The Guy With the Big Girl Voice

Comments (0) By Mary Beth Crain Thursday, Sep 22 2011

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UCLA Royce Hall

340 Royce Drive
Westwood, CA 90024

Category: Music Venues

Region: West L.A.

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They call him the poster boy for the modern countertenor, and that he is -- at least for the moment. "Every time I look on the Internet, thereâ€™s a new countertenor," notes French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky. "Itâ€™s very challenging, and also very exciting." Jaroussky takes his place in a playing field thatâ€™s become amazingly full in the past 10 years, with virtuosi including David Daniels, Brian Asawa or Andreas Scholl achieving superstardom on the vocal scene, and new guys who sing like girls popping up everywhere you look. But Jaroussky has the current lead in terms of countertenor rock-star status. His recordings sell by the millions in places like Japan and his native France, and audiences swoon and scream as soon as he opens his mouth and those gorgeous soprano tones fill a hall. His heartthrob good looks donâ€™t hurt, either. Known for his passionate perfection, Jaroussky possesses an instrument that is both delicate and rich, pristine and powerful. One critic called him "a young singer with the tone of an angel and the virtuosity of the devil." You can hear Jaroussky this week when he appears with the acclaimed early music ensemble Apolloâ€™s Fire, performing a program of Handel and Vivaldi arias that are as enchanting as they are demanding. UCLA, Royce Hall, Wstwd.; Fri., Oct. 28, 8 p.m.; $20 & up. (310) 835-2101, uclalive.org.
Fri., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., 2011