Laurent Naouri

Laurent Naouri, Chevalier L.H. (born May 23, 1964) is a French bass-baritone. Initially beginning his education at the École Centrale de Lyon, Naouri decided to concentrate on opera in 1986 and continued his musical studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where in his final year in June 1991 he appeared as the Director in ''Les mamelles de Tirésias''.

Naouri was born in Paris. His professional career in France began in 1992 with performances in the title role of Darius Milhaud’s ''Christophe Colomb'' (''Christopher Columbus'') for the opening of the Imperial Theatre in Compiègne. Progressing rapidly, his career quickly comprised a very varied repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to contemporary composers under such conductors as Maurizio Benini, William Christie, René Jacobs, Marc Minkowski, and Kent Nagano.

Naouri made his debut at the Opéra Garnier in the role of Thésée in Rameau's ''Hippolyte et Aricie'', followed by ''Eugene Onegin'' at the Opéra de Nancy, interpreting at the Opéra Bastille the roles of the Comte Des Grieux in Massenet's ''Manon'' and Figaro in ''The Marriage of Figaro''. A wide range of roles has followed, including many from the Baroque era including Rameau's ''Platée'' and ''Les Indes galantes'' and Handel's ''Alcina''.

In Britain, he has appeared at the Royal Opera House in 2006 in the role of Escamillo in ''Carmen''; in the United States at the Santa Fe Opera he appeared in the same role in the 2006 ''Carmen'' . Also at the Santa Fe Opera, he is scheduled for the role of Falstaff in Verdi's opera of the same name for June/July 2008 and as Germont in the 2009 ''La traviata'' starring his wife as Violetta.

Naouri is married to soprano Natalie Dessay, and they have two children. Provided by Wikipedia