CONCERT ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011, at 8:30 PM at Théâtre des Variétés – 1 Boulevard Albert Ier – Monaco
Jean-François BORRAS, Tenor and Catherine GAMBERONI, Piano
Evening Program
Giuseppe VERDI (Roncole, 1813 – Milan 1901): *I Lombardi*: Aria “La mia letizia infondere…”; *Rigoletto*: Aria “La donna è mobile…”; *Giovanna d’Arco*: Aria “Sotto una quercia…”; *Macbeth*: Aria “O figli, o figli miei…”
Giacomo PUCCINI (Lucca, 1858 – Brussels, 1924): *La Bohème*: “Che gelida manina…”
Leo DELIBES (Saint Germain du Val, 1836 – Paris, 1891): *Lakmé*: Aria “Fantaisie Ô divins mensonges…”
Charles GOUNOD (Paris, 1818 – Saint Cloud, 1893): *Romeo et Juliette*: Aria “Ah lève-toi soleil…”; *Polyeucte*: Aria “Source délicieuse…”
Jules MASSENET (Montaud, 1842 – Paris, 1912): *Manon*: Aria “Je suis seul…. Ah fuyez douce image…”; *Werther*: Aria “Pourquoi me réveiller…”
Biographies
*Jean-François BORRAS*
Jean-François Borras began singing at the age of 8 as a member of the Monaco Boys Choir, where he remained for 15 years.
In 1998, he joined the class at the Monaco Academy of Music and studied with Marie-Anne Losco.
Between 2001 and 2004, he performed the roles of Alfredo (*La Traviata*), Nemorino (*L’Elisir d’Amore*), Roméo (*Roméo et Juliette*), Werther, and Faust in various productions directed by Gabriel Bacquier at the Rainier III Academy of Music. In June 2004, he graduated with a diploma in Advanced Vocal Studies with unanimous praise and continued his training with Michèle Command and Gabriel Bacquier.
In February 2005, he won the Annual Audition of the French Center for Lyric Promotion. That same year, he made his debut as Don Ottavio (*Don Giovanni*) at the Chamber Opera of Menton.
In 2006, he made debuts at the opera houses of Toulon, Clermont-Ferrand, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nice. In 2007, he made his Italian debut as Rodolfo in *La Bohème* in Bari and won the first prize at the Canari Lyric Competition.
In October 2007, he debuted at the Rouen Opera in the role of the Duke of Mantua in *Rigoletto*. He began an international career by singing in Mannheim and Aachen (*La Traviata*, *La Bohème*, and *Rigoletto*), as well as performing Edgardo in *Lucia di Lammermoor* at the Graz Opera in Austria. He participated in the Sank Margarethen Festival near Vienna for an outdoor production of *La Traviata*. In 2008, he returned to the Rouen Opera to portray King Charles VII in *Giovanna d’Arco*. In 2009, he performed at the Greek National Opera in Athens (*Rigoletto*), at the Graz Opera (*La Bohème*, *Der Rosenkavalier*), at La Monnaie, and at the Essen Theatre (*Lucia di Lammermoor*).
He made his debut in Gounod’s *Faust* at the Graz Opera in February 2011 and will perform as Pang in *Turandot* at the Chorégies d’Orange in 2012.
*Catherine GAMBERONI*
Catherine Gamberoni began her musical studies at the Conservatoire National de Région de Nancy. She received a First Prize with unanimous distinction in Music Theory and Sight-reading, as well as First Prizes in Chamber Music and Piano.
Drawn to both opera and chamber music, she found a true calling as a vocal coach.
Under the guidance of the renowned soprano, Jacqueline Brumaire, she deepened her study of operatic repertoire.
She subsequently accompanied the vocal classes of tenor Gérard Friedmann at the Conservatoire National de Région de Metz, tenors Albert Lance and Jean-Pierre Blivet, and mezzo-soprano Catherine Decaen at the Conservatoire National de Région de Nice.
She accompanied the clarinet class of Michel Lethiec at the Conservatoire National de Région de Nice and the clarinet masterclasses at the Nice International Summer Academy under the direction of Guy Deplus, Walter Boyekens, and Patrick Messina.
Internationally acclaimed soloists such as Franck Ferrari, Jean-François Borras, Elisabeth Vidal, Guy Bonfiglio, and André Cognet have collaborated with her, while others, like Vasile Moldoveanu and Christa Ludwig, have sought her skills as an accompanist.
Additionally, she contributes to the organization of the “Les Voix du Domaine Renoir” festival in Cagnes-sur-Mer (*Carmen*, *Les Contes d’Hoffmann*), the “Opus” festival in Gattières (*The Cunning Little Vixen*, *Gianni Schicchi*, *Pomme d’Api*, *The Merry Widow*), and the La Turbie festival (*Nabucco*, *Traviata*).
Moreover, she regularly accompanies the Regional Choir Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur directed by Michel Piquemal, as well as the University Vocal Ensemble of Nice directed by Alain Joutard.
Finally, she is in demand for chamber music concerts throughout Europe and performs on cruise ships in the Mediterranean and Norway.
