The baritone Laurent Naouri began his musical studies in 1986. Whilst he was still studying, the CNIPAL in Marseilles gave him the chance to perform the rÃŽle of Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. These performances led to a number of concerts and recordings, including the Radio France and Montpellier Festivals. He completed his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he sang several rÃŽles, including those of the Theatre Director in PoulencÂs Les mamelles de Tirésias, Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Ferdinand in ProkofievÂs Betrothal in a Monastery for Rostropovich.
His professional career began properly in 1992 in the title rÃŽle of MilhaudÂs Christopher Columbus at the opening of the Imperial Theatre in CompiÚgne. He has since performed in France, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Spain with a wide repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to contempory works and including such rÃŽles as Eugene Onegin in Nantes, Tarquin in BrittenÂs The Rape of Lucretia at Tourcoing, LullyÂs Roland at Montpellier and Bottom in BrittenÂs A Midsummer NightÂs Dream at Lyon, with such conductors as Maurizio Benini, William Christie, René Jacobs, Marc Minkowski and Kent Nagano. Other notable appearances include the four leading rÃŽles in OffenbachÂs Les contes dÂHoffmann in Metz and Tours, his Opéra Bastille début as Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro and as Des Grieux in MassenetÂs Manon, his Palais Garnier début as Theseus in RameauÂs Hippolyte et Aricie, Hidraot in LullyÂs Armide in Nice, GluckÂs Iphigénie en Tauride in Amsterdam, Don Giovanni at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Fieramosca in BerliozÂs Benvenuto Cellini, with RavelÂs LÂenfant et les Sortileges and ProkofievÂs War and Peace at the Opéra Bastille. Laurent Naouri gives frequent recitals and oratorio performances, and performances abroad include LÂenfant et les sortileges with the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle. His recordings range from Lully and Rameau to Offenbach and Poulenc.
