickets_and_Season_Info/Productions/2011_Season/Assets/Jamie%20Barton%20Faust.pdf |title=Jamie Barton, Mezzo-Soprano: Marthe |work=Santa Fe Opera |accessdate=January 26, 2013 }}

In the 2009/2010 season, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the role of the Second Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute. She also sang for the first time with the Canadian Opera Company as Emilia, Desdemona's maid, in Verdi's Otello.

In 2011, Barton performed the role of Mère Marie in Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.{{cite web |url=http://richardtucker.org/2012/04/14/soprano-ailyn-perez-winner-of-2012-richard-tucker-award-recipients-of-career-and-study-grants-also-announced/ |title=Soprano Ailyn Pérez Winner of 2012 Richard Tucker Award; Recipients of Career and Study Grants Also Announced |work=Richard Tucker Music Foundation |date=April 14, 2012 |accessdate=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117070504/http://richardtucker.org/2012/04/14/soprano-ailyn-perez-winner-of-2012-richard-tucker-award-recipients-of-career-and-study-grants-also-announced/ |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }} Also in 2011, Barton debuted with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She sang three roles: the Voice of the Mother in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, the Nurse in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, and the Dryade in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos.{{cite web |url=http://www.lyricopera.org/pressroom/1112-season.aspx |title=2011–12 Season Announced |work=Chicago Lyric Opera |date=February 1, 2011 |accessdate=January 27, 2013}}

In summer 2012, she sang again with the Bavarian State Opera at the Munich Opera Festival, singing the role of the Second Norn in Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung.{{cite web |url=http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/889-ZG9tPWRvbTEmaWQ9MjU4NyZsPWVuJnRlcm1pbj0xMDM1NQ-~spielplan~oper~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html |title=Götterdämmerung |work=Bayerische Staatsoper |date=July 15, 2012 |accessdate=January 27, 2013}}

On June 21, 2013, Barton won both the main prize and the song prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23013364 BBC News Wales – "Cardiff Singer of the World: Jamie Barton wins song prize"]. Accessed June 23, 2013 She won the primary competition two days after winning the song prize.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r2q2h/profiles/jamie-barton|title=BBC Radio 3 – BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, 2013 – USA: Jamie Barton|work=BBC|accessdate=February 6, 2016}} This made her the second person in the history of the competition to win both prizes, after Romanian tenor Marius Brenciu did so in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qn4b/features/performers-a-z |title=BBC Cardiff Singer of the World |publisher=BBC |accessdate=June 24, 2013}}

In 2018 she was the vocal soloist for the BBC Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.{{citation needed|date = June 2022}}

She is represented by Columbia Artists Management{{cite web|url=http://www.cami.com/details.asp?webid=1983|title=Jamie Barton – vocalists – mezzo-soprano|publisher=CAMI.com|accessdate=June 28, 2013}} and Verismo Communications.{{cite web|url=http://verismocommunications.com/ |title=Verismo Communications |publisher=Verismo Communications |accessdate=December 23, 2016}}

Critical reception

The Guardian reviewing the 2013 Cardiff Singer of the World results: "She is a great artist, no question, with an imperturbable steadiness of tone, and a nobility of utterance that invites comparison not so much with her contemporaries as with mid-20th century greats such as Kirsten Flagstad and Karin Branzell...her performance of Unbewegte Laue Luft, marked her out as one of the great Brahms interpreters of our times."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/24/classicalmusicandopera-opera |title=BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Final – review |accessdate=June 28, 2013 | location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Tim |last=Ashley |date=June 24, 2013}}

In 2012, Opera News described Barton as a "rising star" with a "sumptuous voice".{{cite web|url=http://www.sjccmusic.com/2012/01/13/guest-artist-jamie-barton-february-1-2/|title=Guest Artist: Jamie Barton, February 1–2|publisher=San Jacinto College|date=January 13, 2012|accessdate=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102231029/http://www.sjccmusic.com/2012/01/13/guest-artist-jamie-barton-february-1-2/|archive-date=November 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}

In a review of a recital at the Kennedy Center in 2009, Anne Midgette said that Barton had a "big voice" and "sang very well" but "showed [a] penchant for mugging".{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/11/AR2009121103724.html |title=Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton sings at Kennedy Center |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Anne |last=Midgette |date=December 12, 2009 |accessdate=January 27, 2013}}

In May 2015, Musical Toronto wrote about Barton's singing in Verdi's Requiem with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra: "Jamie Barton’s gleaming mezzo and exemplary legato was such a pleasure – no wonder she took Cardiff! Her Liber Scriptus, Quid sum miser, and Lux Eterna were all amazing. She was not afraid to use chest voice, but it was very musical and without vulgarity."{{cite news|url=http://www.musicaltoronto.org/2015/05/22/scrutiny-tso-stars-align-for-verdi-requiem-with-sir-andrew-davis |title=Stars Align For Verdi Requiem With Sir Andrew Davis |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |location=Toronto |work=Musical Toronto |first=Joseph |last=So |date=May 22, 2015}}

Personal life

In 2014, Barton came out as bisexual on her Twitter on National Coming Out Day.{{cite news |last1=Parsons |first1=Vic |title=Last Night of the Proms sees Jamie Barton take a stand for gay rights |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/09/15/last-night-of-the-proms-sees-jamie-barton-take-a-stand-for-gay-rights/ |accessdate=September 15, 2019 |work=Pink News |date=September 15, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Maddocks |first1=Fiona |title=Jamie Barton: 'I'm a supporter of having singers of every size on stage' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/01/jamie-barton-interview-last-night-proms-bisexuality-dieting-mezzo-soprano |access-date=September 10, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=September 1, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Kosman |first1=Joshua |title=Classical Music Jamie Barton is speaking out — and singing — on behalf of women |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/jamie-barton-is-speaking-out-and-singing-on-behalf-of-women |access-date=September 10, 2021 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=July 29, 2019}}

Recordings

André Previn- Brief Encounter – Elizabeth Futral (soprano); Nathan Gunn (baritone ); Jamie Barton (mezzo); Kim Josephson (baritone). Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers (conductor). Label: Deutsche Grammophon. Released May 2011.
Dominico Scarlatti – La Dirindina – Ars Lyrica Houston; Brian Shurcliffe (baritone); Jamie Barton (mezzo); Joseph Gaines (tenor). Label: Sono Luminus. Released August 2012.
Peter Ash-The Golden Ticket – Benjamin Wenzelberg (treble); Jamie Barton (mezzo); Jason Hardy (bass); Gerald Thompson (countertenor); Daniel Okulitch (Baritone); Atlanta Opera; Peter Ash (conductor). Label: Albany Records. Released December 2012.
An Aids Quilt Songbook: Sing for Hope – Yo Yo Ma (cello); Jamie Barton (mezzo); Joyce Di Donato (mezzo); Isabel Leonard (mezzo ); Sharon Stone (spoken word). Released November 2014.
Holiday Harmonies: Songs of Christmas – Jamie Barton (mezzo); Maureen McKay (mezzo); Stacey Shames (harp); Essential Voices USA (chorus). Label: Sono Luminus. Released October 2015.
All Who Wander – Jamie Barton (mezzo); Brian Zeger (piano). Label: Delos Music. Released November 2016.
Unexpected Shadows - Jamie Barton (mezzo), Matt Haimovitz (cello), Jake Heggie (composer). Label: Pentatone. Released September 2020.