Barbara Hendricks | |
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 A 2016 portrait of Hendricks | |
| Born | (1948-11-20)November 20, 1948 (age 77) Stephens, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska,Juilliard School of Music |
| Awards |
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Barbara Hendricks (born November 20, 1948) is an Americanlyric soprano and humanitarian. Born inArkansas, Hendricks studied chemistry and mathematics at theUniversity of Nebraska before becoming a singer. She gained acclaim for heroperatic roles from her 1974 debut onwards, and also performsjazz among other genres. Hendricks has been aUNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since 1987. She has lived in Europe since 1977, and inBasel since 1985. She is a citizen ofSweden following her marriage to a Swedish citizen.[1]
Hendricks was born inStephens, Arkansas to Malvin and Della Mae Hendricks. Her father was a preacher in theColored Methodist Episcopal Church, and her mother was a teacher. As a result of her parents' professions, the Hendricks family moved around theDeep South, and Barbara grew up steeped in the black musical tradition. While living in Little Rock and attendingHorace Mann High School, she sang inArt Porter Sr.'s choir and babysat his children, prompting her to explore Porter's jazz collection.[2][3] She briefly attendedLane College before transferring to theUniversity of Nebraska, graduating with abachelor's degree inmathematics andchemistry at the age of 20.[4] During her time at Nebraska, she sang in the University Singers, and her chance participation in a vocal competition resulted in her attending theAspen Music Festival and School, where she metmezzo-sopranoJennie Tourel.[5] Tourel encouraged her to apply to theJuilliard School, and upon her acceptance, she studied with Tourel and participated in master classes led by sopranoMaria Callas. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music in 1973.[2][3]
She has two children, Jennie and Sebastian, with her former husband, Swedish pianist and impresarioMartin Engstroem.[6]
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In 1974, Hendricks made her professional operatic debut in Europe at theGlyndebourne Festival and in America at theSan Francisco Opera. During her career, she has appeared at majoropera houses throughout the world, including theOpéra National de Paris, theMetropolitan Opera, theRoyal Opera House, Covent Garden, andLa Scala. In 1998 she sang Liù in thehistorical performance ofTurandot at theForbidden City inBeijing. Hendricks has performed more than twenty roles, twelve of which she has recorded.
Hendricks has appeared on film as Mimì inLa bohème,[7] and in 1995 she sang the role of Anne Truelove in the Swedish filmRucklarens väg, an adaptation ofStravinsky's operaThe Rake's Progress.[8] In 2007, she appeared in the filmDisengagement byAmos Gitai and starringJuliette Binoche.[9] She also recordedMahler'sDas Lied von der Erde, which is the main theme for the film.
Hendricks also performsjazz music and made her jazz debut at theMontreux Jazz Festival in 1994. Since that time, she has performed at major jazz festivals around the world. Hendricks is also known for her love ofchamber music and has organized a number of chamber music festivals.
In 2004, at theThéâtre du Châtelet in Paris, she created the role of Angel in the world premiere ofPéter Eötvös's operaAngels in America, afterthe play byTony Kushner.
In January 2006, she leftEMI, and created the new label Arte Verum for which she records exclusively.
In 2018, Hendricks sang "La Marseillaise" with theChoir of the French Army at the interment ceremony ofSimone Veil in thePanthéon.
Hendricks cites her upbringing inJim Crow-Era Arkansas as an inspiration for her extensive activist and humanitarian work.[4]
Hendricks was first appointed as aUNHCRGoodwill Ambassador in 1987, and has continued to serve up to the present, making her the longest-serving UN Goodwill Ambassador. She was named Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador in 2002, and continues to be the only person who has received that title. In this capacity, she has traveled widely across Africa, Asia, and Europe, and performed at severalNansen Refugee Award ceremonies.[10]
In 1991 and 1993 Hendricks gave two concerts in the war-tornformerly Yugoslavian cities ofDubrovnik andSarajevo. She performed in Sarajevo with the Sarajevo Opera Chorus and jazz musicianSinan Alimanović. In 1998 she founded the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation, which seeks to facilitate reconciliation where conflicts have already occurred.
Since 2000, Hendricks has been a member of the Council of the Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust (RET). The RET is dedicated to post-primary education of refugee youth all over the world.
In 2001 she performed at theNobel Prize ceremony in Oslo at the invitation ofNobel Peace Prize LaureateKofi Annan. In May 2002, she performed at theEast Timor Independence Day Ceremony.
In 1986, Hendricks was made a Commandeur of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres; in 1992 she was awarded the rank of Chevalier of theLégion d'honneur.[1] In 2000, she was awarded thePrince of Asturias Award for the Arts. In 2001, Hendricks received theLions Clubs International Award for the work of her foundation. In 2015, Hendricks received the honorary degree Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[1]
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