Kurt Ollmann | |
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| Born | (1957-01-19)January 19, 1957 (age 68) Racine, Wisconsin |
| Education | Bowdoin College |
Kurt Ollmann (born January 19, 1957, inRacine, Wisconsin),[1] is an Americanoperaticbaritone, known for his frequent musical association with composer and conductorLeonard Bernstein from 1982 until Bernstein's death in 1990. He has performed extensively, in opera,musical theatre, and solo recitals.
Ollmann was born, and grew up, in Racine, Wisconsin. From age 12 to 14, he and his family lived inParis.[2] They then returned to Racine, where he attendedHorlick High School.[2] He attendedBowdoin College, graduating in 1977 with a degree inRomance languages.[2]
After college, Ollmann moved toMilwaukee, Wisconsin to begin a singing and theatrical career. He studied singing withMarlena Malas,Yolanda Marculescu andGérard Souzay.[1] He also became a member of theSkylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee.[1]
In 1982 Ollmann moved toNew York City. There he was introduced to Leonard Bernstein, and he performed in Bernstein's operaA Quiet Place in 1984.[3] Ollmann was selected by Bernstein to sing Riff for the 1984 recording ofWest Side Story, which Bernstein was conducting for the first time nearly 30 years after he'd composed the music. Atelevision documentary was made about these recording sessions.[4] Ollmann sang the role of Maximilian for the recording ofCandide, which was again composed and conducted by Bernstein.[1]
In the 2000s Ollmann served as an associate professor of music at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.[5]
Both the 1984 recording ofWest Side Story and the 1989 recording ofCandide won Grammy awards in the categories ofBest Musical Theater Album andBest Classical Album, respectively.
Ollmann received anhonorary degree in music from his alma mater, Bowdoin, in 1988.[6]
In the 1990s Ollmann lived inSanta Fe, New Mexico, with his then-partner, director andA Quiet Place librettistStephen Wadsworth.[2] In 2000 Ollmann returned to Milwaukee.[5]
His current partner is Bill Lavonis, an operatic tenor, whom he began dating in 2000; the two have sometimes performed together.[5]
In 2014, he and Lavonis moved toSavannah, Georgia.[7]
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